Ireland has progressed with plans to modernise its gambling industry with the passage of its new regulation.
The legislation lays out the framework and legislative basis for a new, independent statutory body, Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI).
It also looks to implement a ‘modern and robust’ licensing and regulatory framework for the online and digital sector.
It’s a bill that also aims to tackle the black market, with a myriad of measures to address illegal or criminal gambling activity and includes explicit prohibitions on illegal activity or practices, with many even leading to significant custodial sentences.
Commenting on this major milestone, Minister of State, James Browne, 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.
“At its core, this legislation is a public health measure aimed at protecting our citizens from gambling harm, including younger people and those more vulnerable in our communities.
“When established, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland will have the necessary enforcement powers to enable it to take appropriate and focused action where providers are failing to comply with the provisions of the Authority’s licensing terms, conditions and regulations.”
Browne continued: “My officials and I have engaged in extensive consultation with representatives from the industry, the charity sector, related sectors as well as with professionals working in the area of problem gambling, persons adversely affected by the consequences of gambling and those with lived experience of problem gambling.
“We have worked hard to get this right and the position taken in the proposed legislation has been robustly reinforced by the findings of a comprehensive ESRI study on problem gambling, gambling behaviours and the perception of gambling in Ireland.”
A Social Impact Fund in the country will also be formed as a result of the bill, to support awareness–raising and educational measures and to enhance problem gambling treatment activities.
Off the back of the enacting of the bill, the GRAI will be formed with a seven-person authority. A Programme Board has been established in the Department of Justice to ensure that the legislation and the operational preparations are progressed in parallel, allowing the authority to commence operations, on a phased basis, as soon as possible after enactment and appointment of the authority members.
Anne Marie Caulfield has been appointed to the role of CEO Designate of the GRAI and has been progressing with important preparatory work.
Caulfield added: “The passage of the Gambling Regulation Bill is an important milestone towards the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland which will ensure a well-regulated gambling sector while protecting the public from gambling harms.
“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.
“The bill introduces a number of additional measures to protect people who participate in gambling and provides for the creation of a Social Impact Fund, which will be used to finance research and related initiatives to address problem gambling behaviours, to support awareness–raising and educational measures and to support problem gambling treatment activities.”
