GAA Gambling Awareness

The GAA’s new gambling awareness campaign, ‘Stop Before You Just Can’t Stop’, is designed to help people recognise behaviours associated with problem gambling and to assist them access support services available to them.

The campaign is funded by Gambling Awareness Trust and by Problem Gambling Ireland. The GAA’s work in gambling awareness acknowledges research that highlights athletes as an at-risk group when it comes to problem gambling. The timing of the campaign launch – during the reopening of society in Q1 2022 – also recognises reports of a significant increases in online gambling during the pandemic.

The campaign message is clear: if you feel you are exhibiting any of the behaviours associated with problem gambling and want to ‘stop before you can’t stop’, avail of the services provided by ProblemGambling.ie. Their professional support can make all the difference.

Uachtarán CLG, Larry McCarthy, said:

“The GAA has taken unrivalled steps to decouple Gaelic Games from gambling. However, problem gambling remains a societal issue of concern; one that has negatively impacted the lives of numerous GAA players and their loved ones. Through this campaign we encourage any GAA member who may be concerned about their gambling to access as early as possible the supports that are proven to help one deal with problem gambling.”

The ‘Stop Before You Can’t Stop’ campaign reinforces the ground-breaking decision by GAA Congress 2018 to prohibit sponsorship by betting firms of any GAA competition, team, playing gear, or facility.

GAA rules governing gambling include the successful 2017 motion to Congress prohibiting any player, team, member of a management team, or match official, from betting on any element of a game in which they are involved. The monitoring of this rule has been strengthened by the development of memorandums of understanding (MOU) between the GAA and the Irish Bookmakers Association and Betfair / Paddy Power.

The MOUs allow for the sharing of sensitive information should either party suspect that their rules or terms and conditions have been broken. Sanctions include suspension and possible disbarment from the Association.

For more information on the campaign contact community.health@gaa.ie

For further information on problem gambling visit gamblingcare.ie