Gambling in Ireland

Below are some recent media and reports on gambling in Ireland. I am hoping to organise something on this in 2017 from the point of view of behavioural policy and regulation and will use this post to update readings and other resources. 

Media

25th October 2016. Unregulated trade not obliged to report suspicious gambling. Irish Independent.

23rd October 2016. Advertising chief seeks to ‘get message out’ on new standards. Irish Times.

17th October 2016. Government would be right to tackle Ireland’s gambling culture. Irish Times.

2nd October 2016. One in 10 Irish adolescents gamble frequently, new research shows. Irish Independent.

30th September 2016. PAUL ROUSE: No surprise that 40,000 Irish people have gambling addiction. Irish Examiner.

27th September 2016. Young Irish smoke, drink less but gamble frequently. Irish Medical Times.

26th September 2016. Bookmakers can't have it both ways – Limerick TD. Limerick Leader.

3rd June 2016. We're only seeing the very tip of Ireland's gambling Iceberg. Pundit Arena.

25th May 2016. Funding is needed 'before it's too late' - there's a surge in gambling addiction in Irish men (and women). The Journal.

24th May 2016. Gambling addiction in Ireland grows 6.5 per cent this year compared to 2013. Irish Mirror.

21st May 2016. Declan Lynch: 'Online gambling is the most dangerous thing I've ever seen'. Irish Times.

2nd May 2016. Gambling is our silent addiction, expert warns. Irish Independent.

2nd May 2016. Unregulated trade not obliged to report suspicious gambling. Irish Independent.

30th April 2016. Women prime targets of gambling websites as they escape stress and isolation. Irish Independent.

29th Feb 2016. Ads for e-cigarettes and gambling will be subject to new rules. Irish Times.

2nd Feb 2016. The Gambling Control Bill Urgently Needs to be Enacted. problemgambling.ie

Reports, law, and journal articles

Betting Ammendment Act 2015 (Irish Statute Book)

Understanding Ireland's Betting (Amendment) Act (gambling.com)

THE 2015 ESPAD REPORT: Results from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs.

Caldo et al (2016). Prevalence of Adolescent Problem Gambling: A Systematic Review of Recent Research. Journal of Gambling Studies, doi:10.1007/s10899-016-9627-5

'However, there are 22 European countries where no empirical research into adolescent gambling and problem gambling has been carried out: Armenia, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Montenegro, Monaco, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Ukraine.'

Eakins et al (2016). Household gambling expenditures and the Irish recession. International Gambling Studies, Volume 16, Issue 2, 2016.

This article examines the determinants of household gambling expenditures in Ireland and the effects of the recession on these expenditures using a large micro data-set, the Irish Household Budget Survey (HBS). Two gambling expenditures are examined, bookmaker tote betting and spending on the national lottery. Households with an older and a less educated head of household participate in and spend more on both forms of gambling while the presence of children in the households tends to reduce participation and spending in gambling. There is also evidence to suggest that households with an unemployed head of household have a higher likelihood of participation in gambling. The recession has affected the two forms of gambling in different ways. Lottery expenditures appear resilient to the effects of the recession. This is demonstrated in the estimated expenditure elasticities in particular. Bookmaker/tote expenditures have changed from a necessity to a luxury good, while lottery expenditures have increased in their necessity status. This can be explained by the fact that playing the lottery requires less time, knowledge and risk and has potentially greater benefits attached to it in comparison to bookmaker/tote betting. During a recession these factors become much more prevalent.

Fulton, Crystal : Playing Social Roulette: The Impact of Gambling on Individuals and Society in Ireland. University College Dublin, 2015-06. Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/10197/6796

This scholarly research study explored gambling behaviour in Ireland, specifically the issue of problem gambling and its impact on the individual, the gambler’s relationships with social connections, and the wider impact of problem gambling behaviour on community and society. The project followed an exploratory, ethnographic approach to enable participants to express themselves fully from their perspective, to facilitate in-depth understanding of gambling behaviour, and to provide a foundation for future research projects in this area. The research was conducted as four work packages, involving data collection with critical stakeholders: 1) Addiction Service Providers, 2) Gamblers, 3) Gamblers' Social Connections, and 4) the Gambling Industry. Data were collected using semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Problem gambling not only affects the individual who participates in gambling opportunities, but also that person’s family members, friends, and wider community. There are multiple areas where stakeholders' needs can be facilitated, including regulation and policy development to protect those vulnerable to negative outcomes associated with gambling. Importantly, collaboration among all stakeholders should be initiated. Findings suggest that development of a regulatory framework and a social policy framework is urgently needed. A national strategy for service provision is essential. Further research into gambling behaviour and approaches and services is urgently needed in Ireland.