Greater supports need to be put in place for people affected by gambling in Ireland.
That was the general consensus in a feature on gambling on Tipperary Mid West Radio this morning.
Three local sports people (Former Tipperary Minor Footballer Brian Glasheen, Kilsheelan/Kilcash’s Tadgh Lonergan and 2006 All-Ireland minor hurler Timmy Dalton) this morning gave their accounts of lives dominated by gambling.
They spoke of getting involved in gambling at a young age, how it impacts on their sporting and regular careers, the secrecy involved, its addictive nature and the struggle to kick the habit.
Contributing to today’s discussion, Gerry Carroll, a team leader with rehabilitation organisation Aiséirí, spoke of how easy access to gambling these days has exacerbated the problem.
He also called for greater supports to be put in place and for more to be done at every level to ensure those affected do not end up falling through the gaps.
The sports people also drew attention to the mental health problems that gambling addiction, like any addiction, can cause. They also called for more awareness of the problem to be promoted, given the increased availability of online gambling sites and access.
Also commenting this morning, former Tipperary star John Leahy, who battled his own alcohol problem and has now become an addiction counsellor, said that gambling is a growing problem that society is eventually going to have to face up to.
