Gambling a problem for one in 30 adults in Ireland, higher than previously thought - ESRI
Problem gambling is an issue for one in 30 adults in Ireland, new figures from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) estimate.
The study was commissioned through the implementation team supporting the establishment of the new Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland and the Department of Justice. The figure is 10 times higher than a previous measure from 2019.
Most of the difference is likely to be down to the survey method, the ESRI said. Previous estimates were based on face-to-face interviews, while the recent ESRI study was done anonymously online, using a representative sample of 2,850 adults.
Top News Stories
- Native American convicted of murdering Limerick priest 40 years ago exonerated of killing: A native American convicted of murdering a Limerick priest 40 years ago was exonerated of the killing on Wednesday.
- Euro 2028 bid costs and benefits scrutinised ‘in great detail’ after previous concerns:The cost of Ireland’s bid to co-host the Euro 2028 – previously put at between €65 million and €93 million – has been “scrutinised in great detail”, with a full-cost benefit analysis carried out, the Department of Tourism and Sport has insisted
- Hiqa to investigate use of unlicensed springs in Temple Street children’s operations: The State’s health watchdog has been called in to investigate the implantation of unlicensed springs in children undergoing spinal surgery at Temple Street hospital.
- Focus on slashing waiting times for driving tests, says Chambers: Efforts will be made to cut waiting times for driving tests before attention is focused on thousands of motorists who remain on the roads with numerous renewed learner permits, Minister of State with responsibility for road safety Jack Chambers has said.
- Decision to retain TV licence may be reversed, says Martin: Minister for Media Catherine Martin has indicated that the Government might be willing to reverse its decision to retain the TV licence in light of the Ryan Tubridy pay controversy and the rapid decline in RTÉ's income since the summer.
- Algal bloom in Blessington lakes described as dangerous to humans and pets: An algal bloom which has turned parts of the Blessington lakes in Co Wicklow a luminous green has been described as dangerous to humans and pets by the environmental charity An Taisce.
- Ireland’s weather today: A dull, cloudy and rather wet start is in store. Rain and drizzle are set to spread throughout the country this morning, with some heavy showers in the west and southwest and a slight chance of localised flooding. The rain will ease this afternoon. A blustery day too, with highs of 15 to 18 degrees.
- Happening today: The CSO will publish the Sexual Violence Survey 2022 – Attitudes to Sexual Violence, the DUP meets this evening to discuss a possible return to Stormont and the Dáil is sitting.
News from around the World
- Republicans Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise bid to become US House speaker: Conservative congressman Jim Jordan, a strong ally of former president Donald Trump, has become the first politician to announce a bid to become the next speaker of the US House of Representatives. He was followed by Steve Scalise, the second-highest-ranking Republican in the House, who announced he would also seek the speakership, writes Martin Wall in Washington.
- EU states reach deal on reforming migration rules: European Union countries reached a breakthrough on Wednesday in years-long negotiations over how to reform migration rules, as diplomats agreed a compromise on how to deal with surges of irregular migration, writes Europe Correspondent Naomi O’Leary.
- Sunak tries to paint himself as the change-maker as Tories prepare for election: Conservative party leader and British prime minister Rishi Sunak has switched to election mode, using his conference speech to try to cast himself as an agent of change despite his party being in power for the last 13 years, writes Mark Paul in Manchester.
The Big Read
- Luke O’Neill: Our scientific journey of discovery is only getting started: I only have a vague memory of my grandmother, Agnes Bourke O’Neill. She died when I was three years old. But two memories stand out. The first is me sitting in her garden on what I still remember as intensely bright green grass, beside some geraniums. I was amazed at how green the grass was and the heady scent coming off the flowers. The second is even more vivid.
Today’s Business
- Opinion - If child benefit is a universal payment, why are the children most in need excluded?: Child poverty exists in Ireland, and it will come as no surprise to many that it can also exist in direct provision. Children in our asylum process, regardless of their age or circumstances, receive just €29.80 per week and get no child benefit. While child benefit is described as a universal benefit, it is not universally paid, writes Nick Henderson.
- Up to 27,000 mortgages held by funds could switch providers, says Central Bank: The Central Bank estimates that up to 27,000 Irish home loans snapped up by international funds in the wake of the financial crisis may be eligible to switch to active lenders under criteria agreed by the mortgage industry last month.
Top Sports news
- James Ryan a doubt for Ireland’s clash with Scotland with Iain Henderson on standby: Ireland are sweating over the fitness of secondrow James Ryan for Saturday’s final World Cup Pool B game against Scotland ahead of the team announcement on Thursday at 2pm Irish time.
- Mike Tyson, Tupac Shakur and the fight night that ended with a fatal shooting: One of three songs Tupac Shakur laid down at Track Studios in North Hollywood on September 6th, 1996, Let’s Get It On (Let’s Get Ready To Rumble) was unleashed upon the world the following night as Mike Tyson’s walkout music for his WBA heavyweight title clash against Bruce Seldon at the MGM Grand, writes Dave Hannigan.
- Ciarán Murphy: Is there such a thing as having too many intercounty players on your club team?: Patrickswell had two players named as Hurler of the Year nominees last Thursday morning. While most of the time keeping the names of your best players out of the papers during game week is a good thing, it would hardly stretch credulity to say that Ballybrown, their opponents in the Limerick senior hurling championship on Sunday, might have been a little intimidated by so high-profile a flexing of muscle 72 or so hours before the teams face each other.
The best from Opinion
- Forget Sinn Féin’s ‘Irish NHS’. We may all be headed for a British HSE: When Sinn Féin launched a document two weeks ago promising “an Irish NHS” within two terms of office, it will have been hoping to foster conversations about a Sinn Féin government and to reassure northern nationalists about healthcare in a united Ireland. In this it has been rather unsuccessful. Most reaction has been gloomy and dismissive, noting the NHS is falling apart and has in effect collapsed in Northern Ireland, partly under Sinn Féin’s watch, writes Newton Emerson.
Martyn Turner
Letters to the Editor
Cyclists and pedestrians
READ MORE
Ballroom Blitz review: Adam Clayton’s celebration of Irish showbands hints at the burden of being in U2
Our Little Secret: Awkward! Lindsay Lohan’s Christmas flick may as well be AI generated
Edwardian three-bed with potential to extend in Sandymount for €1.295m
‘My wife, who I love and adore, has emotionally abandoned our relationship’
Sir, – Walking or cycling on the majority of our rural road network is extremely dangerous. The roads are generally narrow with blind corners and no footpaths or cycleways. This means most trips in these areas require the use of a car. To build a network of pedestrian and cycleways around the country connecting all our towns and villages would be prohibitively expensive. By creating a series of one-way roads between all our towns and villages we could use half our existing road infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians. Imagine, with minimal investment, you could cycle or walk to your local village. Yes, there would be objections and challenges to overcome; however, we own the roads and it is up to us to decide how to use them. – Yours, etc, JOHN RUSSELL, Sallins, Co Kildare.
Culture highlights
- BookTok: a new chapter in publishing: In early 2022 Chapters bookstore closed its doors for what seemed to be the last time. In the wake of the pandemic, after nearly 40 years in business, it announced a clearance sale and customers flocked to pick up last-minute deals and bid farewell to the Dublin store. Almost two years later, on a mild autumn morning, a young woman with a tote bag browses the section nearest the door. She picks up The Gilded Cage, a young adult (YA) fantasy novel by Australian author Lynette Noni, and thumbs through it. Beside The Gilded Cage sit books by Emily Henry, Anthony Doerr, Sarah J Mass – trending authors on BookTok, TikTok’s burgeoning books community, writes Niamh Donnelly.
Review of the day
- Rough Beast by Máiría Cahill: angry, traumatised, no-nonsense view of IRA’s inside workings: Many lines in Rough Beast: My Story and the Reality of Sinn Féin jump off the page but one in particular sums up Máiría Cahill’s remarkable and shocking story. She writes that in her struggle to have her sexual abuse claims acknowledged that she was “on a hamster wheel being spun by the IRA”, writes Stephen Walker.
Podcast Highlights
- In The News podcast: Will ‘common sense’ policies revive Rishi Sunak’s Tories?
Why not try one of our Crosswords & Puzzles?
Like this?
Get the best content direct to your inbox by signing up to one of our newsletters