SBC News Proposals to educate about gambling in Irish schools

Proposals to educate about gambling in Irish schools

rutlandcentre
The Rutland Centre

A report in Monday’s Irish Independent suggests that over 100,000 Irishmen and women have a gambling problem, with those in the under-25 age category significantly more at risk.

The article quotes Paul Mullins from Aiséirí, a group that provides community and residential services to help young people, adults and families overcome and recover from addiction. Mullins works as an addiction counsellor for Kilkenny’s Aislinn Adolescent Addiction Treatment Centre, and is described as Ireland’s foremost authority on problem gambling, presenting at various workshops and even discussing the proposed Gambling Control Bill 2013 in parliament. The bill sets out provisions to deal with problem gamblers and vulnerable adults and young people. It is expected to be published later this year.

Treatment centres throughout Ireland are seeing a 20% jump in numbers every year, with a 17-year old the youngest in treatment, the piece quoted Mullins. Meanwhile, the Rutland Centre, Dublin’s private addiction rehabilitation centre and registered charity, estimates that between 1 and 3% of the population may be compulsive gamblers.

Speaking before the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality Debate last October, Mullins said: “However, due to the changing and challenging nature of problem gambling, including internet and gambling on social media sites, we have developed individual treatment plans based on the gambling clients’ pathway model.

“We recommend that education on the dangers of gambling and betting be introduced to all secondary and tertiary education in Ireland, that a prevalence study be carried out to determine numbers and those in danger of moving from social gambling to problem gambling. During the past few years, and certainly since the financial crisis in Ireland, we have witnessed an increase in those presenting with a gambling problem. The financial implications for a pathological gambler and his family are for the main part long term placing a huge burden on both those suffering from this insidious addiction and their families.”

Ireland’s national organisation dedicated to funding research on pathological gambling and treatment,  GambleAware.ie, said while the majority of people who gamble do so safely, Irish people are believed to bet upwards of €14m (£11.56m) per day. It also states that around 12% bet with a bookmaker weekly, while 44% play the National Lottery on a regular basis.

A University College Dublin and Department of Social Protection funded project, ‘Playing Social Roulette: The Impact of Problem Gambling on Individuals and Society in Ireland’, says it will examine the ‘true and hidden cost’ of problem gambling in Ireland.

Check Also

CricketBet

Sky Sports to broadcast IPL in UK & Ireland

Sky Sports will show the Indian Premier League (IPL) for cricket fans in the UK …

SBC News BoyleSports: A refined horse racing relationship and navigating Irish regulatory change

BoyleSports: A refined horse racing relationship and navigating Irish regulatory change

Vlad Kaltenieks, CEO of BoyleSports, outlines the operator’s strategic vision to enhance fan engagement in …

SBC News Betfair sees odds plunge on hazy Joe's re-election

Betfair sees odds plunge on hazy Joe’s re-election

Betfair Exchange has released data on Joe Biden’s chances of re-election as US President – …