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Ireland’s minister of state at the Department of Justice (DOJ) is hopeful that the long-awaited Gambling Regulation Bill will return to the Dáil, the law-making branch of the legislature, and complete its final stage next week.
A spokesperson for the DOJ confirmed that the bill, which will introduce a raft of changes intended to modernise the country's gambling law with a focus on public safety as well as establish a new gambling regulator, completed the Report and Final stages in Seanad Éireann, Ireland's senate, on October 8.
“While scheduling is a matter for the Houses of the Oireachtas, minister James Browne is hopeful that the Bill will return to the Dáil to report the amendments made in the Seanad, and complete its final stage there next week,” the DOJ told Vixio GamblingCompliance.
A final discussion on amendments took place on October 8 in the Seanad Éireann, with advertising restrictions and bonus offers proving to be key points of contention.
It now appears that the incoming Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) will be given the power to “put in further restrictions as it sees necessary to restrict the types of offers that may be made and how they may be offered”, Browne stated in the latest round of discussion.
However, Browne once again reiterated that he does “not agree with - and neither did the all-party Oireachtas committee propose - a complete blanket ban on all advertisement that may be a promotion or inducement by this industry.”
“Those concerned have a constitutional right to earn a living. There is a distinction between this particular type of activity and some others where there is a ban. While there are really tight restrictions on the types of offers that can be made here, we do not support a complete and total ban,” Browne said.
The DOJ also confirmed to Vixio that the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) is still not operational.
“A CEO designate of the authority has been appointed, a programme board has been established and an implementation support team is working to ensure that the legislation and the operational preparations are progressed in parallel so that the authority is in a position to commence operations, on a phased basis, as soon as possible after enactment of the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022,” it said.
The GRAI has already appointed 11 staff members who are making preparations in advance of it being established.
