Ireland: Over 200 stakeholders call for action on gambling harm in new report
Consultation findings highlight need for coordinated gambling harm response.
Key points:
– A new report from the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) and Pobal outlines service gaps, investment priorities and the need for national coordination to address gambling harm
– More than 200 stakeholders contributed insights that will shape the design and strategy of Ireland’s new Social Impact Fund
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), in partnership with Pobal, has released a report capturing the findings of its National Stakeholder Consultation on gambling-related harm. The consultation was undertaken to guide the direction of the newly established Social Impact Fund.
The report draws on input from over 200 stakeholders, including people with lived experience of gambling addiction, their families, treatment providers, NGOs and researchers. It highlights both the scale of the issue and the need for systemic change in how Ireland responds.
Findings show that over 80% of questionnaire respondents said their gambling had led to significant financial difficulties. Stakeholders agreed that stigma, limited awareness and unclear referral pathways continue to delay help-seeking and create barriers to recovery.
While valuable services exist, the report reveals they are under-resourced and unevenly distributed. Many participants stressed the absence of a unified national framework or coordinated infrastructure to respond effectively.
Good to know: The report reflects a wider concern for responsible gambling by highlighting how responsibility is shared between those who regulate, provide and take part in gambling
Priority areas for investment identified through the consultation include better public awareness and prevention initiatives, timely access to treatment and counselling, consistent aftercare, stronger family and peer supports and an accredited workforce.
This report marks the first stage in developing the Fund’s investment strategy. A broader public consultation, including input on the annual statutory contributions from licensed gambling operators will follow.
One individual in the focus group stated: “Self-exclusion was absolutely missing at the time but hugely important for reducing harm.”
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