Problem gambling prevalence
The ESRI's 2023 study — a representative, anonymous online survey of 2,850 adults, commissioned through the implementation team that stood up GRAI — estimated that 1 in 30 adults in Ireland, around 130,000 people, experience problem gambling. A further 279,000 adults show moderate evidence of problem gambling — multiple negative experiences, such as borrowing to fund gambling, that fall short of the full threshold. Combined, that's over 400,000 people, plus another 590,000 reporting at least one negative gambling-related experience or behaviour.
| Measure | Estimate | People |
|---|---|---|
| Problem gambling | 1 in 30 adults | ~130,000 |
| Moderate evidence of problem gambling | — | ~279,000 |
| Combined (problem + moderate) | — | 400,000+ |
| At least one negative experience | — | ~590,000 |
Why the numbers jumped so much from older estimates
The Health Research Board's earlier National Drug and Alcohol Survey put problem gambling at just 0.3% — roughly 12,000 people — using face-to-face interviews, with a further 0.9% (about 35,000) showing moderate evidence. The ESRI's 2023 figure is over ten times higher. The explanation researchers give isn't that gambling suddenly got worse — it's methodology: an anonymous online survey captures behaviour people are reluctant to admit to an interviewer in person. ESRI researchers cross-checked the new figure against self-reported spending compared to actual industry revenue, and against how often people report knowing someone with a gambling problem — both checks lined up with the higher number, and the ESRI itself said the true figure may still be an underestimate.
Who spends what
People with problem gambling spend, on average, more than €1,000 a month. That group alone accounts for roughly 28% of all money spent on gambling in Ireland — rising to nearly half of total industry revenue once people showing moderate evidence of problem gambling are added in. Even moderate gamblers — over 7% of the population — average around €70 a week, or roughly €3,640 a year. Online gambling accounts for three-fifths of total spend among people with problem gambling, with in-person gambling making up the rest.
Who's most affected
Problem gambling is more common among people under 50, with people in their 30s showing the highest rate. It's less common among women than men, and less common among people with higher levels of education — though ESRI researchers noted both gaps appear smaller than earlier research suggested. Separately, GRAI-backed 2026 research on childhood gambling experiences found that people who gambled as children were almost twice as likely to have problem gambling as adults — the same research referenced on our age verification page.
General participation
Roughly 74–75% of adults reported spending money on some form of gambling in the four weeks before the ESRI's survey, with about a third gambling online specifically. By far the most common activities were lotteries and scratch cards, followed by betting on horses, greyhounds, and other sports. Casino games and spread betting were the least common overall — but notably more common specifically among people with problem gambling.
Total market size
Estimates of total gambling spend in Ireland sit in the range of €6–8 billion a year, though researchers describe this as a conservative estimate given limited post-pandemic data — one of several areas ESRI and GRAI have flagged as needing better ongoing measurement.
Related reading
See underage gambling and age verification for the childhood-exposure research in full, and VIP schemes banned for how this spending data connects to specific regulatory decisions.