Tag Archives: Dáil

Irish racing calls for exemption of GBR watershed rules impacting TV coverage 

SBC News Irish racing calls for exemption of GBR watershed rules impacting TV coverage 

Irish racing stakeholders have expressed their concerns about the current terms of the Gambling Regulation Bill (GRB), which they believe threatens the commercial viability of their heritage sports. This week, concerns were conveyed to the government by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and the Association of Irish Racecourses (AIR) regarding the GRB’s existing terms, which they argue limit the commercial opportunities …

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Paddy Power ends RTÉ broadcast partnership 

SBC News Paddy Power ends RTÉ broadcast partnership 

Paddy Power has mutually ended its sponsorship of televised football matches with Irish terrestrial TV broadcaster RTÉ. The decision comes ahead of a new voluntary code of conduct that will be observed from 1 January by members of the Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA). The code’s headline measure will impose a ‘whistle-to-whistle ban on sports betting advertising during sports broadcasts, mirroring …

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Irish Senators debate responsibilities and launch date of gambling regulator

SBC News Irish Senators debate responsibilities and launch date of gambling regulator

The topic of problem gambling has taken centre stage in the Irish Oireachtas, as Senators debated the introduction of Ireland’s independent gambling regulator set for 2023. Under the terms of the ‘Interim Gaming and Lotteries Act’, passed in December 2020, the government will conduct a large overhaul of Irish gambling regulations in 2021, with the aim of modernising existing legislation …

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Ireland’s McGrath expands calls for betting reform to National Lottery

SBC News Ireland’s McGrath expands calls for betting reform to National Lottery

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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League of Ireland – betting sponsorships an ‘internal matter’

SBC News League of Ireland - betting sponsorships an ‘internal matter’

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 takes leading role on Irish safer gambling duties

SBC News Flutter takes leading role on Irish safer gambling duties

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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Irish Labour Party launches Bill targeting gambling advertising

SBC News Irish Labour Party launches Bill targeting gambling advertising

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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Ireland’s GAA and GPA call for ban on betting ads during live games

SBC News Ireland’s GAA and GPA call for ban on betting ads during live games

Two of Ireland’s leading sports organisations, the Gaelic Athletics Association (GAA) and Gaelic Players Association (GPA), have argued for new regulations targeting gambling advertisements. This is not the first time that the GPA has expressed its opinions on gambling’s presence within sports across the country.  Last year, the GPA showed its support for a gambling overhaul, having been in discussions …

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Ireland adopts interim Gaming and Lotteries Act ahead of wholesale 2021 reforms

SBC News Ireland adopts interim Gaming and Lotteries Act ahead of wholesale 2021 reforms

Ireland has passed the ‘interim Gaming and Lotteries Act’, establishing the foundations for a planned sweeping reform of the nation’s gambling laws in 2021.   The overhaul of Ireland’s gambling legislation will provide a long-awaited modernisation of existing legislation for the sector that dates back to 1931 and 1956, updating codes and standards for the digital age and modern consumer.  The …

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