Extern estimates 910,000- 1.4 million people in Ireland could be impacted by problem gambling

Extern Problem Gambling has welcomed a report published today by the Economic & Social Research Institute (ESRI) on problem gambling in Ireland.

The report indicates that approximately 1 in 30 adults in Ireland meet the threshold for problem gambling, which equates to around 130,000 individuals. However, Irish-based charity Extern – which operates a dedicated problem gambling project as part of its services – has highlighted that an additional 6 to 10 people per problem gambler could be further impacted by gambling harms; altogether this would equate to a total of between 910,000 and 1.4 million people.

Barry Grant, Counsellor and Project Manager of Extern Problem Gambling, said: “This report shines a light on the serious public health issue that is problem gambling in Ireland. We hope that this research will encourage more people to seek help by normalising and destigmatising problem gambling as an issue.