Concerns at the rise in female problem gamblers in Ireland

A problem gambling specialist working at the Rutland Centre in Dublin, Ireland says that females now make up 20 percent of problem gamblers being counseled by the establishment – a significant rise over the 4 percent recorded four years ago.

Clinical director Fiona Weldon opines that the accessibility of online casino games, bingo and poker are contributory elements in the increase.

“Traditionally you could only gamble at the bookies and just on sport, but all that [has] changed, she said this week.

“There’s online bingo, poker and casinos and it’s all so accessible, and it’s these activities that the women with gambling addictions tend to participate in. It’s there at the click of a button on your phone or the internet.”

Weldon says gambling addiction remains misunderstood, and that of all the addictive behaviours, gambling is the hardest to detect…and carries the greatest risk of suicide.

“It’s a chronic and relapsing condition with no known cure,” Weldon claims. “It’s very challenging for anyone coming out of recovery as they need to take measures like disabling the internet on their phone.”

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