Problem gambling cases in Ireland have more than doubled in four years, according to new HSE figures, with 352 people accessing publicly funded treatment in 2025 where gambling was their primary issue, compared with 159 in 2021.
The number of cases where gambling was one of several issues also nearly trebled, rising from 269 to 748 over the same period. However, addiction specialist Professor Colin O’Gara says the figures reflect the number of people seeking treatment rather than the true scale of problem gambling, warning that stigma remains a major barrier to accessing support.
He says typically only one in ten people affected by severe gambling disorder will seek treatment, highlighting the need to improve access to services and encourage more people to come forward, and Professor O’Gara joined us on The Agenda this morning to tell us more.
","author_name":"lmfm "}