Irish bookmakers have agreed to suspend the use of credit cards for gambling transactions both off- and online. Sports betting operators have also given the nod to the so-called “whistle-to-whistle” gambling advertising ban during live sports events.
The two initiatives are part of an updated code of practice aimed at the provision of safer gambling. The amendments have been introduced by the Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) and outline a number of commitments that are expected to be made by gambling companies that operate in the local sports betting industry in order to guarantee better player protection. As a result of the changes, all IBA members, including Flutter Entertainment, Entain, bet365, Boylesports, Betway and The Kindred Group, are set to adopt the latest version of the code.
Sharon Byrne, the chair of the Irish Bookmakers Association, explained that the body has recognised the need for imposing the highest standards for safer gambling in the country’s gambling sector in terms of whistle-to-whistle restrictions for advertising during live sports events and the use of credit cards for gambling transactions both in high-street betting shops and online.
Ms Byrne further noted that the IBA had long called for the establishment of an independent gambling regulatory body in Ireland, which is why it welcomed the Government’s commitment to bring significant changes in the country’s gambling legislation in the upcoming months and years.
Gambling Ads and Credit Card Changes to Be Implemented by Bookmakers by the End of 2021
As shared by the chair of the Irish Bookmakers Association, the changes brought to the code would not be the answer to dealing with increasing problem gambling rates in the country. According to the IBA, more could be done to guarantee customer safety and compliance with gambling legislation after an independent gambling watchdog is established in Ireland.
The aforementioned code of practice, adopted by all members of the trade body of Irish bookmakers and the majority of licensed online companies that operate a casino or a sports betting service on the territory of the country, is set to become fully operational by the end of 2021. It includes a set of minimum commitments made by the gambling industry players in terms of customer protection, services’ safety and transparency, etc.
As shared by the Irish bookmakers’ trade body, the two primary changes in the code are associated exactly with the gambling advertising whistle-to-whistle restrictions and the credit card ban on off- and online gambling transactions.
The changes regarding credit card use as a valid payment method in betting shops and on bookmaker websites have already been in place for some operators, such as Flutter Entertainment. The IBA explained that other gambling companies are set to make the technological amendments as soon as possible and no later than the end of 2021.
Apart from that, the gambling industry is set to introduce a whistle-to-whistle advertising ban for TV advertising during live sports events before the 9:00 PM watershed. The ads removal will run from 5 minutes before the beginning of the sporting event to 5 minutes after. Horse racing and greyhound racing events will be exempt from the gambling advertising restrictions because they are pretty much dependent on it.
- Author
Daniel Williams
