New Ireland gambling laws & regulations to ban free bets, other inducing promotions, create a regulator, and establish a social impact fund! (Photo by Estaban Lopez on Unsplash)
According to a report by the Irish Times, widely talked about new Irish gambling laws and a regulatory body are now another step closer to implementation. As part of the reforms, a new regulatory body will be created while free bets and other VIP programs that induce players will be banned.
Gambling legislation in Ireland has remained largely unchanged for over 35 years. However, since the Interim Gaming and Lotteries Act was passed in December 2020, talks have been ongoing about major reforms of the country’s gambling laws. This began with the introduction of the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment Bill) to the country’s Assembly in the middle of September.
As part of the proposed legislation, a new gambling regulator will be in situ at some point in the early part of 2022. This new regulatory body will have the power to issue, suspend and revoke gambling licenses, issue non-compliance fines, block payments to gambling operators and freeze player accounts.
Ireland: Gambling Laws & Regulations to Create a Social Impact Fund
A big part of the new legislation is designed to protect players. While it has long been suspected using credit cards for online casino transactions is likely to be banned, the latest news is that a social impact fund will be established and paid for as part of a levy introduced on gambling operators. This will cover addiction treatment for those who suffer from gambling problems and also fund many other social impact measures such as responsible gambling awareness and the creation of a self-exclusion register. The latter will allow people to implement a wide-scale self-exclusion from online gambling.
Furthermore, free bets or any kind of promotion that is seen to entice or induce gamblers to part with their money is to be banned. The laws will also clamp down heavily on gambling advertising. This is especially aimed at adverts on TV, radio or online that could appeal to children or problem gamblers.
We strongly agree with any new regulations that will help the fight against gambling harm. While we love playing at online casinos, we understand that regulatory bodies the world over have to put in place laws, regulations, and guidelines designed to protect players, children, and the vulnerable. You should treat gambling as a hobby and only bet with money you can afford to lose. Please gamble responsibly!
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