Irish bookmakers have urged local authorities to establish an independent regulatory body in order to make a more thorough investigation of problem gambling and its extent.
As reported by The Times, The Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) which represents the majority of betting shops across the country, is set to have a meeting with members of the Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann this Thursday. The meeting with local Parliament’s members comes as part of their efforts to ensure full regulation of the Irish gambling sector.
The junior justice minister David Stanton will not take part in the meeting, but will later have separate meetings with stakeholders as part of the new Gambling Bill’s review. As explained by a justice department’s spokesman, Mr. Stanton backs the responsible gambling initiative, but wanted to get acquainted to the proposals in detail.
The Chairwoman of the IBA Sharon Byrne explained that the regulatory body in question should be established in order to initiate research into problem gambling at first, before it is given the full powers to regulate the industry and other aspects of the bill are passed. According to Ms. Byrne, the it would be possible for the regulator to be established without the full bill being passed.
Gambling Control Bill to Be Updated
Back in 2013, the Gambling Control Bill was officially approved. For some time now, the Government has been considering an update of the gambling legislation in order to guarantee that gambling in Ireland is thoroughly regulated. The measures that are being taken come as part of the first serious reform of local gambling laws in sixty years.
The proposed legislation is planned to be extended in order for new developments in the sector, including online gambling and social media advertising. In addition, an independent regulatory authority is set to be created under the provisions of the updated gambling bill. The new regulatory body is to be provided with the power to initiate investigations of companies and take away their licenses.
Under the provisions of the gambling law, gambling operators are to be required to make payments to contribute to a social fund in case they want to be permitted to offer their services on the territory of the country.
According to the Irish Bookmakers Association and its Chairwoman, the local gambling industry had started paying more attention to problem gambling and gambling-related harm, but still, the country needed an independent regulatory body to take care of the sector’s monitoring and control. In addition, currently gambling operators are not forced to contribute to any social funds that backed gambling addictions research, education, treatment and prevention, and the IBA insists that by doing so more clarity would be brought to the bookmakers’ responsibility.
Over the past few years, the Association which represents some of the major bookmakers to date had made certain changes aimed to make customer protection measures better, and to make sure that players who might need help to deal with their problem gambling behaviour. One of the first steps towards funding such initiatives came from the Dunlewey Centre, which operates a nation-wide network of counsellors helping people affected by gambling addictions, as well as a helpline offering support to such individuals.
- Author
Daniel Williams
