Research by our team in Northern Ireland on problem gambling data has been featured in the Belfast Telegraph.

Freedom of Information requests we put in revealed that 80% of NI’s Health and Social Care trusts do not record any data on the number of problem gamblers in their respective areas.

Only one out of five – the Southern Trust – does record this vital information and our research shows that in the last 3 years, 72 people have sought help for gambling addiction.

In a context where previous research showed Northern Ireland has a problem gambling prevalence rate that is four times higher than England, this situation is clearly very concerning.

CARE in Northern Ireland’s policy officer Mark Baillie said the lack of data suggested the problem was not being taken seriously enough and that it was hindering effective policy responses.

Read the full article in the Belfast Telegraph here.