Gambling

Addiction has become a ‘toxic’ issue for gambling industry, says Paddy Power

The public face of the bookmaking giant went on to say that reputational problems had made being in the industry less ‘fun’

Paddy Power, the face of the bookmaking giant of the same name, has said it is ‘not as much fun being in the industry now as it was back in the day’ because of how gambling is perceived. He is pictured here in 2006 with models Glenda Gilson and Maeve Carey. Picture: Julien Behal/PA

Paddy Power, the face of the bookmaking giant of the same name, has said that the issue of addiction has made the gambling industry “pretty toxic”.

The spokesman, whose father David Power co-founded the business in 1988, also said that increased advertising and online access of gambling firms had resulted in a higher number of addicts.

Speaking on Jarlath Regan’s Irishman Abroad podcast, Power said: "It is not as much fun being in the industry ...