RoI report: ‘Childhood gambling doubles addiction risk’

Irish people who gamble before the age of 18 are more likely to become problem gamblers, a new study has shown.

Research carried out by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) found a strong link between exposure to gambling in childhood and problem gambling in adulthood.

The Gambling Regulation Bill – which is under consideration by the Seanad – would establish a national regulator, create a social impact fund to address problem gambling, and ban advertising across television, radio, and on-demand services between 5:30pm and 9pm.

Strict measures

In an ESRI survey of 1,663 adults in Ireland, two-in-three (64 per cent) reported having gambled before turning 18.

According to the study, playing slot machines was the most common form of gambling for money as a child (33 per cent). Other forms of childhood gambling included scratch cards, bingo and lotteries.

Based on the finding that under 18s who gambled “are almost twice as likely” to be problem gamblers, researchers called for “regulatory measures to minimise the exposure of children to gambling”.

“These may include bans on children gambling or even entering a gambling premises, website or app. Strict, immediate age-verification safeguards may be warranted for digital gambling platforms.”

‘Social tsunami’

Earlier this month, the Irish Government was urged to defy attempts by the gambling industry to weaken proposals in the Bill that stop children being drawn into gambling.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, consultant psychiatrist Professor Colin O’Gara said Justice Minister James Browne TD has been doing the “right thing” by resisting “non-stop incessant pressure”, but the proposals are taking “too long” since being introduced in 2022.

During the latest debate on the legislation Senator Mark Wall warned: “For too long, the gambling and marketing companies have normalised gambling in sport, portraying sporting occasions as reasons to gamble”.

And Deputy Browne highlighted the urgent need to regulate an activity that “is causing a tsunami of social problems in our society”.