A new Ireland trust to collect funds from bookmakers to support gambling addiction research

The Ireland-based Gambling Awareness Trust will raise funds from bookmakers to support gambling addiction research and counselling services.

The Irish Bookmakers Association will donate €1 million a year to help a newly established body to tackle problem gambling and gambling addiction in the country, local news outlet the Independent reports.

The Gambling Awareness Trust was formed just recently and aims to raise funds for research into problems caused by excessive gambling and information campaigns. The new body will also help finance agencies that provide counselling and related services.

Former Irish Junior Agriculture Minister Tom Hayes will chair the trust. Its board will not have a representative from the Irish Bookmakers Association, it became known. An official announcement about the body is yet to be released.

News about the new Gambling Awareness Trust emerged amid growing criticism towards the Irish government, which has been delaying the adoption of a bill that aims to re-organise and regulate the local gambling market for six years now.