Ireland’s National Parliament is nearing the final stages of work on a bill to regulate the gambling industry.
The Gambling Regulation Bill, in development for over a decade, is viewed as a significant reform aimed at protecting consumers and aligning Irish regulations with international standards.
Unlike the UK, which has had a gambling regulator for nearly 20 years, Ireland has lacked a central authority to oversee the sector.
The new bill seeks to address this by establishing the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), which will have broad powers to enforce regulations, oversee advertising, and prosecute companies violating the law.
Illegal operators could face penalties of up to €20 million or 10% of their revenue.
This bill is one of several key legislative priorities the Irish government plans to pass before the March 2025 general election. Lawmakers have engaged in heated discussions during its drafting, with one of the most debated topics being the regulation of free bets.
Recently, Minister of State for Justice James Browne introduced an important amendment to strengthen GRAI’s authority, allowing the regulator to impose further restrictions on promotions like free bets.
Browne has faced criticism for a legislative change that would allow gambling companies to offer free bets to the public but prohibit targeting specific groups, a move some view as risky for encouraging problem gambling relapses.
Flutter Entertainment has voiced concerns about aspects of the bill, particularly the limitations on free bets and proposed caps on bets and winnings. The Dublin-based company has been lobbying lawmakers, cautioning that some measures could have unintended consequences.
Flutter UK & Ireland CEO Ian Brown argued that a total ban on free bets and strict betting limits could push Irish consumers toward offshore operators that lack proper customer protections. He referenced similar challenges in European countries like Italy and France, where unlicensed gambling holds a significant market share.
Brown also expressed concerns over the bill’s potential impact on the Irish racing industry, warning that proposed advertising restrictions might prevent broadcasters from airing popular events, such as the Cheltenham Festival, over fears they could indirectly promote gambling.
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