Ireland passes long-awaited Gambling Regulation Bill

Ireland passed its long-awaited Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 yesterday (16 October).

The landmark legislation has now passed both Houses of the Oireachtas, clearing the way for the launch of Europe’s latest regulated market.

The bill sets out the framework for a licensing and regulatory framework for both in-person and online gambling.

Minister of state James Browne TD said: “I am truly delighted to welcome the passage of this long-awaited legislation, which is the result of many years of hard work by myself and a team of dedicated Departmental officials.

“It provides for a new streamlined, simplified and coherent licensing framework – one that reflects the nature of gambling in modern society and addresses the proliferation of digital gambling activities and advertising in recent years.

Browne argued the legislation was fundamentally a public health measure aimed at protecting vulnerable groups from gambling harms.

Ireland to be subject to strong ad restrictions

Gambling advertising will be restricted from 5:30am to 9:00pm under the law, which features criminal penalties of up to nine years for those who fail to protect children.

Flutter Entertainment, whose predecessor Paddy Power began as a consortium of Irish bookies in the 1980s, has warned the advertising restrictions could prove a boon to the black market.

The bill will also establish a national self-exclusion register and a social impact fund to support awareness, education and problem gambling treatment.

Also included is a suite of measures aimed at clamping down on unlicensed operators, with some illegal activities subject to a custodial sentence.

A new independent statutory body, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), will be set up to oversee the new market and is empowered with enforcement tools.

Offenders in breach of the law could face fines of up to €20m, or 10% of GGR.

The GRAI will be governed by a seven-person board and led by civil servant Anne Marie Caulfield as its CEO.

The Department of Justice has created a Programme Board to ensure legislative and operational preparations are progressed in parallel.

GRAI to launch following board appointments

This, the government said, will allow the GRAI to immediately launch operations on a phased basis following the appointment of its board.

As part of Ireland’s 2025 budget announced on 1 October, the Authority will receive €9.1m in 2025, including €4m in ICT capital investment.

Caulfield said: “While we have a lot of preparatory work done, we will have a phased introduction of our functions, with a focus on licensing initially.

“As CEO designate of the new Authority, I am determined to ensure that licensees operate in accordance with the legislation while also fulfilling our mandate to establish safeguards to address problem gambling.

“We are also committed to engaging with stakeholders as we establish this new regulatory regime for Ireland’s gambling and gaming sector.”

Following Ireland’s regulated market launch, Northern Ireland will be left as the last major unregulated jurisdiction across Britain and Ireland.

Browne added: “I am conscious that many people have strong views on the issue of gambling, and I believe that this bill is designed to meet the challenges of gambling responsibly in 21st century Ireland.

“The bill takes a responsible approach to balancing the freedom to gamble with the safeguards to protect people from falling prey to addiction.”

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