Gambling is a serious public health risk in Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland government has been called on to recognize gambling as a major threat to public health. In the country, the problem is alarming because 2.3% of the population suffers from a gambling problem. This is four times higher than in Britain, for example, and three times higher than in neighboring Ireland.

These figures formed the basis for an extensive study conducted by the Northern Ireland All Party Group on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling APG. They carried out in-depth analyzes between December 2022 and January 2024.

Major danger to public health

The findings of the APG study are alarming and lead to 57 concrete recommendations. The core message is clear. Gambling should no longer be seen as an innocent leisure activity. It is a major public health hazard that requires strong measures.

The researchers advocate, among other things:

• Official recognition of gambling as a public health problem in Northern Ireland.
• Development of an integrated regional strategy aimed at preventing and reducing gambling-related harm.
• Introduction of a financial levy on gambling companies to finance research, prevention and treatment.

Setting precedent

The APG calls on the Northern Irish government, departments and the British government to vigorously address these recommendations. By recognizing gambling as a public health problem and taking concrete steps, Northern Ireland can set a precedent for effectively protecting the long-term happiness of individuals and communities. The research has shown that residents of the country are quickly persuaded to take a gamble.

Approach similar to alcohol and tobacco

The advice is to tackle gambling in the same way as problems with alcohol and tobacco addiction. The message is that the entire population is susceptible to gambling addiction. 

And the related problems.

What is the situation in Belgium?

Recent research estimates the number of risky or problematic gamblers among the Belgian population at around 5.2% or 467,081 people. This is what Druglijn BE reports.