Ireland’s Gambling Regulator Launch Postponed Until 2021

Helen McEntee, Irish Minister of Justice, has said that the brand new gambling regulatory body in this country will not be launched before 2021, at least!

Ireland’s Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019 contains the new regulatory body as one of its aspects. The bill was signed into law in December 2019 and includes gaming machine stakes and prizes limits.

Work Underway

Minister of State, David Stanton, said that the new regulator should be instated in 18 months…

…but that was in May 2019, when the bill was still in the consideration stage. In a written response to a question by TD Padraig O’Sullivan, McEntee itted that while Justice Department is working on its creation, she will not bring forward suggestions to establish the regulator until next year.

McEntee said:

“The Programme for Government, gives a clear commitment to establish a gambling regulator focused on public safety and wellbeing, covering gambling online and in person, and the powers to regulate advertising, gambling websites and apps.

Work is currently underway in my department on the development of the legislation to provide for the necessary modern licensing and regulatory provisions for the Irish gambling industry. I hope to bring proposals in that regard to the Government next year.”

She has confirmed that it’s important to first make sure that the regulator was able to deal with the gambling industry in Ireland, in the first place and said that “given the size, complexity and technological development of the modern gambling industry and having regard to the current outdated and complex arrangements, it will be important that the regulator will be established on a strong footing and adequately resourced to carry out this important task.”

A Long Overdue Update

The new gaming regulatory body for Ireland was first announced back in March 2019…

…which is an update over the obsolete Gaming and Lotteries Amendment Act from 1956. The bill sets maximum gaming machine stakes and prizes at EUR10 and EUR 750 respectively.

There will also be a new and improved licensing system for lotteries.

Source:

“New Irish gambling regulator launch delayed to 2021”, igamingbusiness.com, September 14th, 2021.