Consumer lending vs ludomania: From resilience to social responsibility in the case of Ukraine

The main idea of the article lies in seeking a balance between the interests of the state, citizens - microcredit borrowers, non-banking financial institutions, and gambling entities (this is exemplified through relationships where low-income citizens use consumer credits for gambling). Unwise decisions by any of these participants regarding consumer credits and their use for gambling pose risks to both financial and social security in society. The issue of rationalizing the purpose of consumer credits, particularly in the context of military factors, when both the state and citizens are highly vulnerable, gains particular significance. In pursuit of the aim to identify an effective strategy to counter their (credits) use in citizen-risk operations, such as gambling, the article provides reasoned proposals for enhancing legal regulation of these relationships in Ukraine. Furthermore, the conceptual component of the article is reinforced by emphasizing the significant role of the concept of socially responsible business, which serves as a guarantee for achieving a positive social impact and minimizing predatory treatment of citizens in the microcredit sector. The research offers measures to prevent the misuse of microcredits and underscores the importance of achieving a balance between state and private interests in this field.