The Irish Cabinet approved the Courts and Civil Liabilities Bill, which would set the legal age of 18 years for the available forms of gambling across the country. The new legislation, which is expected to be published over the days to come, is to provide a number of amendments of the Ireland’s Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1956.
Currently, the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 provides the legal and regulatory framework of gaming activities at circuses, carnivals, funfairs and amusement halls. In addition, it provides the necessary framework for arcades, not to mention lotteries and raffles at various entertainment and sporting events across the country.
The newly-presented piece of legislation is considered only as an early measure introduced before more detailed and thorough law that would be aimed to regulate the local gambling industry better.
Under the provisions of the current piece of legislation, users are not allowed to purchase a lottery ticket or place a bet in case they are not 18 years old. In addition, under-aged individuals are not allowed to be in a bookmaker’s outlet. Up to date, the Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1956 allows persons who are over 16 years old to enter arcades or amusement halls in which there may be slot machines.
What is more, another amendment is expected to be made by the Courts and Civil Liabilities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. The latter is to introduce a completely new part to the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956, as it is aimed at making the raffles and sporting club lottos legislation provisions more clear and precise. The provisions of the new Bill will also boost both the prize pots limits and the stakes, and as mentioned above, it is to set a legal age limit for gambling at 18 years.
Some of the amendments that are to be brought to the Irish gambling legislation have been provoked by a number of recent concerns about the local raffles and lotteries. Lately, the Minister of State for Justice David Stanton, has shared that competent authorities were worried that Irish raffles and lotteries were held by local operators on the territory of the country without being properly regulated. In addition, according to Minister Stanton, many licensees and customers were not fully aware of the laws, which was why certain aspects of the latter were sometimes violated.
As for the more comprehensive piece of legislation that is being prepared, Minister Stanton revealed that the law would be aimed at the entire gaming industry. An interesting addition to be made to the new piece of legislation that is being prepared, will be the principle of self-exclusion, which would allow to individuals suffering from gambling addictions the chance to voluntarily suspend themselves from gambling activities for a certain period of time which could be between six months and five years.
No matter that the Bill has been postponed for an extended period of time, it is expected to be officially introduced over the upcoming Dáil session.
- Author
Daniel Williams
