Sports bodies to tackle online betting

Major sporting organisations have been urged to tackle the “scourge” of online gambling amid fears that a growing number of younger players are becoming hooked.

Sports Minister Patrick O’Donovan called on the FAI, IRFU, and Olympic Council of Ireland to draw up concrete proposals as he warned of a gambling epidemic among GAA stars which is spreading to other sports.

In recent months a series of high-profile cases involving Galway hurler Davy Glennon and Shelbourne soccer player Craig Walsh’s drugs and gambling addiction and others have shone the spotlight on the problem.