National Lottery regulator accused of presenting 'sanitised' report and ignoring gambling risks
A new study accuses Ireland’s National Lottery regulator of downplaying gambling risks in its annual reports, prioritizing economics over participant protection.Summary
A recent academic study accuses the Regulator of the National Lottery in Ireland of presenting “an overwhelmingly positive and sanitised image” of the lottery while minimizing the risks associated with gambling. Researchers analyzed annual reports from 2014-2024, finding a consistent framing of the lottery as a game focused on prizes and good causes, with a deliberate absence of terms like “addiction” or “danger.” The study highlights a fivefold increase in the use of “good causes” while a decrease in the use of “problem play” and “player protection” terminology. The authors argue that the regulator prioritizes economic interests over participant safety and recommend adopting a public health perspective towards gambling. The Regulator responded by stating that its reports are corporate governance documents reflecting the language of the governing Act and Licence, and that it actively implements measures to prevent underage gambling and problem gambling.
(Source：BreakingNews.ie)