Ireland’s new regulator has spoken out about stark data which suggests the issue of problem gambling is worse than previously imagined.
In an interview with the Irish Examiner, the head of the new agency Anne Marie Caulfield shared insights which have been collected from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
“The extent of problem gambling in Ireland was much higher than previously thought,” she told the paper.
“It was 10 times higher than had been previously thought.
“That figure of 3.1% [of people] demonstrating significant harm from gambling and then a further 7% had moderate levels [of harm]. And then the fact that 47% of turnover is actually attributed to those two categories from that ESRI study was worrying.”
There has also been evidence that children are twice as likely to become problem gamblers in later life if they bet before the age of 18.
How has gambling regulation changed in Ireland?
This year has seen a major shake-up in the regulation sector in Ireland, as the Minister for Justice signed the first Commencement Order bringing into force the first provision of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 at the beginning of March.
It was also then that seven members were appointed to the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, with those people commencing their roles from March 5.
This comes after the previous legislation was drafted in the 1950s and hadn’t been updated to account for the rise in online gambling.
As for how this will impact operators, it’s believed the first licences under the new legislation will be issued in the coming year.
The renewal process, however, for remote bookmakers licences for this year will remain the same as what has been seen previously but only for a one-year term as a new process may then be in place.
It’s reported that a key priority from the regulator is to focus on the licencing regime and getting this up and running.
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