Social preventive strategies in the field of sports betting with looking at international approaches

The purpose of the current research is to investigate social preventive strategies effective in reducing and controlling sports betting and to provide a desirable action policy model to the policy makers in this field.

The current research was conducted with a practical purpose and descriptive-analytical method, referring to library sources and reviewing previous researches.

Sports betting has become a social issue in Iran. The adoption of purely reactive and repressive policies has not been successful in controlling and curbing the ever-increasing growth of this problem. The findings of the current research, which have been obtained from the review of foreign studies and adaptation of Islamic, psychological, sociological and criminological perspectives, indicate the effectiveness of social preventive strategies in reducing and controlling sports betting. These strategies include: introducing and deepening religious teachings and beliefs, family-oriented preventive strategies, school-oriented preventive strategies, raising the level of public knowledge and awareness, strengthening self-control skills and social bonds, and solving the livelihood and economic problems of society.

Sports betting due to the imposition of harmful personal, social, economic and cultural effects on the government and society, requires special attention and determination and coordination of various legal and judicial organizations and institutions, security institutions and inspection authorities, police force, ministry managers. Sports and Youth, Ministry of Communication and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance in order to control and contain this phenomenon as best as possible.