Richard Hogan: Our children’s brains are being wired to gamble, we can't let it continue

Our children's brains are being wired to gamble online — why are we so slow to bring in laws to protect them?

Some of the laws governing gambling in Ireland date back as far as the 1930s.

It is estimated that two thirds of Irish people over the age of 18 will take part in some form of gambling.

We are a nation that likes to have an aul punt. Sure what’s wrong with the odd bet? Of course, the answer is nothing. But it’s believed we have 55,000 people living with a serious gambling disorder in this country. The odd bet, in my experience, so easily transmutes into a life-altering obsession that can bring the ruination of the person caught in its all-consuming grip.