Ireland’s republican and democratic socialist party Sinn Féin condemned the state of the country’s gambling regulation yesterday, accusing the local government of “doing nothing” to combat problem gambling and gambling-related harm. Mr. Thomas Gould, the party’s spokesperson on Addiction, Recovery, and Wellbeing referred to the lack of regulatory oversight in the local betting industry as “frightening” and “unbelievable”.
The party made several proposals to boost the level of regulation in the sector. One of them is to prohibit the broadcasts of gambling advertisements on local radio and television between 6 am and 9 pm. The party has suggested a similar prohibition should extend to advertising across all online platforms.
Additionally, Sinn Féin insists that an independent regulator should be immediately created to adequately oversee the Irish gambling sector. Ireland’s lawmakers are presently working on new gambling legislation that seeks to introduce one such independent regulatory body, along with various other changes to the industry.
In his statement on Thursday, spokesperson Gould said the local government had made similar commitments in the past but had failed to deliver each time. Sinn Féin is also insisting on the introduction of adequate age verification checks all Irish residents must undergo before they gain access to any online gambling product.
The party suggests in its new policy document that an electoral database checking facility should be created to speed up the age verification process. The current regulations in Ireland require gambling operators to ensure their customers are of legal age within 72 hours after they have placed their bets.
More Than 3,400 Young People in Ireland Have Gambling Problems
James Browne, the Irish Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, admitted earlier in 2021 that the progress on setting up a new gambling regulatory body had indeed been slow. When he spoke in the Upper House of the Irish legislature, Minister Browne insisted that age verification checks would be a principal part of the new gambling legislation.
In his statement yesterday, Sinn Féin’s spokesperson also addressed the issue of addiction among Irish gamblers. The party calls for the establishment of a gambling addiction fund subsidised by obligatory levies and license fees imposed on local operators. Quoting a European survey from 2020, spokesperson Gould said more than 3,400 young Irish people struggle with problem gambling.
The survey’s results are more than disconcerting as they indicate roughly 23% of Irish boys and 7% of young girls have gambled over the past twelve months. In the meantime, the country lacks any specialised programmes that can educate the Irish youth about problem gambling.
Another research conducted by Maynooth University and the Gambling Awareness Trust shows equally unsettling figures. It estimates approximately 55,000 Irish residents fall into the category of problem gamblers. Spokesperson Gould insisted that the Irish government looks at Sinn Féin’s proposed changes so that gambling problems and addiction can be properly addressed at last.
- Author
Daniel Williams
