Ideally, these services should be funded by government under a National Gambling Strategy in line with the National Drugs and Alcohol Strategy, but until recently the HSE have not provided supports specifically for gambling addiction or gambling harm. We fully support the proposals for a mandatory levy as proposed in the Gambling Control Bill, as the best model for funding both treatment and education when responding to the escalating need in Irish society.
The Gambling Awareness Trust charity is currently funded by donations from the online and retail betting and gaming industry in Ireland, following the ‘polluter pays’ principle, whereby profitable global corporations fund the impact of their industry on public health. The ‘polluter pays’ model of funding is less than ideal for responding to a public health issue, however it is the only funding source available to meet the needs of those currently seeking support. The Gambling Awareness Trust operates completely independently of industry donors, who have no influence or involvement in our work, or the work of the service providers we fund. We welcome the expansion of this principle with a proposed levy on the entire gambling industry, as outlined in the Gambling Control Bill. This levy will provide significant additional funds to support the treatment and resources needed in Ireland to address a growing need going forward.
