Cork's Tabor Group welcomes new gambling bill amid increase in those presenting with problems 

Ireland’s recently passed gambling bill was among the top priority for the government to pass before the election, and its aim to regulate advertising has been welcomed by those who suffer from a gambling addiction.

One in 10 adults are problem gamblers in Ireland, and people with a gambling addiction on average spend around €1,000 a month feeding their habit, a recent ERSI survey has shown.

Minister of State at the Department of Justice with responsibility for Law Reform, James Browne welcomed the passage of the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 through both Houses of the Oireachtas last month.

The legislation sets out the framework and legislative basis for the establishment of a new, independent statutory body, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, and for a modern and robust licencing and regulatory framework for both in-person and online gambling.

The Bill provides for the establishment and operation of the National Gambling Exclusion Register and introduces tight restrictions on the advertisement of gambling activities and provides for the creation of a Social Impact Fund to support awareness–raising and educational measures and to support problem gambling treatment activities.

Jerry (not his real name), a gambling addict who had not placed a bet for nearly two years, told The Echo that gambling adverts were “everywhere” and made it difficult to avoid thinking about it when trying to stay away from it.

He was definitely in favour of the regulation, saying: 

“If you watch something on TV, there’s ads like competitions to win a house, ads for the lotto, which are just another form of gambling, then ads for sports betting – they’re all on during the day.”

He explained that during a soccer match, there are numerous effective gambling adverts – such as logos of betting companies on jerseys or at the side of the pitch – every minute.

Jerry continued: “Radio adverts about winning money seem very harmless to most people, it only costs a few euro to enter but to a gambling addict, they’re very tempting and I’m sure there are people entering 20 or 40 times.

“Bringing gambling online has made a massive difference too, with phones people can easily just be gambling at home from their couches straight from their bank account and can end up losing thousands of euro in an hour.”

Jerry explained that he’d definitely be in favour of further regulation of betting sites: “It’s difficult to get off mailing lists for these gambling websites, even when you’ve unsubscribed – the amount of information they store on you is crazy.

“You could be trying to stay away from it, then if you don’t bet for a while the companies will email you a free €20 voucher, but if you gamble that €20 then you’re right back in it straight away and adding more of your own money, and the companies know that when they send you the voucher.”

He said he was definitely in favour of education and support programmes: “Unlike alcohol or drug addiction, it’s much easier to hide it and get away with it for longer – there’s no visible signs on the outside that you’re struggling on the inside, but the struggle is just as hard, just without the physical effects.”

Mick Devine, clinical director of Tabor Lodge, told The Echo that the legislation was welcome, as they were seeing an increase in people with gambling problems.

He explained: “Gambling is definitely more of a mainstream leisure time activity than it used to be, and that’s partially due to technology – the accessibility of it.

“Gambling has become part of sport – not just horse racing but football too, and the gambling industry is sponsoring lots of sports and getting lots of advertising on TV.

“I’d definitely say that there has been an increase in the number of people presenting with gambling related problems.

“It can often be part of the addiction profile along with other issues such as alcohol.

“If people have drug debts, often they think gambling is an easy way to get money to pay those debts, and it might work for a bit, but it then becomes part of people’s difficulties and they can end up in even more debt.

“There isn’t an inebriation that goes with gambling, no tell tale sign that someone’s been doing it and the problems can go away much easier.

“The hangover is a constant reminder after a drug or alcohol binge, the physical effects hang around afterwards but not for gambling, so it’s a lot more hideable.

“It’s usually pretty serious financial consequences that bring people to treatment, a lot of debt but also a lot of secrecy which can lead to a crisis – it’s not unusual for there to be self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

“Sometimes the family will tell the person to leave – and that’s often when they come to us, we’re a good agency to come to in a crisis because we can get the person into the residential programme and stabilise the issues.

“Gambling addictions can have a huge impact on the person’s partner or parents, they can be really blindsided and hurt by it financially as well as emotionally by all the secrecy – the family member needs care as well, and our family services can be of particular support to people in times of crisis.”

Anyone who needs help with gambling for themselves or a loved one can contact Tabor Lodge on 0214887110.