Legislation to regulate Ireland’s gambling industry is now in its final stages and set for debate in the Dáil (Irish parliament) on Wednesday night.

This follows an amendment proposed by the minister overseeing the bill, aimed at strengthening the regulator’s authority to limit the availability of free bets to the public. This issue had been hotly debated in the Seanad in recent weeks.

The passage of the Gambling Regulation Bill will mark the end of an 11-year journey since the government first introduced proposals to modernize Ireland’s gambling regulations.

The legislation is one of the key legislative priorities for the Government before the next general election. Tánaiste Micheál Martin has expressed strong support for its passage, stating he would be “very upset” if it failed to pass during the current administration.

“Gambling is a devastating addiction. It can destroy lives and families, often with greater severity than alcohol.”

An End to Unregulated Gambling

While the UK has had a gambling regulator in place for nearly 20 years, Ireland has yet to establish a similar authority despite the naming of an official CEO of the proposed authority back in 2022.

The new bill will create a regulatory body with enforcement powers and the ability to impose limits on advertising and other industry practices. Companies that violate these regulations could face significant fines of up to €20 million or 10% of their turnover.

In recent weeks, Junior Justice Minister James Browne faced criticism over an amendment that would allow gambling companies to offer free bets to the general public but prohibit them from targeting specific groups. Some Senators argued that free bets could lure gambling addicts back into dangerous behavior, with Browne acknowledging his own concerns after reviewing the issue.

“We’ve given the gambling regulatory authority the power to impose additional restrictions if needed on how these offers are made. This greatly enhances the regulator’s ability to act.”

Barry Grant, a counselor and project manager at Extern Problem Gambling, told the Irish Examiner that offers of free bets and free spins are a common trigger for relapses among individuals in recovery.

“We’re also deeply concerned about how these promotions attract young people to start gambling. The flashy advertising creates a real struggle for them, and we witness the harmful effects firsthand.”

According to research from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) published last year, one in 10 adults in Ireland are problem gamblers or have experienced multiple issues due to gambling. However, further studies by ESRI the have indicated that this figure could be significantly underestimated.

Ireland’s main treatment centre for addiction, The Rutland Centre, also reported that in 2023, 20% of its admissions were for gambling addiction.

David Burke

London based reporter covering all aspects of the global regulated and unregulated land-based and online gambling industry – including business news, sports-betting, casinos, poker & regulation