The Irish government has issued a new law to regulate the gambling industry and ban free bets after Justice Department Secretary of State James Browne launched the new bill last week. The new law aims to include older laws, which have been described as “outdated”, some of which date back to the 1930s.
Entitled The General Scheme of the Gambling Regulation, the bill was drafted taking into account the contributions of experts and after analyzing the current gambling landscape in the country. The legislation lays down provisions for a new regulatory body for the industry, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, and also introduces new player protection measures.
James Browne said that “the publication of the general scheme is an important step towards the effective regulation of gambling in Ireland within the new independent legal body – the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland”.
In addition to the regulatory provisions of the new body, the new law also introduces a series of measures to protect players. Thus, gambling operators can be fined up to $ 23.2 million or 10% of turnover if they break the rules. Offering free bets, inciting a person to keep gambling, offering credit or loans to players and VIP services will be prohibited. The regulator will have the power to suspend or revoke licenses, control gambling advertising, and combat money laundering. The independent gambling regulator is expected to become operational in 2023.
The new bill introduces the following new elements:
- suppliers that violate the rules of operation of gambling may be fined up to $ 23.2 million or 10% of turnover.
- it is forbidden to offer free bets
- an attempt to incite a person to continue gambling is prohibited
- it is forbidden to offer credit or loan to players
- licenses will be suspended or revoked and financial sanctions will be administered
- it will be possible to block remote or online access to the service of a provider in the country or to completely stop certain operations
- it will be possible to block or freeze bank accounts, assets and payments
- it is forbidden to penalize players by refusing bets or reducing winnings
- it is forbidden to have an ATM in licensed gambling spaces.
- licensed companies are required to clearly display the terms and conditions – including applicable odds offered for events – to both online and in-person players.
- licensees are required to promote awareness of safer gambling awareness and to include warnings of the potential risks of gambling, which should be displayed on all screens in each licensed venue and all receipts and documents provided.
Violation of these player protection measures could result in operators being fined or revoked.
In addition to having the sole power to grant, revoke and renew licenses, the regulator will also control gambling advertising and regulate all gambling activities and services. A new gambling advertising code will set the hours and frequency of gambling ads on TV, radio, and other media platforms each day.
The regulator will also implement anti-money laundering functions, with the power to investigate suspicious activities, instigate criminal prosecutions and impose sanctions. I will also keep a register of all authorized gambling operators.
“We all accept that the current legislative framework is fragmented, outdated, lacks a coherent approach to licensing and regulation and needs significant reform”, … “Now is the time to finally address this issue comprehensively, once and for all. always,” Browne continued in his statement.
The bill will now be sent to the Bureau of Parliamentary Advisers for drafting and to the Oireachtas Justice Commission for review. Browne said the new authority would appoint a CEO, a role to be filled by Christmas or early next year.
Concluding his statement, James Browne said “The purpose of implementing a designated CEO is to help guide and establish authority so that, when legislation is enacted, both are in place at the same time.”
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