According to the Health Service Executive (HSE), 352 people accessed publicly funded addiction treatment services where gambling was identified as the primary issue in 2025. This figure is up from 159 in 2021.
However, when gambling was presented not as the main issue but as one of several, the number of cases almost tripled: going from 269 in 2021 to 748 last year.
Despite the concerning rise in cases, the HSE pointed to the receipt by the National Social Inclusion Office of €1m ($1.12m) in funding from the Department of Health in 2023 and 2024 as a possible reason for the increased number of people presenting for gambling treatment.
Moreover, the HSE explained that the figure will likely continue to rise, due to factors like increased awareness, mental health literacy and decreased stigma.
Research conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute in Dublin estimated that in 2023 approximately 130,000 adults in Ireland experienced problem gambling.
Although people appear to be seeking help, some local politicians believe the disparity in waiting times across the country must be resolved for a change to actually occur.
According to TD for Cork North Central, Ken O'Flynn, the average wait in the South-West was more than two-and-a-half times the national figure in 2024.
“These are people who have finally reached out and asked for help. Every extra day they wait is another day the gambling apps are still on their phone," O'Flynn explained.
In July, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) launched a national campaign aimed at helping parents recognise the warning signs of underage gambling.
With typically only one out of 10 people who struggle with gambling actively seeking help, GRAI believes that greater awareness is needed as the line between entertainment and gambling becomes increasingly blurred.
Earlier this year, GRAI began issuing its first remote betting licences under a new regulatory framework
