Ireland Passes Gambling Bill to Regulate Sports Betting
New gambling regulations are coming into force in Ireland. They will allow the launch of the regulatory body that will oversee the betting industry without country, and provide better advertisement guidelines and protection.
Many sports are set to be affected by the new regulations in Ireland. © herbinisaac, Pixabay
Gambling Advertisements Face New Restrictions In Ireland
Gambling regulations are being introduced in Ireland after a long-awaited bill was passed.
The Gambling Regulation Bill was passed on Thursday (October 17) having been in the works for a couple of years.
It means that the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), which will be charged with overseeing the betting industry’s licensing and regulation, can finally be established. The new legislation is the first major change to gambling laws in Ireland for more than 60 years.
Ireland has also paved the way for the establishment and operation of the National Gambling Exclusion Register and gambling advertisements face new restrictions.
Changes to gambling laws in Ireland has been a long and complex process, with many in support of the update but some arguing it could lead to more black market betting.
However, the Bill contains a wide array of measures that have been designed to address illegal or criminal gambling activity. This includes explicit prohibitions on illegal activity or practices.
President of Ireland Michael D Higgins will now consider the bill before it is signed into law.
Public Health Measure
Ireland’s minister of state at the Department of Justice with responsibility for law reform, James Browne, said he is “truly delighted” to welcome the passing of new gambling laws.
“It provides for a new streamlined, simplified and coherent licensing framework – one that reflects the nature of gambling in modern society and addresses the proliferation of digital gambling activities and advertising in recent years,” he said in a statement.
“At its core, this legislation is a public health measure aimed at protecting our citizens from gambling harm, including younger people and those more vulnerable in our communities.”
The minister added the GRAI, once it is up and running, will be given powers to make sure that it can take “appropriate and focused action”.
A daytime gambling advertising watershed has been included in Ireland’s new legislation.
Social Impact Fund
GRAI is set to be given €9.1m in 2025, which includes €4m of ICT capital investment, with Anne Marie Caulfield being appointed to the role of CEO designate.
She said: “The Bill introduces a number of additional measures to protect people who participate in gambling and provides for the creation of a Social Impact Fund, which will be used to finance research and related initiatives to address problem gambling behaviours, to support awareness–raising and educational measures and to support problem gambling treatment activities.”
GRAI will have a seven-person authority and important preparatory work is already under way.
