‘Slot machines are the crack cocaine of gambling’: Ballincollig casino approved despite major local opposition

A proposed Ballincollig gaming arcade has sparked intense local resistance, raising fears about problem gambling, community impact and planning oversight

'That is how addicted people can become — to spend so long in front of a slot machine that they have to wear a nappy.'

The word casino usually evokes images of Las Vegas and a glitz-filled fantasy of Hollywood icons like George Clooney’s Danny Ocean, with Julia Roberts by his side.

It’s bright lights, big cities and iconic gambling palaces like the Bellagio and the MGM Grand.