Gambling addiction is now the biggest problem afflicting senior GAA players.

Gaelic Players' Association chief Dessie Farrell told the Irish Independent that the gambling addiction crisis in the GAA is devastating families of inter-county players.

Mr Farrell stated that the GPA's confidential counselling service had helped 74 inter-county players deal with various issues last year, but the prevalence of addiction to gambling was striking.  

Farrell added "previously, depression was the biggest problem, but now it's gambling addiction". While he noted that the problem is a societal one in Ireland, he feels that sports people seem to be particularly vulnerable to becoming addicted.

"I think sports people are particularly prone to it. Maybe because they have time on their hands, they're not out socialising with friends and they're obviously interested in sport. And if you want to gamble now, you can do it anywhere, any time. 

"If you've a problem with alcohol or with drugs, it quickly becomes very visible to those around you. But this is so insidious that people can't actually see it. Individuals can be digging themselves a big, big hole. And it has all sorts of psychological impacts afterwards when it gets to a point where, literally, families are being devastated". 

He says that the GPA is now setting up an awareness programme, using players who have come through the problem themselves to help those who might be in difficulty at the moment. 

Via The Independent