Quarter of gamblers planning to cut back, study finds
The research found around 10% of online gamblers had four or more accounts.
One in four gamblers are trying to cut back on the behaviour, according to a study.
However, the research published on Wednesday found one third of those already trying to cut back reported they were gambling the same amount or more than they had one year earlier.
Over half of gamblers surveyed for the research who had opened an online account went on to open a second one – citing good odds, easy registration and promotional offers.
Around 10% of online gamblers had four or more accounts, according to the report by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
The research was conducted for the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) – a new regulator which is continuing to roll out its powers on a phased basis.
The report points to previous research which estimated one in 30 adults in Ireland was a problem gambler, with many more describing some level of harm associated with gambling.
It surveyed 1,000 people who had gambled at least once in the past year – not including in-person purchases of lottery tickets or scratchcards.
The survey explored each individual’s gambling behaviour in detail, including online and in-person gambling.
It found online accounts are now common, with 80% of gamblers having at least one account and a majority having several.
While the most common motivations for opening an online account are to bet on horse racing, sport or lotteries, almost 40% go on to use online casinos, slot machines, bingo or scratchcard options.
The report also found some gamblers encountered difficulties in closing their online accounts.
It said: “Approximately one in four gamblers are either trying to cut down how much they gamble or plan to do so.
“The most common strategies for cutting back are using willpower and monitoring account history.
“A minority of those trying to cut back set limits, close accounts or delete apps, while fewer than one in 10 use self-exclusion.”
The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 has a requirement for a centralised self-exclusion system that applies across operators.
The ESRI study found gambling impacted on other aspects of everyday life for some respondents, including work and family time.
The regulator said 26% of online gamblers said they lost “a lot” in their most recent session, compared with 17% of in-person gamblers.
Anne Marie Caulfield, chief executive of the GRAI, said: “This research confirms the need for new obligations which will be placed on licensed operators, particularly around account opening and closing requirements, and the ability to set spending limits and advertising restrictions.
“The research highlights specific challenges associated with online accounts.
“More than half of online account holders are gambling using multiple accounts, often simultaneously across different platforms.
“Our focus will be on practical and proportionate protections, including marketing standards, effective account controls and self-exclusion arrangements, while ensuring that regulation responds appropriately to developments in the ways in which people gamble.”