Gambling spend spikes as cost-of-living crisis pushes some consumers to bet

Gambling spending has jumped more than 20%. Tomorrow, January 1, the 'Irish Examiner' is publishing further in-depth analysis of the issue in print, ePaper, and online. File picture: iStock

Hard-pressed consumers may be turning to gambling to help fund their way out of the cost-of-living crisis, amid "wall-to-wall" betting adverts, addiction experts have warned.

After the Central Bank said its data showed spending on gambling “spiking” more than 20% year-on-year in October, Barry Grant, addiction counsellor and project manager at Extern Problem Gambling, said that even during bad economic times in Ireland, gambling is seen as something that is “recession-proof”.