The growing use of mobile phones has increased the problem of gambling in Ireland, contributing to hidden online activity, a new study shows.

Two years after the Government said it was to “immediately” start modernising the country’s 50-year-old gambling laws, Justice Minister Alan Shatter has published the heads of a bill to regulate the industry.

ONE sector which has really capitalised on gambling online is gaming. Betting on sports events has always had huge attraction, but the advent of an online outlet means that games such as casino gambling, poker and bingo have really taken off. Online gaming is big, getting bigger all the time.