Housing minister orders review of online bidding portals amid 'gamification' concerns

Housing Minister James Browne said that 'instinctively' he would have 'concerns' about the pressure these online platforms put on house buyers. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

The minister for housing has directed officials to examine online bidding portals used by some auctioneers over concerns they mimic gambling products and drive up house prices.

It comes as addiction expert Professor Colin O'Gara has warned that online bidding hubs are leading to a "gamification" of the house-buying process, as they "tap into a lot of the cognitive effects of gambling
where it increases and ratchets up the pressure on people to act".