- Gambling Problem Ireland Wikipedia
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- Gambling Problem Ireland Statistics
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Gambling Awareness Trust is an Independent charity setup in 2019 to fund research, education and treatment services to help minimise gambling related harm in Ireland. IRELAND HAS THE third highest per capita rate of gambling losses in the world. That's according to research which shows that as a nation we lose about €470 per adult on different forms of gambling. In 2016, a Department for Communities survey identified 2.3% of the population as having a gambling problem, four times higher than the British average. Ulster Unionist MLA Robbie Butler, the. Ireland has the third highest gambling losses per adult, in the world (based on 2016 figures). According to the Department of Health, Ireland has in the region of 30,000 people with gambling problems (aged 15 and over). Fewer than 1% of people who would benefit from problem gambling treatment receive it. (Gamble Aware, 2011).
THERE HAVE BEEN at least around 800 cases in Ireland where people sought help with gambling addiction since 2015, but these official HSE figures have been labelled 'the tip of the iceberg'.
The figures were released to Sinn Féin's Louise O'Reilly, who asked Minister for Health Simon Harris how many people had been treated for gambling addiction since 2015.
Harris sent O'Reilly's request to the HSE but the body subsequently admitted its own figures don't paint an accurate picture of the scale of gambling addiction in Ireland.
The Dublin Fingal TD told TheJournal.ie that the government has refused to engage on methods to try to understand problem gambling in this country, and that we are already in the midst of a crisis that is going largely unnoticed by the government.
In its reply to O'Reilly, the HSE said that its addiction services have been 'traditionally funded to treat problematic drug and alcohol use, some cases of problematic gambling have been provided with treatment'.
‘Optional' reporting
In supplying the figures, the HSE said that the numbers available related to the number of cases reported to the National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS).
'Reporting of gambling to the NDTRS is optional,' it said. 'Therefore, these figures cannot be considered complete or representative of the treatment for gambling in a national context.'
Nevertheless its figures show that there were 208 cases in 2015, 195 in 2016 and 219 in 2017. These were cases where gambling was designated the 'main problem' in those presenting for treatment.
In all, that's 622 cases in that three-year period.
The figures aren't yet finalised for 2018 but, with 60% of all relevant data available, there were 174 cases where patients were treated for a gambling addiction.
So, since 2015, there has been just under 800 cases – at the very least – where people presented with gambling addiction to a service under the auspices of the HSE.
It is more than likely that these figures vastly underestimate the true volume of problem gambling in Ireland, as the HSE noted in its response.
The issue with the NDTRS is that a form must be completed by each person presenting for treatment related to their drug, alcohol or in this case gambling use.
People also often turn to private providers and charities who offer addiction supports outside the remit of the HSE.
There is scant data available on the prevalence of problem gambling in Ireland, but research has been done in the UK to try to get a picture of how pervasive the issue is.
In England in 2016, it was estimated that there were around 300,000 problem gamblers, which is under 0.5% of the population.
The picture is far bleaker in Northern Ireland, which estimates that 2.3% of the population is classified as a problem gambler, or around 43,000 people.
Gambling Problem Ireland Wikipedia
‘Dedicated study'
We don't know what this figure is in Ireland because the dedicated studies on it simply have not been done.
There is some data available on how much Irish punters have lost on gambling, with a study by The Economist in 2017 saying Ireland's gambling losses totalled €2.1 billion a year, or €470 per adult.
O'Reilly said it was important that this problem was no longer ignored.
She said: 'We are not drifting towards a gambling crisis, we are in the middle of one and the government are afraid to look under the bonnet to see how big that crisis is.
With the Gambling Control Bill 2013 put forward by the government in the doldrums for quite some time, and a revised bill put forward by Fianna Fáil a year ago this month making slow progress in the Dáil, inaction is continuing from the government in legislating the gambling industry and the issues facing problem gamblers.
The Department of Health does have data on gambling use in Ireland on the way, but that will be based on data from 2014/15.
That will form part of the Drugs Prevalence Survey, which published its first tranche of data in 2016. The government has promised that more fuller data on gambling within our culture from that survey will be published soon.
Sinn Fein's O'Reilly believes that is not enough and wants the government to be more proactive on the issue.
'I've been calling for a dedicated gambling prevalence survey so we can understand the scale of the problem in this State, however, to date the government refuse to engage,' she said. 'In fact, they even refuse to run a problem gambling awareness campaign.'
Being a compulsive gambler can harm your health and relationships, and leave you in serious debt.
If you have a problem with gambling and you'd like to stop, support and treatment is available.
Are you a problem gambler?
Try this questionnaire:
- Do you bet more than you can afford to lose?
- Do you need to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same feeling?
- Have you tried to win back money you have lost (chasing losses)?
- Have you borrowed money or sold anything to get money to gamble?
- Have you wondered whether you have a problem with gambling?
- Has your gambling caused you any health problems, including feelings of stress or anxiety?
- Have other people criticised your betting or told you that you had a gambling problem (regardless of whether or not you thought it was true)?
- Has your gambling caused any financial problems for you or your household?
- Have you ever felt guilty about the way you gamble or what happens when you gamble?
Problem Gambling Ireland Twitter
Score 0 for each time you answer 'never'
Score 1 for each time you answer 'sometimes'
Score 2 for each time you answer 'most of the time'
Score 3 for each time you answer 'almost always'
If your total score is 8 or higher, you may be a problem gambler.
Help for problem gamblers
There's evidence that gambling can be successfully treated in the same way as other addictions. Cognitive behavioural therapy usually has the best results.
Treatment and support groups are available for people who want to stop gambling:
GamCareGamCare offers free information, support and counselling for problem gamblers in the UK.
It runs the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) and also offers face-to-face counselling.
National Problem Gambling Clinic If you live in England or Wales, are aged 13 or over and have complex problems related to gambling, you can refer yourself to this specialist NHS clinic for problem gamblers.
See if you meet the criteria for this service.
Gordon Moody Association The Gordon Moody Association offers residential courses for men and women who have problems with gambling – email help@gordonmoody.org.uk or call 01384 241292 to find out more.
It also runs the Gambling Therapy website, which offers online support to problem gamblers and their friends and family.
Gamblers Anonymous UKGamblers Anonymous UK runs local support groups that use the same 12-step approach to recovery from addiction as Alcoholics Anonymous. There are also GamAnon support groups for friends and family.
Self-help tips for problem gamblers
Do:
- pay important bills, such as your mortgage, on payday before you gamble
- spend more time with family and friends who don't gamble
- deal with your debts rather than ignoring them – visit the National Debtline for tips
If your total score is 8 or higher, you may be a problem gambler.
Help for problem gamblers
There's evidence that gambling can be successfully treated in the same way as other addictions. Cognitive behavioural therapy usually has the best results.
Treatment and support groups are available for people who want to stop gambling:
GamCareGamCare offers free information, support and counselling for problem gamblers in the UK.
It runs the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) and also offers face-to-face counselling.
National Problem Gambling Clinic If you live in England or Wales, are aged 13 or over and have complex problems related to gambling, you can refer yourself to this specialist NHS clinic for problem gamblers.
See if you meet the criteria for this service.
Gordon Moody Association The Gordon Moody Association offers residential courses for men and women who have problems with gambling – email help@gordonmoody.org.uk or call 01384 241292 to find out more.
It also runs the Gambling Therapy website, which offers online support to problem gamblers and their friends and family.
Gamblers Anonymous UKGamblers Anonymous UK runs local support groups that use the same 12-step approach to recovery from addiction as Alcoholics Anonymous. There are also GamAnon support groups for friends and family.
Self-help tips for problem gamblers
Do:
- pay important bills, such as your mortgage, on payday before you gamble
- spend more time with family and friends who don't gamble
- deal with your debts rather than ignoring them – visit the National Debtline for tips
Don't:
- view gambling as a way to make money – try to see it as entertainment instead
- bottle up your worries about your gambling – talk to someone
- take credit cards with you when you go gambling
For more self-help tips, see the Royal College of Psychiatrists website.
If you're affected by someone's gambling
If you're having problems because of another person's gambling, it's best to be honest with them about it. They need to know how their behaviour is affecting you.
Gambling Problem Ireland Statistics
Support is also available to people who are worried about someone else's gambling:
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GamCare Gamcare offers support and information for partners, friends and family of people who gamble compulsively.
GamAnon
Local support groups for anyone affected by someone else's gambling problem – find your nearest group.
Gambling Problem Ireland Coronavirus
Real stories of recovery from gambling
Tell your own story and post messages of support in the GamCare recovery diaries forum.
Page last reviewed: 31 December 2017
Next review due: 31 December 2020
