ROI Justice Minister: ‘Legislation will end gambling Wild West’

Tough new measures are set to rein in gambling-related harms, the Republic of Ireland’s Minister for Law Reform has said.

James Browne’s proposals will impose strict limits on betting adverts and introduce robust safeguards to protect children from gambling.

The Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 was approved by the Cabinet last month and is scheduled to begin its passage through the Irish Parliament next week. Irish gamblers lost approximately €1.36 billion in 2020.

‘Imprisonment’

Browne said: “It really is a Wild West out there. Our legislation dates from the 1930s and the 1950s. It’s simply not fit for purpose at all.”

He explained that “significant measures have been put in place to protect people who are vulnerable gambling users and to protect children”.

The Minister continued: “So, for example, if you breach the legislation around protecting children you could face up to eight years imprisonment.”

“We’re banning betting ads, not just online but across all mediums. We’re also putting in safeguards for children as well as vulnerable gamblers. And the new gambling regulator will have the power to prosecute gambling companies & internet service providers.”@JamesBrowneTD pic.twitter.com/SobpciJPXf

— Fianna Fáil (@fiannafailparty) November 22, 2022

Provisions under the Bill include a blanket ban on gambling ads between 5.30am and 9pm daily, an end to the use of credit cards to gamble, and the creation of a powerful new industry regulator.

UK

Last year, over 160 MPs and peers called on the UK Government to introduce new gambling reforms.

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, signatories including Iain Duncan Smith and Carolyn Harris petitioned the Government to deliver on its 2019 manifesto commitments on the matter “to deliver social justice and a better future for all”.

Earlier this week, the new Culture Minister Paul Scully MP was unable to confirm whether the Government’s much-delayed gambling review white paper would be published this year.