The new Bill is expected to become law in late 2023 bringing Ireland in line with fellow EU states
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has hailed Ireland’s Gambling Regulation Bill as a major milestone.
The Bill, which was written by Minister of State for Justice James Browne, was adopted by the Irish cabinet, governed by a tripartisan coalition, last month. The EGBA has praised the law and noted that it will update Ireland’s gaming regulations and bring it into compliance with those of other EU members.
The Gambling Regulation Bill suggests new laws for both online and land-based gambling in Ireland, including the establishment of a new regulatory body, a social fund for problem gambling treatment and education, a national self-exclusion list for online gambling, new regulations for gambling advertisements, and a ban on credit card payments for gambling.
EGBA secretary general Maarten Haijer stated; “Today is a significant milestone, and we congratulate Minister Browne and his team for bringing forward the bill. EGBA fully supports the Irish government’s ongoing efforts to establish modern regulations that fit the digital age and bring the country’s regulatory framework into line with EU member states.”
The regulator has the authority to prevent unlicensed operators from operating and to establish a nationwide gambling self-exclusion programme, which the EGBA also referred to as “an essential safety net against gambling harm’.
Early in 2023, the Bill’s first reading in the Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas’ lower house in Ireland, is planned. The Bill will become law in late 2023 if lawmakers pass it.
