President Michael D Higgins shared his concerns with sports gambling issues in the country and called for the authorities to make sure that gambling platforms keep their advertising campaigns away from sports. Speaking at the All-Ireland hurling semi-final between Cork and Limerick, he explained that he was very worried as far as gambling in sport is concerned.
He also told RTÉ Radio that he would do everything possible to deny gambling operators any access to advertising in sports at all. President Higgins also referred to his recent visit to a County Mayo-based treatment centre where he emphasised the number of gambling adverts which are aired on TV at the time of various sports programmes. He further explained that the treatment centre in Mayo had been of great help to some people who had been facing the negative consequences of compulsive gambling.
President Higgins reminded that he as a President had no influence on the matter but he was still able to say what he thought. Still, he said that integrity of sport should be kept, and that was possible to happen only in case that everyone involved in the industry participates.
Irish politicians have long been criticised for turning a blind eye to the need for legislation which is more up-to-date with the rapid development of gambling. The so-called Gambling Control Bill, a long-awaited piece of legislation set to regulate gambling and help the Irish legislative and regulatory framework incorporate the latest trends, information and development of the gambling industry, is still being prepared by the country’s Department of Justice.
President Higgins Concerned about Growing Gambling Issues
By convention, the President of Ireland does not interfere with various policy matters such as gambling, so his intervention is pretty uncommon, especially considering the fact that a presidential election is set to take place in the autumn.
As mentioned above, President Higgins called for enhanced protection of Irish sports by keeping them free of the great variety of gambling adverts available. He added that more education about the dangers associated with gambling was needed in Ireland, but also tried to make it clear that education would not be enough to make things right and solve the growing issue once and for all.
At the time when he spoke of his love of sport on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio, President Higgins further added that politicians in Ireland often ignore problems which are right in front of their faces. What is more, he shared that he was well aware of what happened at the country when a professional athlete retired, and praised the GAA for their excellent outreach scheme, but still emphasised on the fact that gambling is becoming more widespread among both common people and professional athletes.
As mentioned above, Mr. Higgins talked about the integrity of sports and keeping it intact, but he also reminded that the industry is supposed to take care of everyone who participates, and this, according to him, means not to expose them to harm when they are vulnerable.
- Author
Daniel Williams
