Gambling Control Bill Proposed in Ireland

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Justice Minister Alan Shatter has introduced a new Gambling Control Bill in Ireland that aims  to regulate gambling and make the industry more competitive and fair.

The new set of rules would regulate all betting and gaming, including bingo and lotteries, except Irelands’s National Lottery.

“This legislation has the twin objective of effectively regulating the new and dynamic gambling sector that has emerged in recent years, while also providing the opportunity to introduce important new measures to protect vulnerable adults and young people,” Shatter says.

“I expect the gambling sector to commit itself in a meaningful way to the concept and practice of socially responsible gambling,” Shatter continued,“I will accept nothing less than high quality services and I will make sure that all operators pay their share for the development of services needed by people for whom gambling has become a problem.”

Michael Lowry, a TD for the Tipperary North constituency, is not so optimistic about the proposed legislation.  Lowry is highly critical of the 15-gaming table limit that is set for casinos.

He believes the rules do not allure the industry.

“This is a missed opportunity to modernize our gaming law in line with European norms,” Lowry asserts. “The Minister’s proposed legislative reform will fail to maximise the potential for the gaming sector and the benefit to the economy as a whole.”

Funded by licensing and other fees, the Office for Gambling Control will be created under the bill.  Paid for by taxes on gambling operators, problem gamblers will even be able to seek treatment services through a Social Gambling Fund.

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