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Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Sarah Harte: The Government has bottled it on gambling — our young people will pay
Technology has supercharged the gambling problem. You no longer have to enter a seedy bookie's. You can gamble 24/7 and discreetly do so on your dopamine-delivering phone, with no visible signs. Maybe you're of the mindset that thinks human vices should be legal, but there is an issue around targeting minors who are not fully capable of making decisions. As the Tabor Addiction Group said: 'Young people are particularly vulnerable, with gambling addiction affecting them at two to three times the rate of adults.' They are also subjected to the rapid expansion of increasingly sophisticated gambling opportunities. Last Friday, legendary hurler Davy Fitzgerald's son Colm Fitzgerald received a 12-month suspended sentence for stealing money from his former employer, the Bank of Ireland, to feed his serious gambling habit. Colm Fitzgerald 'expressed relief' when his theft was discovered. He did all he could to cooperate with An Garda Síochána, repaid the money with the help of his family, and has sought treatment, speaking of suffering shame and remorse. At 28, he's just starting out. Addiction is a disease and not a choice. The very best of luck to him in building a new life. Colm Fitzgerald, 27, outside Ennis Circuit Criminal Court, where he received a suspended 12-month sentence after he pleaded guilty to theft of 35,000 from Bank of Ireland. Picture: Brendan Gleeson I mention his painful experience only because how he started to gamble is not uncommon. For many young people, recreational sports betting will have been a gateway to problem gambling. Squads of young men I know in their 20 now engage in sports gambling. Most of them start gambling in their teens and played sports themselves. Sports gambling has become such a big part of sports culture because the gambling industry has worked hard to establish a connection between sporting events and sports betting, while also encouraging cultural acceptance of gambling. It's not spoken about much, but it's there, humming along in the background of young lives, with, I suspect, many parents relatively clueless as to the extent of it. To this cohort of middle-class young men, gambling has become entirely normalised. For many young people, recreational sports betting will have been a gateway to problem gambling. Stuck in a cycle of online betting as they age, it will become apparent whether their gambling is mild, moderate or severe, with potentially negative repercussions on their finances, wellbeing and relationships. For some, they will chase their losses and dig themselves into a deeper hole until the problem becomes too big to hide. The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) estimates one in 30 Irish adults has a gambling problem. This figure is likely to be conservative. A report released this year indicates we have one of the highest rates of gamblers per capita in the world. Evidence shows children are twice as likely to become problem gamblers later in life if they start betting before the age of 18, which, as chief executive of the new Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland Anne Marie Caulfield, says, justifies 'clamping down very hard'. So, how hard has the Government clamped down on gambling? Housing minister James Browne, then minister of state with responsibility for the legislation, said he experienced 'endless' lobbying from the gambling industry, hardly a surprise given it is worth somewhere between €6bn and €8bn. Intensive lobbying came from the Irish Bookmakers' Association, which represents betting shops and online operators like Paddy Power, Ladbrokes, and Boylesports. While it's a positive to have a dedicated authority to streamline the regulation and licensing of gambling, which has been piecemeal until now, this legislation has been in the pipeline for 11 years, since a Fine Gael-Labour government first proposed new gambling laws. It certainly hasn't been rushed through. As of March, the new Gambling Regulation Act 2024 came into effect, establishing this new gambling watchdog. However, most of the provisions of the act, although signed into law, have not yet commenced. Consequently, it's business as usual for most gambling companies in Ireland, which are not currently required to follow the new laws. It is hoped that these new rules, which prohibit online gambling advertisements on certain social media services unless the person has an account with the platform concerned, will have an effect. This is designed in part to protect underage people who have been targeted with advertisements on social media. Two glaring holes remain in the act, which suggest the gambling industry successfully forced the government to capitulate. File picture: iStock However, two glaring holes remain in the act, which suggest the gambling industry successfully forced the government to capitulate. First, the proposed watershed restriction on gambling advertisements between 5.30am and 9pm does not go far enough. How many teenagers and young people do you know who go to bed by 9pm? Part of the normalisation of gambling is advertisements are widespread. A blanket ban on ads should be considered, as was introduced with tobacco products. Secondly, there is no outright ban on free bets, as was initially envisaged in an early version of the bill. Free bets are a popular promotional tool, offering bettors a 'free bet' to encourage them to sign up to a site or service, or to reward existing gamblers for their repeated use of an online sportsbook, thereby encouraging continued use. Mr Browne said he could not accept a complete ban on free betting inducements and bonuses. This watering down of the legislation was a missed opportunity. As I was researching this article, an ad immediately popped up offering me exclusive offers for 50 free spins from a casino. Other ads followed this, all offering me "bonuses". As Senator Lynn Ruane pointed out in the Seanad when her amendment to the then bill failed: 'These types of inducements are an entry point into gambling for young people." The gambling industry's pushback was that any business needs to seek out and attract new customers proactively. But why shouldn't we approach betting companies in the way we dealt with the tobacco industry? This is what Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who introduced the highly successful workplace smoking ban as minister for health, proposed back in 2022 when he spoke about taking the same approach to gambling, including 'across the full gamut of advertising regulation'. We don't allow tobacco companies to advertise, and we don't let them offer coupons or deals on cigarettes, so what is the logic behind allowing gambling ads, inducements and promotions that encourage gambling? A national self-exclusion register will prohibit gambling operators from accepting bets from gamblers who have self-excluded from online services, yet this places the onus on the individual gambler to stop rather than on the operator. Such is the scale of the problem that banks, such as AIB, Bank of Ireland, EBS, and Revolut, are offering voluntary self-exclusion tools that block access to online casinos, slot machines, and lottery websites. Once again, the responsibility lies with the individual to act. When Bank of Ireland introduced its voluntary block last month, figures revealed men placed 71% of bets in the first quarter of 2025. Ninety per cent of gambling transactions took place online, and there was a 19% increase in gambling among 18- to 25-year-olds in the same quarter. When you have an industry as lucrative as the gambling industry, which generates significant revenue and employment, compromises will inevitably be made. But while the new legislation is being heralded as introducing a new era for the regulation of Irish gambling, it does not reflect the principles the government originally set out. Ultimately, the government bottled it, allowing gambling companies to influence our public health policy and thousands of people, many of them too young to understand what they are getting into, will pay a high price.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Davy Fitzgerald's son given suspended sentence for stealing €35,000 from employer to fund gambling addiction
A son of controversial Antrim hurling manger, and Clare hurling legend, Davy Fitzgerald was given a fully suspended 12-month prison sentence after he admitted stealing €35,000 from his then employer, Bank of Ireland , to feed his 'out-of-control gambling addiction '. Colm Fitzgerald (28) of Castlequinn, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, stole the money while employed to be in charge of cash at a cash counter at Bank of Ireland, Shannon Industrial Estate, Shannon, Co Clare, on seven separate dates in 2023. Fitzgerald, who immediately resigned from the bank after the thefts were discovered during an internal audit, told the bank and gardaí that he stole the cash to sustain a gambling addiction. Fitzgerald's barrister, Kenny Kerins, told Ennis Circuit Criminal Court that 'steeped in GAA' Fitzgerald, had paid all of the money back with the support and assistance of his family. READ MORE Mr Kerins said Fitzgerald was caught in a 'serious' grip of addiction to sports gambling and that he 'expressed relief' when the thefts were discovered. Fitzgerald admitted stealing the cash in bundles of €5,000 on seven separate dates in 2023. 'He was living a life of secrets, he has remorse, he has shame. This young man had everything going well in his life, he was engaged in sport, he had a job, and in seven actions he absolutely destroys his career,' Mr Kerins said. The barrister told the sentencing hearing last Friday that, before the discovery of the cash thefts, Fitzgerald's gambling became so serious, the well-known bookmaker chain Paddy Power banned him from betting with them. 'His life was completely out of control, so much so that he sees all this as a positive thing. He sees it as a disengagement from his addiction.' [ Generation gamble: the invisible addiction crisis gripping Ireland's teenagers Opens in new window ] Mr Kerins said that when Bank of Ireland's auditors discovered €35,000 was missing, Fitzgerald prepared a document that would have concealed 'his deceit', but then he 'cancelled it almost immediately'. 'He was about to further his criminal endeavour, but he stopped it ... He knew the jig was up, and he came forward, he met bank officials and made admissions, he resigned and met gardaí by appointment,' said Mr Kerins. 'He and his family are steeped in GAA, which was perhaps how he became involved in (sports) gambling. He has great passion for sport and he is still involved in coaching, which is a great pride to him,' said Mr Kerins. He said Fitzgerald had opened a coffee shop business with his partner in Sixmilebridge, employing four people. He has 'taken careful steps' to limit his access to the business's finances. Detective Garda Paddy Bourke told the court he believed Fitzgerald did all he could to co-operate with the Garda investigation and has tried to tackle his addiction. Mr Kerins said Fitzgerald had no previous convictions, engaged in a residential therapy programme, and continues to attend regular meetings of Gamblers Anonymous (GA). [ Q&A: How the new gambling regulator will affect Irish punters Opens in new window ] 'He's not seeking to blame anyone, he developed a low-level gambling addiction which snowballed and got out of control.' Prosecuting barrister, Sarah-Jane Comerford, accepted Fitzgerald was 'suffering from a gambling addiction at the time'. Judge Francis Comerford said Fitzgerald's actions were a 'significant breach of trust'. 'Gambling is not an excuse for theft, and one should seek help without having to resort to this,' the judge said. Judge Comerford accepted there was a 'somewhat' reduced culpability for people with addiction who 'have the compulsion to do this'. Judge Comerford fully suspended a 12-month jail term for a period of 18 months. He directed Fitzgerald to continue to engage with gambling support services. 'While the amount of money is significant, it would have been more serious if it was someone vulnerable that was preyed upon,' said the judge. 'This was not done for a high lifestyle or to accrue wealth ... it was for a gambling addiction.'
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Davy Fitzgerald's son receives suspended sentence after stealing €35,000 from former employer Bank of Ireland
A son of Clare hurling legend Davy Fitzgerald was given a fully suspended 12-month prison sentence after he admitted stealing €35,000 from his then employer, Bank of Ireland, to feed his 'out-of-control gambling addiction'. Colm Fitzgerald, (28), Castlequinn, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, stole the money while employed to be in charge of cash at a cash counter, at Bank of Ireland, Shannon Industrial Estate, Shannon, Co Clare, on seven separate dates in 2023. Advertisement Fitzgerald, who immediately resigned from the bank, after the thefts were discovered during an internal audit, told the bank and gardaí that he stole the cash to sustain a gambling addiction. Fitzgerald's barrister, Kenny Kerins, told Ennis Circuit Criminal Court that 'steeped in GAA' Fitzgerald, had paid all of the money back with the support and assistance of his family. Mr Keirns said Fitzgerald was caught in a 'serious' grip of addiction to sports gambling and that he had 'expressed relief' when the thefts were discovered. Fitzgerald admitted stealing the cash in bundles of €5,000 on seven separate dates in 2023. Advertisement Mr Kerins told the court: 'He was living a life of secrets, he has remorse, he has shame. This young man had everything going well in his life, he was engaged in sport, he had a job, and in seven actions he absolutely destroys his career." The barrister told the sentencing hearing last Friday that, prior to the discovery of the cash thefts, Fitzgerald's gambling had gotten so serious, the well known bookmaker chain Paddy Power banned him from betting with them. 'They were so concerned that they wrote to him and banned him from gambling with them... this was a serious addiction for Mr Fitzgerald,' Mr Kerins said. 'His life was completely out of control, so much so that he sees all this as a positive thing, he sees it as a disengagement from his addiction.' Advertisement Mr Kerins said when Bank of Ireland's auditors discovered €35,000 was missing, Fitzgerald prepared a document that would have concealed 'his deceit' but he 'cancelled it almost immediately'. 'He was about to further his criminal endeavour, but he stopped it. He went home and told his grandfather and close family, he knew the jig was up and he came forward, he met with bank officials and made admissions, he resigned and met with gardai by appointment,' said Mr Kerins. 'That is to his credit, he faced up to it, he is a gentleman,' said the barrister. Mr Kerins said Fitzgerald was 'aware' thefts from his employer were 'unacceptable' but he said Fitzgerald had taken responsibility for his offending as well as measures not to return to gambling. Advertisement 'He and his family are steeped in GAA, which was perhaps how he became involved in (sports) gambling. He has great passion for sport and he is still involved in coaching which is a great pride to him.' Mr Kerins said Fitzgerald had 'engaged with therapeutic services and had worked as courier' to pay his family back the money they reimbursed to the bank. The barrister said Fitzgerald has, along with his partner, opened a coffee shop business in Sixmilebridge, employing four people, and that Fitzgerald had 'taken careful steps' to limit his own 'access to the business's finances and cash, so there is oversight that'. Detective Garda Paddy Bourke, Shannon Garda Station, told the court he believed Fitzgerald had done all he could to cooperate with the garda investigation as well as trying to tackle his addiction, 'and I hope to continues to do so', added Garda Bourke. Advertisement CCTV CCTV footage located at the bank's cash counters, which may have led them to Fitzgerald, had expired by the time the bank discovered the thefts and alerted gardai, and so Fitzgerald's pleas were valuable to the prosecution, the court heard. Mr Kerins said Fitzgerald had 'no previous convictions', had engaged in a residential therapy programme run by the Bushypark Addiction Treatment Centre, and he continues to attend regular meetings of Gamblers Anonymous (GA). 'He's not seeking to blame anyone, he developed a low level gambling addiction which snowballed and got out-of-control while he was working as an employee of the bank — the court is aware of the compulsive nature of gambling addiction.' Prosecuting barrister, Sarah-Jane Comerford, said the prosecution 'accepted (Fitzgerald) was suffering from a gambling addiction at the time'. Outlining his judgement, Judge Francis Comerford said Fitzgerald 'took bundles of cash from his employer each worth €5,000' and that he considered a two-year headline sentence to be appropriate. 'It was a significant breach of trust, it was a significant offence, and the aggravating factor is that it was theft by an employee from their employer, it was an abuse of trust to steal from them.' The judge told Fitzgerald: 'Gambling is not an excuse for theft, and one should seek help without having to resort to this.' However, taking into account Mr Keirns mitigation plea, the judge said he accepted that persons in addiction who 'have the compulsion to do this (steal), does reduce culpability somewhat'. 'Need for money' The judge said there was an air of desperation about Fitzgerald's actions: 'It was not a sophisticated fraud, it was a response to a need for money for gambling.' Reducing Fitzgerald's sentence to 12 months, the judge continued: 'It wasn't a commercial calculated crime, so that tends to put it at a lower level, and it was discovered very quickly, following an internal audit.' Judge Comerford fully suspended the 12-month jail term for a period of 18 months, and directed that Fitzgerald continue to engage with gambling support services. 'While the amount of money is significant, it would have been more serious if it was someone vulnerable that was preyed upon,' said the judge. 'This was not done for a high lifestyle or to accrue wealth, but, it was for a gambling addiction.' Afterwards, Colm Fitzgerald hugged family members outside the court.
