‘Gambling is deeply ingrained in the Irish psyche. We seem to have an insatiable appetite for it’

SO long as men and women live and whether it is legalised or not, gambling in one form or another will continue.

That was the considered opinion of Labour TD for Waterford Thomas Anthony Kyne, speaking in 1955 during a Dáil debate to regulate gaming in Ireland.

He had a point. Gambling is deeply ingrained in the Irish psyche and we seem to have an insatiable appetite for all forms of it, whether at the racecourse, bingo hall, betting office, private club, the Lotto or online. As the saying goes, the Irish would bet on two flies going up a wall.