New supports available for gambling addicts in the North West
$5,000 Welcome Bonus
New therapy service for gambling addicts in the North West is available. Taoiseach announced the Gambling Regulation Bill last week. Katie Anne O'Toole works with 21 other gambling support therapists throughout the country. She works to educate, support, and provide counselling for those who need it most. Before 2019, there was no specific support service to address gambling addiction in Ireland. There are few statistics about gambling addictions in this country as research is still in its infancy. Signs to look out for include restlessness, unpaid debts, significant relationships being harmed, have you tried to cut back unsuccessfully, are bets that started small becoming larger, or lying to hide a problem.
Gambling addictions are hard on families and friends. The Family Resource Centre in Boyle provides support services for people with gambling addicts. The centre will do an assessment to discover what a person's gambling history is. They will also help the family to find out if they need other services. Katie Anne says the first steps towards a gambling addiction can occur at any point. She says there is a lot of advertising and psychology from the gambling industry to pull people in. It is easy to get involved in situations that trigger the addiction. There is also a sense of camaraderie and familiarity that addicts can associate with bookies or casinos.
