The application window for the position of CEO of the forthcoming Irish gambling regulator is open to a wide range of applicants according to Minister James Browne. Responding to a question from Deputy Paul Donnelly of the Dáil Éireann, the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, assured representatives that the recruitment search for an inaugural CEO is wide …
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Proposals to introduce a regulatory body to provide greater oversight of the Irish betting and gaming industry have been welcomed by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), but the organisation remains concerned about some potential measures. Described as an ‘extremely powerful’ regulatory body by Ireland’s Minister of State for Law Reform, Youth Justice and Immigration, James Browne TD, the …
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President of Ireland Michael D Higgins has issued a statement regarding sports betting advertising, arguing that there are ‘serious questions’ to be addressed surrounding the issue, as his country embarks on a regulatory overhaul of the sector. The statement follows Higgins’ appearance at a 34-unit gambling rehabilitation centre in Wicklow operated by the Tiglin charity earlier this month, where he …
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Michael McGrath, the Public Expenditure Minister for the Republic of Ireland, has called for a ban on private bookmakers taking bets on the numbers of the country’s National Lottery. According to the Irish Independent, McGrath is concerned that the National Lottery and Euromillions are undermined by bookmakers who offer similar products under their own brand names – a practice he …
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The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has introduced a ban on betting sponsorships, although this will not apply to clubs competing in the League of Ireland. Calls for a severing of ties between betting operators and sports clubs have been mounting in Ireland, with two of the country’s major sporting authorities – the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and Gaelic Players …
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Flutter Entertainment has announced an update to its safer gambling commitments within the Republic of Ireland. As the operating company of Paddy Power, Flutter stated that it has chosen to ban credit card transactions and will further implement a whistle-to-whistle TV advertising ban across all sports programming. In addition, the firm will donate 1% of Net Gaming Revenue (NGR) to …
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The Irish Labour Party has launched draft legislation with the intention of banning the advertisement of gambling, following similar calls by sporting bodies. If successful, the Party’s Gambling (Prohibition of Advertising) Bill 2021, would ban all gambling advertising in Ireland, separating the gaming industry from sports and entertainment. “Gambling addiction is a silent scourge across the nation, which is why …
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The Irish Government has proposed a €500 limit to maximum payouts on gaming terminals, down from the €750 put forward in March. The current limit of €5.00, which remains unchanged since 1956, has been described – according to a government spokesperson – as “archaic, unpractical, and unimplementable”. The Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan has, therefore, outlined a number of changes …
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Ireland’s temporary legislation for the betting and gaming industry, the Gaming and Lotteries Bill 2019, has been given the green light to advance to the committee stage in the Dáil Éireann. The legislation seeks to enforce an age restriction of 18 years old on all betting and gaming products across Ireland, as well as limit gaming machine stakes and prizes …
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The Irish Independent has this weekend reported that the Dáil Éireann will move to present a two-tiered betting tax plan to the European Commission for EU-wide regulatory approval. Following extensive industry consultations, the Irish government is reported to be dropping its formerly approved ‘2% turnover betting tax’, moving towards a more favourable dual tax system differentiating between retail and digital …
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