Ireland Gambling Control Bill

The Scheme establishes the Office for Gambling Control Ireland (“OGCI”) as the regulator responsible for controlling gambling in Ireland. It would act, under the auspices of the Minister for Justice, as the licensing body for the 43 categories of licences and the two heads of registration set out in the Scheme. The draft scheme of the Gambling Control Bill (the Bill) was originally published in July 2013. When that legislation is enacted, it will modernise Ireland's legislative framework for all types of.

A modern regulatory framework for gambling in Ireland is urgently required. The Gambling Control Bill of 2013 represents a decent starting point in developing player protection and much needed treatment services and research facilities for Gambling Disorder. The drafting and enactment of the Gamblin. Gambling Control Bill – Detailed Joint Submission About the Authors: Barry Grant: arry is the EO and Founder of Problem Gambling Ireland (PGI). PGI is Ireland’s first independent service, dedicated to the prevention and minimisation of gambling-related harm. This had been recommended in the Gambling Control Bill (2018), which itself was derived from the Gambling Control Bill (2013), which in turn had all begun with a review of gambling legislation.

On 10 January 2018, David Stanton, the Irish Minister of State in the Department of Justice and Equality with special responsibility for gambling, received approval from Cabinet on proposals to introduce updated gambling legislation in Ireland. Minister Stanton also asked Cabinet for approval to draft a new General Scheme of the Gambling Control Bill. The General Scheme is essentially an outline of the policy that will be included in the draft Bill.

Those that have been following the progress (or arguably, the lack of progress) of the Gambling Control Bill will recall that the General Scheme of the Gambling Control Bill was originally published in 2013 and was followed by a period of consultation with the stakeholders in the industry. However, little or no progress has been made on the Bill since 2013.

Independent Regulator

As almost 5 years has passed since the publication of the General Scheme, Minister Stanton sought approval from Cabinet to bring forward a new General Scheme which would take account of updates in the industry since 2013.

Among the changes to be introduced in the new General Scheme is a recommendation that the industry be regulated by an independent regulator. The General Scheme as published in 2013 proposed that a regulator would be established within the Department of Justice and that proposal had been roundly criticised.

Ireland Gambling Control Bill 2019

The Minister intends to have a further period of consultation with stakeholders in the industry once the new General Scheme is published. The Minister has indicated that the introduction of gambling legislation is a priority for him and that he hopes to publish the new General Scheme by the summer of 2018, with the Bill to be drafted and published before the end of the year.

Ireland Gambling Control Bill 2020

However in a recent media interview, Minister Stanton acknowledged that such a timetable might well be overly optimistic. We are inclined to agree with the Minster and while it will be welcome to see the outline of the new legislation in 2018, it seems extremely doubtful that the new Bill will be published this year.

Ireland Gambling Control Bill Passed

If you require advice in relation to any of the issues raised in this update, please contact a member of our Betting and Gaming Team.

Ireland Gambling Control Bills

Date published: 16 January 2018