For the time being Ireland is at one of the top places of gambling engagement rates in the world.
Local betting shops employ over 6,000 people, with another 1,000 who currently work for online gambling operators. Apart from that, the country’s gambling industry offers a great variety of operations. Fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) could be easily accessed at local betting shops, casinos are open 24 hours a day, and horse racing has become a favourite pastime for Irish people.
Online gambling has also spread in popularity among young people between 18 and 35 years of age. What makes it so preferred is the easy accessibility and the opportunity to place a bet within a few minutes.
On the other hand, the major piece of legislation which regulates the local gambling market has long been considered pretty much outdated. Campaigners have proposed certain changes to be made in Irish gambling laws, and in 2013 the Gambling Control Bill was presented to Dáil Éireann. However, since then it has made very little progress, with no movement made on the Bill since May 9th, 2018.
The new gambling bill is considered a vital part of legislature and is set to bring the Irish gambling industry a more modern perspective of gambling and its regulation, with many of the changes that are set to be implemented have been borrowed from the UK, where both online and land-based operators are able to run successful businesses despite the fact that the industry is strictly regulated.
Campaigners Insist Irish Gambling Bill Needs Changes and It Needs Them Now
Unfortunately, local Government officials have not been able to reach a compromise on the regulation and monitoring of the Irish gambling industry. Long-time discussions have been on the table in the Dáil, while gambling addiction and gambling-related harm rates across the nation continue to rise.
The problem with compulsive gambling is serious. Currently, Ireland is ranked among the countries with the highest average level of individual losses on gambling per capita – a problem which has led to more calls for stricter regulation. The fact that gambling companies are easily able to circumvent the process for acquiring a gambling operation licence makes things even worse, as local gamblers can easily play on illegal premises or websites.
On the other hand, little is done by local authorities when it comes to support for players who need professional help to deal with their compulsive gambling habits. Customers are allowed to place some spending and time limits on their online gambling accounts and are also given the chance to effectively ban themselves from gambling, but still, more effective measures are necessary to prevent the constant spreading of problem gambling among Irish players.
The new Gambling Control Bill has been backed by some prominent politicians, including David Hickson, Sharon Byrne, Maureen O’Sullivan, etc. According to Ms O’Sullivan, the new piece of gambling legislation will play an important part in tackling organised crime and money laundering in the country. All three of them have shared opinions that the existing gambling laws are not up to date, with most of them being initially forged in the 1950s. According to campaigners, it is the Irish Government which bears the responsibility to make sure that the local gambling industry is well regulated and controlled.
- Author
Daniel Williams
