Irish study links problem gambling to bonus offers

A study carried out by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI),  Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, and undertaken by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) links betting bonuses to problem gambling, according to the findings.

The report points the finger at welcome offers and “inducements” that encourage bettors, especially those who may be at risk of problem gambling, to bet more than they can afford.

“The ESRI’s findings confirm that not only is the general public not aware of the dangers associated with inducements to bet, but also that the impact of these inducements go beyond simple marketing by betting companies.” – Anne Marie Caulfield, GRAI CEO

The study, published by the ESRI, involved a limited experiment centered on the UEFA Euro 2024 competition. In this controlled environment, six hundred and twenty-two men below the age of forty were given a betting fund to wager on six realistic bets in the competition.

Fifty percent of the participants were randomly selected to be shown offers of free bets, which would refund their stake if they lost. The study showed that from this isolated group, those who received the offers were 10% more likely to bet more than individuals who did not see the advertisements.

Some of the bets offered were below the market average and, according to the ESRI, were considered “bad”; however, the sample group exposed to them continued to place wagers.

Anne Marie Caulfield, CEO of the GRAI, said, “The ESRI’s findings confirm that not only is the general public not aware of the dangers associated with inducements to bet, but also that the impact of these inducements go beyond simple marketing by betting companies.”

Following the study, the feedback received also indicated that bettors did not fully consider the fine print of the betting offers and were unaware of the impending changes to gambling legislation that were coming into force in Ireland.

“Our findings imply that gambling offers aren’t merely marketing tools, but pose a real risk of financial harm, particularly among vulnerable groups,” said Diarmaid Ó Ceallaigh, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Behavioural Research Unit, ESRI.

The study was undertaken in advance of the Gambling Act 2024 of Ireland’s intention to ban operators from advertising later this year. The GRAI has also recently signed a new partnership agreement with the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, which it hopes will strengthen its relationship and enable it to hold more in-depth conversations on the topic of gambling.

Featured image: Pixlr AI-generated.

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