The Council of Europe continued its support to the National Administration of Penitentiaries in developing and piloting a new programme addressing gambling disorder in Moldovan prisons.

More than thirty professionals from Penitentiary No. 9-Pruncul, No. 4-Cricova, No. 15-Cricova, No. 18-Brănești and No. 6-Soroca, together with national and international experts, gathered on 19 and 20 November 2025 for a multidisciplinary workshop to co-develop the country’s first intervention on gambling disorder in custodial settings.

Over two days, social workers, psychologists and other specialists explored the theoretical foundations of gambling disorder, its risks and harms, and the relevant national and international standards on human rights and mental-health care in prisons. Participants also reviewed experiences from Pompidou Group* member states that have already introduced structured approaches to gambling and behavioural addictions in custodial environments, identifying practices that could be adapted to the country-specific needs.

Through thematic sessions, participants mapped available resources, analysed institutional needs, and drafted tools to assess gambling behaviours among persons deprived of their liberty, evaluate motivation to take part in preventive programmes, and strengthen staff capacities to deliver an effective and rights-based response. This collaborative work deepened understanding of how gambling behaviours manifest in Moldovan prisons, including their links with criminal subculture, and how targeted interventions can reduce related risks and harms, while improving the health of affected persons.

Insights generated during the workshop will inform the development of a tailored training curriculum for penitentiary staff and guide the design of national, context-specific, evidence-based and rights-compliant preventive and therapeutic interventions aligned with international standards and Pompidou Group expertise on gambling addiction.

The workshop was organised in partnership with the National Administration of Penitentiaries within the framework of the project “Supporting the Republic of Moldova in addressing the risks and harms related to drug use and addictive behaviours (2025-2026), implemented under the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2025-2028.

*The Pompidou Group (Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions) is the Council of Europe’s drug and addiction policy co-operation platform.