Gambling addiction is a problem associated with economic deprivation and substance abuse, according to a new report.
The Health Research Board (HRB) has issued its first report on gambling trends and found a 20% reduction in gambling overall.
The numbers gambling went down from 2,377,000 in 2014/15 to 1,900,000 in 2019/20.
However, the biggest reduction was seen in those buying lottery tickets or scratch cards - down from 57% to 42% over the same period.
The numbers gambling in bookmakers accounted for 10% of the sample of the 5,762 people interviewed in the household survey.
Men were five times more likely than women to be problem gamblers.
The findings were part of HRB's Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco survey, which found a strong correlation between problem gambling and both deprivation and substance abuse.
Of those with an alcohol use disorder, 13% were at risk or problem gamblers while only the 2% of low risk drinkers had the same gambling problem.
HRB Research Officer and lead author of the report Dr Deirdre Mongan said: "In terms of the profile of at-risk or problem gamblers, commonly, it is men aged 25–34 who are living in a deprived area, are unemployed and experience substance use problems such as drug use, an alcohol use disorder or smoking."
However, the HRB said it had made a statistical adjustment to allow for the lower response rate from young males. It said weighting was applied because "younger males and those living in large urban areas were under-represented".
The report estimates there are 12,000 problem gamblers in the country defined as those who gamble with negative consequences and a possible loss of control.
A total of 49% of surveyed gambled in the previous 12 months, mostly made up of people buying lottery or scratch cards.
That is comparable with a UK average of 50% but lower than the rate of 67% in Northern Ireland.
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Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, Barry Grant, an addiction counsellor with Extern Problem Gambling, said the move towards online gambling is creating huge problems.
Mr Grant said: ''An NUIG study last year on smartphone gambling stated that 50% of people who gamble on smartphones are doing so problematically."
