“It’s a problem, and help is available”- Portlaoise accounts for 1/5th of national counselling sessions for gambling

Out of 121 Family Resource Centres in the country, Portlaoise accounts for 1/5th of all consultations and sessions for gambling addictions nationwide. 

Portlaoise Problem Gambling Service are based out of the Portlaoise Family Resource Centre, and are currently on their third year of their pilot project.

“The stigma is so huge still- when people ask what I do, there’s often an element of surprise because they never knew such a job even existed,” said Sean Gorman, PFRC counsellor and support worker for gambling.  

“We’re in our third year now of our pilot project- at the minute we’re trying to get funding to at the very least maintain our three-day weeks. We would love to be able to commit to a four or five day week if we had the funding.”

Research shows that for every 1 person with a gambling addiction, up to another 10 people are impacted upon by the person with the addiction. 

The service provides confidential counselling for people experiencing problem gambling, along with counselling for those impacted by the gambler’s behaviour. They offer both individual and confidential group counselling sessions. 

“The great thing about the centre is you could be coming in for anything,” Sean continued. “We have no expectations, we’d just have a conversation. There is no set cost for our services, we operate purely based off donations. We are open to everyone.”

“People generally think signs of a gambling problem are not meeting your rent or paying your bills- there are so many more less obvious signs. You may have a problem if gambling is your first thought in the morning and your last thought at night. Other indicators are that you are falling out with friends over money borrowing, or if you have ever had to lie about how much money you’ve earned or lost.”

“It’s a problem, and help is available,” the counsellor said. “If you feel you have a problem, or someone you know has a problem, don’t hold back. It starts as a conversation with no obligations”.

Portlaoise Problem Gambling Service operates within the Portlaoise Family Support Centre (PFRC).  

PFRC offer family support, youth work, counselling and psychotherapy, children’s play therapy, community development, early learning centre, courses and groups, and a problem gambling service.