The Republic of Ireland’s long-awaited Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 is in its final stages before being passed into law, after being debated by a committee in the Irish senate Seanad Éireann on 25 and 26 September.

The bill was first represented to the house on 2 December 2022 and sought to create a regulated online gambling market in Ireland with a new statutory authority to regulate the market called the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland.  

A national self-exclusion scheme and a social impact fund that will be supported by a mandatory levy are also to be established as part of the legislation.  

Under new rules operators will also face various measures to protect vulnerable groups, including banning credit card betting and gambling advertising.  

After being stuck at the committee stage since May, it will soon reach report stage, meaning once the final statements on the bill are made to the Dáil Éireann (lower house of parliament), it can be signed into law by President Michael Higgins. 

Various senators applauded the bill and its lead James Browne, Ireland’s minister of state at the department of justice and equality, for seeing it through despite various setbacks.  

“It is to his credit that the minister of state Deputy Browne has stayed the course in compiling such detailed and very much-needed legislation,” Senator Shane Cassells said. 

“I commend the minister on ensuring its passage and making sure it got to this stage. I hope we see it passed and brought into law because the pressing need for it is greater now than ever.” 

Minister refuses outright ban on gambling advertising 

Concerns over the proliferation of gambling advertising prompted Senator Michael McDowell to warn regulation could push Ireland “down the same road as the United Kingdom”.  

“If anybody here watches satellite TV to the extent I do they will know that virtually everything is infected by gambling,” he said.  

Gambling advertising will be restricted under new rules, but Senator Mark Wall sought to have advertising fully prohibited as an amendment to the bill.  

But Browne said he could not support the amendment for a full prohibition. He said restrictions will instead include a watershed for gambling ads on television and radio.  

The regulator will be awarded wide-ranging powers to determine the times, places and events where gambling advertising can be broadcast, he said.

“As I have previously stated, I have concerns about adopting an absolute ban on advertising from the outset. Gambling is a lawful and legitimate activity and the bill, as amended by the Dáil, further empowers the authority to be able to react and regulate advertising accordingly,” Browne said.  

The debate was adjourned with no date set for the next committee meeting.