There are calls for the Government to establish a regulatory body to protect people from the dangers of gambling. Teenagers as young as 14 are betting in bookie shops, according to the head of Problem Gambling Ireland. It comes as Paddy Power Betfair has been fined £2.2m by the UK's betting watchdog for not protecting customers who were showing signs of problem gambling. According to a 2015 UCD study, between 28,000 and 40,000 people in Ireland suffer from a betting disorder. The CEO of Problem Gambling Ireland, Barry Grant, says some people experience a gradual progression towards addiction.

Source: Evening echo October 16, 2018 12:33 UTC