Special Investigation: A paradise for gamblers where time is truly irrelevant

“Oh no, I’ve bet too much,” said the small Asian woman who had just scattered about 30 chips across the roulette table.

It was about 1am on a Saturday and despite the fact the ball had landed on one of the many numbers she had picked, she had still made a loss.

The casino in the centre of Cork City was full — men and women from all walks of life, students, workers, and unemployed people, all of them gambling. The crowd was a mix of Irish and non-Irish.