A recent survey involving 1,000 Irish adults who gambled within the last year reveals that frequent communications from gambling operators and specific events significantly influenced their gambling habits. This research, released by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) on Wednesday, arrives as Ireland works on establishing a regulatory framework under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.
The findings indicate that a staggering 80% of respondents possess an online gambling account. Of these account holders, over half, or 53%, reported having multiple accounts. Additionally, 44% of the total surveyed claimed to engage in both online and in-person gambling.
When it comes to the influences on their gambling activity, 38% of participants who initially created accounts to bet on horses or sports later used those accounts for other gambling products, such as online casino games, slots, bingo, or scratchcards.
The frequency of operator communications is noteworthy, with nearly 66% of account holders acknowledging receipt of emails, 52% receiving notifications via apps, and 16% getting text messages. Among those getting app alerts, nearly 25% reported receiving them daily or more frequently. In fact, approximately one in seven participants stated that their most recent online gambling experience was prompted by an email or advertisement from an operator. Other triggers included reminders of upcoming sports events, viewing sports, and sensations of boredom or stress, with boredom or stress cited as the reason for 16.4% of recent online gambling sessions.
The survey also found that gambling activities often disrupted personal and professional time. Among those who deposited money into online gambling accounts in the last year, 70% found the process of depositing very straightforward, while 57% felt the same about withdrawing winnings. However, nearly 20% of individuals who closed an account described that process as difficult. Notably, two-thirds of online gamblers placed at least one bet a week, in contrast to 48% of those who engaged in in-person gambling. Approximately one in five respondents indicated that their latest gambling session interrupted another activity, with work being the most frequently displaced due to online gambling, while family time was most affected by in-person gambling.
When it comes to tackling gambling habits, one in four respondents mentioned they were attempting to reduce their gambling, but a third of this group acknowledged they were gambling as much or more than the previous year. Most often, willpower was reported as the primary strategy for cutting back, with 48% of those trying to reduce online gambling and 63% of those trying to decrease in-person gambling relying on this method. Notably, fewer than 10% of participants reported using self-exclusion.
Additional research referenced by the ESRI estimated that approximately one in every 30 adults in Ireland faces problems with gambling, while one in five shows some signs of gambling-related issues.
The report calls for a closer examination of how gambling customers consent to receive notifications, the accessibility of withdrawals and account closures compared to deposits, and whether moving to other gambling products is linked to harm. Researchers raised important questions for the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) as it works to implement the 2024 Act, which contains provisions for marketing controls, operator communication regulations, account limits, consumer protections, and a centralized self-exclusion system.
This legislation, pending full enactment, includes some of the most stringent penalties in the European Union for allowing underage gambling activities. The GRAI was set up last year to assist in the enactment of this bill.
Earlier this year, the GRAI launched a national initiative to help parents and guardians identify and address underage gambling behaviors, following research they commissioned from the ESRI. This revealed that children who gamble are twice as likely to face gambling-related issues in adulthood, with 64% of adults in the survey having gambled before turning 18. Engaging in gambling as a minor increased the likelihood of developing gambling problems later in life by 83% to 87%. Furthermore, individuals whose parents gambled were 80% more likely to encounter gambling problems themselves.
