Recent research commissioned by Lottoland has unveiled that a commanding 75% of the population supports the advancement of stricter regulations embodied by the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022. Despite such resounding approval for regulatory overhaul, Lottoland has raised concerns over certain propositions within the bill, such as the establishment of win and wagering caps, which are perceived by some as excessive.
The survey, which serves as the foundation for this standpoint, revealed that a significant two-thirds of participants believe that individuals should be trusted to gamble in a responsible manner. Among active bettors, it’s noteworthy that 19% would look for alternative means to engage in gambling if it were to be constricted in Ireland. Additionally, it surfaced that fewer than one in three respondents were acquainted with the new governmental endeavors to impose controls on the gambling sector.
As Ireland stands on the brink of finalizing the legislative pathway to regulate its gambling industry in the upcoming months, the bill is set to introduce numerous changes. Among these, a ban on advertising during a large fraction of the day is included, as well as the prohibition on incentives like free bets. A notable element of the restrictions involves games being bound by a maximum win limit of €3,000 or a maximum bet limit of €10. Conjoined with these reforms would come the inception of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI).
Mike Kirwan, Lottoland’s vice-president, acknowledged that while the company supports the foundational goals of the bill such as the creation of the GRAI, there remains a serious trepidation that the current language of the law lacks precise and robust definitions. He emphasized that vague terms could lead to “a range of unintended consequences stemming from a range of legal issues” if the bill is passed without further refinement.
In light of these apprehensions, Kirwan has called upon Minister James Browne and the designated Regulator to reconsider their stance, suggesting they re-engage with industry specialists to address these potential discrepancies.
Kirwan further stated, “Lottoland remain firmly committed to the development and adoption of a comprehensive, evidence-based legislative framework for the gambling, betting, and lotteries sector in Ireland. But we also believe that what is set in legislation now will be vital to ensuring an effective, agile, and sustainable framework in the longer term – whilst still providing for an enjoyable yet safer gambling experience for all customers. The results of this poll demonstrate that the Irish public are in favor of a sensible approach to the regulation of our sector, which sees increased regulation and harm reduction, without coming at the cost of individual’s ability to bet responsibly.”
The study was conducted by Ireland Thinks on behalf of Lottoland, sampling a representative group of 1,387 individuals across the nation.
The bill in question, initially sanctioned in November 2022, has most recently had its version published in July. Despite sturdy opposition from certain quarters, contentious policies like the advertising ban continue to be part of the legislative text. The bill seeks to implement a ‘watershed’ ban on gambling advertising for both radio and television from the early hours of 5.30am till 9pm, effectively stripping valuable advertising slots from broadcast schedules.
The proposal aims to further mitigate the influence of gambling on children and vulnerable groups through the abolition of free betting inducements. Perturbing statistics were revealed last month, indicating that one in every 30 Irish adults is grappling with problem gambling, as per a report disseminated by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). This figure underscores the paramount need for thoughtful and effective gambling policies to be enshrined into Irish law.
