A professor at the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has defended its findings on the level of the problem gambling in Ireland after it was questioned by the head of Paddy Power-owner Flutter Entertainment.
Professor Pete Lunn from the Behavioural Research Unit of the ESRI, told the Business Post that he stood by its published figure of 1-in-30 adults as the best estimate of problem gambling in Ireland.
Lunn said that Jackson’s criticism of the work was based on an out of date source.
Jackson said Flutter had “different data” and referred to an NHS survey which found that the problem gambling risk among the total population was 0.4 per cent (or 1-in-250) when speaking to reporters last week.
