Northern Ireland has officially passed the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements bill. The law will have a tremendous impact on the gambling industry of Northern Ireland and will modify a few of the regulations introduced by the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements Order of 1985.
The new bill marks the first steps towards a more regulated gambling sector, with Northern Ireland’s future plans including regulation of the online gambling industry. One of the biggest changes introduced with the passing of the law includes local bookmakers and bingo halls being allowed to open on Sundays and Good Friday. The only time these facilities will have to remain closed is on Christmas Day.
Bookies and Bingo Halls Surprised by the Passing of Gambling Law
Last year, Communities Minister, Deirdre Hargey, introduced the bill to amend the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements Act, which has not been alternated ever since 1985. When the bill got introduced last year, it passed the first stepping stone to passing as a law. However, the bill could not pass all of the stages before the Assembly’s current mandate expiration in March.
As the bill did not pass as law before March, many expected that it could take several months, if not years, for the amendment bill to be implemented as a law. That is why bookmakers and bingo businesses in Northern Ireland were surprised when the bill received its Royal Assent on Tuesday. Following the decision, bookies and bingo hall owners were notified by the Department for Communities that the piece of legislation had received Royal Assent and will become law as of April 26, 2022.
The emails containing the good news also notified gambling business owners that bookmaker shops and bingo halls in Northern Ireland were allowed to open on Sundays starting from May 1, which is this weekend. Gary Toal, the owner of 44 shops in Northern Ireland, shared with the Irish News that despite being thrilled by the good news, he is not sure that any big bookmaker will be able to start their weekend operations from this weekend. In addition to Sundays, the new law also allows bookmaker shops and bingo halls to open on Good Friday.
Gambling Reform in Northern Ireland to Create More Jobs in the Gambling and Betting Sector
Toal shared that the news about the bill becoming law came as a big surprise and shared that the changes in the operational hours for bookies and bingo halls will cause serious staffing issues for these businesses. As his employees were already working 40 hours per week, he noted that the changes in the operating hours will mean rapid employment of at least 10, 20, or maybe 30 new people. Toal also shared that he may even try to launch several new bookmaker shops in the upcoming four to six weeks.
As bookmaker shops and bingo halls were given an extra day of the week to operate, Toal shared that the 1,500 bookies in Northern Ireland could create positions for about 250 new employees. As bingo halls were also allowed to open on Sundays, this would also create more jobs in the bingo sector, overall expanding the employment in the betting and gambling industry in the north.
- Author
Daniel Williams
