3.3% problem gambling rate prompts Ireland into action

As concerns continue to rise surrounding problem gambling in Ireland, many stories have arisen further solidifying the phenomenon as a silent societal cripple. Stories such as Oisín McConville’s highlight how easy it is to transition from recreation to addiction. After running up heavy debts before quitting in 2005, the All-Ireland title-winning footballer described how his competitive nature got the better of him, seamlessly moving him from a recreational to a problem gambler.

I felt the bookie was getting the better of me, so I had to go back in. I thought the way out of my addiction was through my addiction.

Other cases, such as Chris Joyce, have also surfaced, with the 31-year-old describing how online gambling’s mobile accessibility has made the addiction even harder to treat.

With gambling addiction, it’s so secretive. You can do it in the bathroom on your lunch break, and that’s what I would have done.

The scope of the crisis

According to the Economic and Social Research Institute’s (ESRI) 2023 study, the overall Irish problem gambling rate has risen significantly since 2019 to 3.3%.  

It has also been reported that the widening of the scope extends to an increase in both sexes, with the ESRI also finding that 2.9% more women are also suffering. This echoes results found in a variety of UK data statistics as well.

The rise of online gambling amongst young Irish people

Given the digital literacy of most of Ireland’s youth, one of the major issues is curbing problem gambling amongst this demographic. It has been reported by the Institute of Public Health that one in four 16-year-olds had gambled in 2023.

Experts such as the head of addiction services at St John of God Hospital, Dr. Colin O’Gara, have warned of the normalisation of online gambling amongst young people, stating that:

We have a generation that are now in their teens and early 20s who are fully ‘gamblified’.

The head of clinical services at Rutland Centre, Dublin, Emma Kavanagh, has emphasised a similar sentiment, expressing how betting behaviour evolves into a false sense of security.

Sports betting tends to be an entry point for people, but what we see is that as their gambling progresses, people will take a bet on anything. People will gamble on the most mundane-seeming things.

Introduction of the GRAI

To tackle these issues, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) was established last month as a dedicated watchdog. Operating under the first gambling legislation passed in Ireland since 1956, the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, the GRAI’s mission consists of these pillars:

• Establish a comprehensive licensing system.

• Set and enforce consumer protections.

• Prevent gambling harm at all levels of society.

Key reforms

To achieve these objectives, the GRAI has already begun work on some notably unique approaches. Beginning with a new licensing regime to regulate and oversee online casino operators. New licences are set to be issued as early as July 2026.

Something a bit more controversial, however, is the ongoing debate over gambling advertising. The GRAI is currently implementing a strict advertising watershed, prohibiting any promotional material from airing during the hours of 5.30 am and 9 pm. This has been criticised for being too lenient, as just past 9 pm could still be considered “prime-time”. Some experts, such as O’Gara, have also stated:

There’s absolutely no sense in having any advertising out there. I guess over the years, we were just beaten down. It was really hard to get anything in.

What is in no way a contentious issue is the addition of a national gambling exclusion register. This is widely accepted as an effective tool and is expected to form a strong structure to support all the existing responsible gambling options in Ireland. This will also be accompanied by blocking services from banks such as AIB and Revolut.

The social impact fund

The GRAI has also promised the arrival of the Social Impact Fund, which will innovatively be funded by a likely 1-2% levy on operator revenues. While the aims haven’t been fully defined yet, the founder of the charity Problem Gambling Ireland, Barry Grant, has stated that it will support addiction treatment, education, and research.

What’s next?

Many industry experts and stakeholders have already begun pressuring the GRAI. The main concerns include:

• Issuing advice to parents of at-risk youth.

• Collaboration with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) on gambling education for junior-cycle and transition-year students.

• Researching the use of potentially stigmatising language and the removal of this kind of language from public health campaigns.

The chief executive of the GRAI, Anne Marie Caulfield, has also mentioned that the authority hopes to scale rapidly in the coming months:

We anticipate that when we’re at full tilt, when we’re fully operational, we will need 120 staff.

Reaction to the new framework

Numerous experts and policymakers have praised the introduction of the GRAI. GRAI’s Executive Director of Services, Deirdre O’Driscoll, has commented,

I do think that we have a duty of care for future generations. We need to stop making it easy.

Barry Grant has also mentioned his enthusiasm for the projects being brought through by the GRAI:

Behavioural addictions like gambling addiction were just financially left out in the cold up until this legislation, so that’s going to be huge.

Despite the great hope for the initiatives from the GRAI, Caulfield has stated that even though the GRAI is “at a really positive stage now,”. She still wants to “generate more discussion”, and that there is still a long way to go.

All in all, Dr. Colin O’Gara summed up the response to the GRAI best:

I’ve sat in this office for about 20 years, and I can assure you that one of the most rewarding things about it is seeing people who are at rock bottom getting to full recovery.

Hope for the future

While the legislation isn’t perfect, it represents a crucial step forward for Ireland in addressing gambling harm. For the first time, the country has a coordinated national approach, offering hope that real change is the key to tackling this long-standing issue.

If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, support is available. Visit our responsible gambling page for practical advice, tools, and resources to help you stay in control.