Sports clubs across Ireland are being encouraged to help raise awareness about the harm caused by gambling and to sign up to prevention programmes.
The initiative has been launched by Gambling With Lives, a charity set up by families bereaved by gambling-related suicide.
It runs a training programme called Chapter One, which provides information on the causes and effects of gambling addiction and access to treatment and advice for those who have become addicted and their families.
West Belfast man Declan Cregan, who is a recovering gambling addict, is one of those who works for the programme in Northern Ireland.
He took part in a football match organised by the charity in east Belfast this afternoon, just hours before the new English Premier League season kicks off when Manchester Utd host Fulham.
“We’re hoping this football match will encourage other sports clubs on the island of Ireland to take gambling harm seriously and sign up for the education and training,” he said.
“With the Premier League season starting, a lot of adverts around gambling, sponsorship, people will be absolutely bombarded with it.
“So we’re here to raise awareness of the harms and dangers of gambling, but we’re also here to let people know about the education work and we’re hoping to get a lot of sports clubs right across Ireland to sign up because this is a very serious issue that has a devastating impact on many people and their families.”
Head of Prevention for Gambling With Lives James Grimes said it is a problem that is about much more than money.
“Money is the thing that is so often lost, but actually the thing that really harms people is the mental health impact and the depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts that gambling harm can impact.
“Gambling advertising is everywhere. Compared with the amount of advertising and marketing and sponsorship telling us that gambling is safe and normal and fun, we’re really up against it.
“So we need decision makers and legislators to do their bit in reducing the amount of advertising for addictive gambling products.”
In June, a report by a group containing members of all the main political parties at Stormont said gambling should be officially recognised as a major public health risk in Northern Ireland.
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It said there should be an approach similar to that used for alcohol and tobacco because “the whole population is vulnerable to gambling addiction and harm.”
The Northern Ireland All Party Group said recent figures show that 2.3% of the population is struggling with gambling. That figure is three times higher than the level in the Republic of Ireland and four times higher than Britain.
A lack of regulation was cited as a key factor.
The report called for a comprehensive overhaul of gambling laws including new legislation and the establishment of a regulator.
“Unfortunately, lots of individuals, families and communities are stricken by the damage that gambling causes so we do need a public health approach like the way we treat alcohol and tobacco,” said one of the group members, Sinn Féin Assembly member Philip McGuigan before taking part in today’s charity match.
“We need to educate people, we need to provide treatment for people, and then we need to legislate to ensure that the dangerous addictive products within the gambling industry are regulated in a proper fashion.”
The Irish Government approved publication of the Gambling Regulation Bill in 2022, which it referred to as “a national public health initiative.”
The legislation, due to be enacted before the end of this year, will create a new regulatory authority to govern gambling activities.
It will also include a watershed prohibiting the broadcast of gambling advertising on television and radio between the hours of 5.30am and 9pm.
But it could be several years before similar legislation is introduced in Northern Ireland.