Tag Archives: ireland

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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GBGB confirms greyhound racing to go ahead despite tightening restrictions

GBGB confirms greyhound racing to go ahead despite tightening restrictions

Greyhound racing will continue to take place behind closed doors in England, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) has confirmed. There were some doubts as to whether the sport would be allowed to go ahead amid Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s tightening of COVID-19 restrictions. However, the GBGB has said that it has ‘not been informed of any intention to …

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Racing in Ireland remains behind closed doors, as doubts cast over Cheltenham

SBC News Racing in Ireland remains behind closed doors, as doubts cast over Cheltenham

Racing in Ireland will continue without spectators after the Irish Government introduced new, stricter measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 earlier today. The sport has been staged behind closed doors since its resumption on 8 June and the Government confirmed on its official website that protocols will remain in place to protect racegoers. Elite sports, horse racing, greyhound racing, …

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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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BoyleSports renews Playtech as lead igaming systems supplier

SBC News BoyleSports renews Playtech as lead igaming systems supplier

Playtech Plc has secured a ‘five-year extension’ to its existing lead igaming technology and systems supplier contract with BoyleSports, Ireland’s second-biggest betting firm. Updating the market, FTSE250 Playtech confirms that it will continue to serve as lead igaming platform and software supplier for BoyleSports’ regulated UK and Ireland markets presence.   BoyleSports will continue to be serviced by Playtech’s ‘full igaming …

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Irish bookmakers to close their doors as racing continues in new lockdown

SBC News Irish bookmakers to close their doors as racing continues in new lockdown

After confirmation that the country would be entering a six-week lockdown, Irish bookmakers will close their doors to the public, with horse racing and greyhound racing exempt from the new measures. The measures, which will see the entire country enter Level 5 lockdown protocols, will affect more than 800 betting shops across Ireland – a move which BoyleSports has said …

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Creation of independent Irish regulator delayed until 2021

SBC News Creation of independent Irish regulator delayed until 2021

The creation of an Irish gambling regulator has been delayed until ‘at least 2021’ according to Justice Minister Helen McEntee. In May 2019, the Irish government’s proposals to establish an independent gambling regulator to oversee the licencing of all gambling operators received the ‘full backing’ of the industry.  According to Fine Gael TD David Stanton, a junior minister at the …

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UK racing adopts non-standard race times to support its broadcast appeal 

SBC News UK racing adopts non-standard race times to support its broadcast appeal 

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) have taken the joint decision to adopt ‘non-standard race times’ across their respective fixtures schedules on a permanent basis, commencing 1 October 2020. The governing bodies have undertaken the decision to avoid fixture clashes and delayed races, with non-standard race times delivering further fixture clarity to racegoers, trainers and broadcasters. …

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Irish bookmakers demand clarity on reopening orders

SBC News Irish bookmakers demand clarity on reopening orders

Confusion reigns with regards to Irish bookmakers reopening their venues, as the government orders betting shops to remain closed until 29 June.  This week, a reported 800 Irish betting shops reopened their businesses on Monday 15 June, believing to have complied with the Irish government’s ‘phase two’ Coronavirus national plan.  However, within 24 hours Irish betting firms were instructed to …

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Paddy Power to reopen English & Irish betting shops in Royal Ascot week

SBC News Paddy Power to reopen English & Irish betting shops in Royal Ascot week

Paddy Power has announced that it will reopen all betting shops in England, plus 150 Irish estates from Monday 15 June – ‘just in time for Royal Ascot’ (16-20 June). The bookmaker stated that its betting shops in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland remain closed until further notice by regional governments. Helping its retail staff work under unprecedented circumstances, Paddy …

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