A new report into the gambling habits of Irish people estimated that up to 55,000 people could have a "serious gambling disorder".
The report, which was funded by Gambling Awareness Trust, found that revenue in the industry has increased as people switch to online gambling during lockdown.
If you’re worried about your #gambling or someone else’s gambling activity, help is available. #reachout #free #professional #confidential support is available. pic.twitter.com/MUWQr1kXPM
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The document makes a number of recommendations to tackle the issue and highlights the gap in Ireland's health system for a "gambling-specific' public health programme.
Co-author Prof John O'Brennan ‘Gambling trends, harms and responses: Ireland in an international context’ says a "robust regulatory regime" is needed urgently.
"State funding [should] be used to significantly enhance public treatment provision, education and awareness of gambling related harms, and research into harmful gambling," he said.
According to the research in the Maynooth University document, for every one person with a gambling problem, six others are affected.
The authors point to Ireland's "liberal" attitude to the habit, the stigma surrounding the addiction and the "patchwork" policies in place as the contributors to the issue here.
Main Image: Aidan Howe from Pixabay
