True depths of Ireland’s gambling addiction revealed as experts debate whether major new law shake-up goes too far
IRELAND has a gambling problem.
An astonishing ESRI report in October revealed for the first time the true depths of the addiction in Ireland where 130,000 people are problem gamblers.
One in 30 adults are suffering, a figure TEN TIMES higher than four years ago.
With problem gamblers spending around €1,000 a month, many would say there has never been a better time for a Government crackdown.
The Gambling Regulation Bill, when enacted, will bring in a raft of changes.
It will set up the Gambling Regulatory Authority which will oversee all gambling activities from betting to participating in a lottery.
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The Government says this will protect the most vulnerable while bringing legislation into the modern era.
Ireland’s gambling industry will be shaken up by the new laws, yet still supports moves to legislate.
However they believe the “unintended consequences” of the legislation — such as minimum bets, maximum wins and daytime advertising bans — will have dire implications not only for them but for punters.
Today in The Irish Sun, addiction experts reveal why the new laws are essential, while gambling companies point out where they believe they can be improved.
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'WILD WEST,' SAYS ADDICTION EXPERTS
ADDICTION counsellor Barry Grant, from Extern Problem Gambling, backs the proposed law to ban daytime gambling ads and says a gambling regulator is urgently needed.
He said: "It’s a bit of a Wild West in terms of both the licensed sector and the unlicensed sector.
"The vast majority of people that we work with gamble with the big licensed operators.
"When we get a regulator in, the regulator will actually be in a position to try and shut down the black market.
"When we get a regulator in, the regulator will actually be in a position to try and shut down the black market.
"Nobody’s trying to do that at the moment because nobody has responsibility for it."
Former gambling addict Matt Zarb-Cousin realised he had a problem after he lost €23,000 on betting machines.
At just 16, Matt began playing on fixed odds betting terminals. His punts continued for four years, admitting: "I could pretend I was normal and there was nothing wrong with me while I was gambling."
But when Matt found himself suicidal before his 20th birthday, he asked his family for help.
Matt said his problem at this stage wasn’t even about the money, it was the point his addiction had led him to.
He teamed up with Jack Simmons, a former online gambling addict, to create Gamban — a technology that blocks access to online gambling.
And the now 33-year-old beat his addiction in the nick of time.
He said: "Thankfully, I quit gambling before online apps really took off. I was really worried about the ramifications of all of that."
His recovery app currently has 18,155 users in Ireland. And Matt backs the move to ban daytime TV gambling ads as young people are at "heightened risk".
He said: "I think gambling advertising and the prevalence of it risk normalising gambling for the younger generation. When you’re 18 your prefrontal cortex is not fully developed.
"And until you’re 25 — your ability to gauge risk and the implications of what you’re engaged with – is not fully formed."
"And he said current unregulated gambling “unfortunately targets children".
'PUSHED TO BLACK MARKETS,' SAYS GAMBLING COMPANIES
PADDY Power say they strongly back the bill’s aims and believe the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland will be good for consumers.
But they believe giving the GRAI flexible powers rather than putting them in law would prevent a series of “unintended consequences” down the years.
In a letter to Law Reform Minister James Browne, they warned €10 gaming stake limits would see “consumers migrate to black market operators who can offer them the products they are used to, despite those operators offering them no safer gambling.
“Our data indicates that as many as 300,000-500,000 Irish consumers could be impacted, creating a significant potential customer base for the unlicensed market to target.”
Over 500,000 consumers used a free bet last year in Ireland, and PP owner Flutter warned vulnerable customers will seek them out abroad if denied access here.
They support moves to axe inducements such as free bets for problem gamblers. But they said: “Flutter’s experience is that there is no statistical evidence that promotional offers to open an account have any impact on customer risk levels.
“Unlicensed offshore operators will still offer compelling free bets and promotions.
“An excessively prohibitive approach on those offers will create incentives for consumers, particularly vulnerable ones, to seek out unlicensed operators.”
Lottoland’s Mike Kirwan fears minimum stakes and max wins will drive gamers to unregulated markets.
He said: “Lottoland fully supports gambling reform, player protection has to be at the core of it. Our main point is if you over regulate it and remove customer choice you potentially move people to the black market where there is no player protection or accountability.
“If you say €3,000 is the max, what happens to someone who wants to play a big bingo jackpot or bet on the lottery?
“It’s suddenly unavailable, but not on the black market.”