Ireland's New Gambling Report Released
New data shows four in five Irish gamblers hold online accounts, prompting calls for tighter operator rules.
By Ethan Mitchell ·
A new survey indicates that 80% of gamblers in Ireland maintain at least one online betting account. The findings, released by the Economic and Social Research Institute, reflect the habits of 1,000 adults who placed bets within the last year. The data suggests that most participants do not limit themselves to a single platform, with a large portion managing multiple accounts at once.
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland commissioned the study to support its new regulatory duties. The authority was created under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 to license operators and enforce statutory restrictions. Anne Marie Caulfield, the CEO of the GRAI, noted that more than half of online account holders use multiple accounts simultaneously across different platforms. She stated that the research confirms a need for new obligations regarding account opening, closing, spending limits, and advertising restrictions.
The survey breaks down how people access gambling services. Seventy-seven percent of respondents admitted to gambling online, while 59% reported gambling in person. Forty-four percent do both. The most common reasons for opening an online account include betting on horses, sports matches, and playing lotteries. The data also shows that four in ten people who start by betting online on sports or horses eventually move to other forms like online casino games, scratch cards, or slots.
Respondents also reported on their financial experiences and intentions. Twenty-six percent of online gamblers said they lost a lot of money, compared to 17% of those who gamble only in person. One in four gamblers said they are trying to reduce the time they spend gambling or plan to do so in the future.
Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan commented on the findings. He said research of this nature helps the GRAI and his department develop an evidence-based regulatory framework. He added that the goal is to ensure gambling is regulated in a fair, effective, and transparent manner while responding to public health and social needs.
The report serves as a baseline for the GRAI as it begins enforcing the new rules. The authority will now use these figures to guide its oversight of licensed operators. The next steps involve implementing the specific obligations for account management and spending controls mentioned by the CEO.
