Results of a recently-held consultation show that there are many supporters of the idea of an autonomous gambling regulation for Northern Ireland. The consultation on gambling laws that was held by the Department for Communities in the period between December and February resulted in almost 400 responses.
The Minister for Communities in Northern Ireland Deirdre Hargey is expected to make a statement in the upcoming weeks. It is supposed to outline the future steps of the government towards an independent gambling regulation. Unlike the United Kingdom, where gambling is regulated by the local Gambling Commission, there is no such jurisdiction in Northern Ireland.
On Wednesday, departmental official Michael McAvera announced before the committee of the Stormont’s Department for Communities that there were 382 responses to the recently-held consultationfedu. Most of them were from individuals, while about a quarter of the responses came from different organisations.
Overwhelming Support for Independent Gambling Regulation in Northern Ireland Surprises Stormont Officials
McAvera also shared that 9 out of every 10 respondents of the consultation were in favour of creating a gambling regulatory body in Northern Ireland. About three-fifths of those people also believed that the law should allow casinos to operate in Northern Ireland. The departmental official also reported that two-thirds of the consultation respondents agreed that the bookmakers and betting shops’ opening hours should be relaxed. This way punters will be able to place sports bets on Sundays.
Despite the huge support for an independent betting regulatory body in Northern Ireland, about 97% of the respondents also agreed on more serious education, research, and treatment of serious gambling issues.
Currently, casinos are considered illegal in Northern Ireland and many Stormont officials were surprised by the huge support of the gambling industry. Back in 2014, the former minister Nelson McCausland was firm in his decision to not approve the launch of a casino in Belfast. The Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Upper Bann Jonathan Buckley also shared that the very fact that there is a serious push for the legalization of casinos in Northern Ireland is concerning.
Other MLAs also agree that there is a need for gambling regulations that will take the risk of gambling addictions seriously and will protect the vulnerable people in Northern Ireland.
The full results of the consultation on gambling laws will be revealed in a few weeks. After that, the government will make a decision whether there will be any revisions of the legislation, resulting in a change of the casino scene in Northern Ireland.
As casinos are still illegal in Northern Ireland, players have it difficult to find offline facilities where they can enjoy their favourite casino games. There is the option to play on gaming machines located at betting shops in Northern Ireland. The maximum allowed stake, however, is merely 30p and the biggest win one could enjoy is £8. Meanwhile, players in the Republic of Ireland can place a maximum stake of €5 and enjoy a payout of up to €500.
- Author
Daniel Williams
