Gambling Awareness Reduce the Odds of Harm in the GAA
Overview of workshop sections • Prevention • Looks at what the GAA is doing to limit the impact of harmful gambling • Education • Examines some of the facts about gambling • Explores sport and athletes’ unique relationship with betting and the risks associated with this • Response • Looks at where to get help and how to help others you believe may be experiencing difficulties
Is there a gambling culture in your club/squad? • How many placed a bet in the last week/month? • At what age did most people place their first bet? • Who, if anyone, was with you? • What platforms are you using to bet – Bookies? Phone? Computer? • What are you most regularly betting on? • Is there a culture of betting in your squad? In your club? • Are club communication channels (Whatsapp groups/FB pages) being used to discuss betting and odds? • Do you bet more because of your involvement in the squad/club?
Why the GAA is concerned about problem gambling The welfare re of our ur player ers s & me & membe mbers The int nteg egrity ity of our ur games mes
Gambling motion passed at Congress 2017 • Rule 1.15 prohibits players, team management or match officials from betting on games in which they are involved • Passed with a 234-2 majority • Minimum sanction members face for offence is an eight-week suspension. • Expulsion from the Association may also be considered in some cases.
GAA Code of Conduct stipulates that…. Officer cers, s, member embers, s, player ers, s, parents/guar ents/guardi dians ans, , ment ntor ors, , sup uppor orter ers, s, match ch offici cials, als, teams ms and un units: s: • Must not participate in any match-fixing activity (arranging in advance the result or conduct of a match or competition, or any event within a match or competition)
• According to the Institute of Public What is the GAA doing to help? Health in Ireland, adolescent gambling is thought to be 2-3 times the rate of adults In 2016 the GAA has made a submission to the Gambling Control Bill requesting that betting on juvenile competitions be banned.
Gambling sponsorship motion passed at Congress 2018 • Sponsorship by a betting company of any competition, team, playing gear or facility is prohibited • Was supported by 93% of the 270 voting delegates and passed with a 234-2 majority
Did you know? - Athletes are an at risk group for problem gambling. Why? • Their competitive nature • Can seek to replicate the buzz of playing / competition • Group dynamics and possible gambling culture in squad can influence behaviour • Appeals to those driven by extrinsic (external) motivation - the reward of the win! • The inherent relationship between sport and betting - hard to avoid talk of odds etc • Exposure to increased betting advertising Tyrone’s Cathal through sport while sports shows talk McCarron who documented his gambling addiction in his biography.
What is Problem Gambling? bling or Compulsi Proble blem Ga Gambling ulsive e Ga Gamblin bling g or Harmful bling or Gamblin rmful Gamblin bling g Addiction ction is an urge to gamble continuously despite harmful or negative consequences or a desire to stop Leads to severe personal, family and social consequences / costs Gambling addiction is an ‘impulse control problem’ that any person can suffer from regardless of age, sex or socio economic profile.
• 2012 GPA survey of the 2,045 Some GAA research……. current, 7% of respondents believed gambling was a problem within their own squad; • But 23% believed it is a problem amongst GAA players generally • Gambling addiction accounted for almost 33% of cases dealt with by the GPA’s free counselling service in 2016 Niall McNamee and Oisin McConville at the launch of the GAA’s Gambling Guidelines in 2014
Is sport in danger of being cannibalised by betting?
Do we all feed into this culture, or is it just an innocent game?
Some Irish gambling facts • Irish Institute for Public • Irish gambling losses Health est. between 28,000 totaled €2.1bn in 2017 and 40,000 problem • Ireland has third d gamblers in the Republic in highest est per capit ita a rate 2019 of gambling ing losses ses in the world • Northern Ireland 2.2% of population classified as • We lose €470 per adult problem gamblers, with an on different forms of additional 5.3% at risk gambling • Online betting • US study estimates that 5 accounted for just over additional people are half affected by every compulsive gambling addiction • Above research carried Remember - the bookie always out by H2 Gambling wins in the end! Capital, published in The Economist, Feb 2017
GAA Problem Gambling Case Studies
Offaly star Niall McNamee’s story…… • Accumulated debts of €80,000, losing approx. €200,000 in total during years of addiction • 2009 - finally revealed his situation to his father and sought help • Then Offaly manager Gerry Cooney was counsellor in Rutland Centre where Niall was treated for his illness • Niall no longer gambles and is a GPA ambassador and gambling awareness campaigner
Galway hurler Davy Glennon’s story…… • Started betting age 16 with €2/€3 bets • Tens of thousands in debt by age of 25 • Brought to brink of suicide but finally sought help • Attended 12 week recovery programme in Cuin Mhuire • Mother forced to remortgage home to pay debts in 2016 • May 2017 - charged with €60,000 theft from former employers • Won All Ireland in 2017 following treatment
• Relationship with gambling began in secondary school small bets on Cheltenham, Grand National, Champions League Final • Gambling progressed to a stage where borrowing money from family & getting bank loans • After a relationship breakdown vowed to himself he’d never gamble again. Stopped gambling for 10 months but relapsed & gambled heavier than before • Disconnected from everything, constantly gambled and thought about gambling – Gambling took over completely • 2015 reached a point where he felt gambling destroyed his life. Sought help from parents entered into treatment and now attends support meetings – in recovery since then Arravale Rovers – Tipperary • Involved in teams throughout GAA career where gambling is regularly the topic of conversation Timmy Dalton
Problem Gambling Spectrum Source: problemgambling.sa.gov.au
Courtesy of ProblemGambling.ie
• Do you bet more than you can afford to lose? • Do you need to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same feeling? • Have you tried to win back money you have lost (chasing losses)? • Have you borrowed money or sold anything to get money to gamble? • Have you wondered whether you have a problem with Problem gambling? • Has your gambling caused you any health problems, Gambling including feelings of stress or anxiety? • Have other people criticised your betting or told you that you had a gambling problem (regardless of whether or not you thought it was true)? • Has your gambling caused any financial problems for Symptoms you or your household? • Have you ever felt guilty about the way you gamble or Check what happens when you gamble? Score 0 for each time you answer "never" Score 1 for each time you answer "sometimes" Score 2 for each time you answer "most of the time" Score 3 for each time you answer "almost always" If your total score is 8 or higher, you may be a problem gambler.
If in trouble - reach out • Talk to a family member, a loved one, team mate, friend or GP • Call a helpline • With help, you can overcome • Early intervention works best • There is always hope
How to talk to someone about problem gambling • Support – ensure an open and friendly conversation style and ensure they know you understand their situation • Ask the right questions – elicit the individual’s own concerns and let them talk about the situation • Offer assistance – be supportive and discuss options available to assist in any desired behaviour change • Refer – discuss the range of help available (GP etc) or help them find this out if you don’t know service details
Where to seek help and get support in Ireland
Next step: Adopt Club gambling policy Simpl ple one page docume ment nt that t include udes: s: • GAA rules and regulations • Appropriate use of club communication channels • Prohibits unit from accepting sponsorship from a gambling firm/bookies • Outline GAA and club rules and regulations • Available to download at www.gaa.ie/community
Club Executive Club Coaches Considerations Considerations Group Discussion Club Players Considerations
Recap, learnings, and some takeaway tips • Sport and gambling are intrinsically linked • Athletes are ‘at risk’ re: harmful gambling • Culture in a squad/club can drive or inhibit gambling • If you think a club mate is struggling, let them know you are concerned and help is available • Don’t enable their habit by lending money. Support them to get help • If you are having a problem with your gambling speak to someone you trust, your GP, or call a helpline • Check out www.gaa.ie/community and www.problemgambling.ie for more information
Next Steps
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