Ireland has published proposals for the licensing and regulation of all forms of gambling in the country, including online casino, poker and bingo.
The Gambling Control Bill 2013 will establish a new agency, The Office for Gambling Control Ireland (OGCI), to oversee the licensing and the subsequent inspection and compliance of operators and their systems. This will be self-financed from licence fees and other charges.
The new legislation will repeal all prior arrangements for the regulation of betting, gaming, bingo and lotteries in the EU Member State, with the exception of the National Lottery. As well as regulating remote channels for the first time, the Gambling Control Board also sets out draft arrangements for the licensing of 40 bricks ‘n’ mortar mini casinos, each housing no more than 15 gaming tables.
The Irish government has approved the general scheme of the bill, and is now working on completing its drafting.
Justice Minister Alan Shatter, introducing the plans yesterday, said the draft proposals fulfilled two overriding aims: to regulate the “new and dynamic gambling sector” that had developed in recent years while also implementing new protections for vulnerable adults and young people.
The rough framework also proposes new age restrictions, controls on advertising, promotions and sponsorship, a new Social Gambling Fund to support treatment services for problem gamblers, a new complaints procedure for players, as well as assistance for consumers pursuing compensation from operators licensed under the framework.
Operators will be able to apply for four types of licence: Betting – land based and remote; Gaming – land based and remote; Remote – mixed betting and gaming; Temporary licences – all games. Each of these contains a number sub-categories, 43 in total, qualifying the licensee to offer specific products or games.
The government’s intended levy on operators for the new games has yet to be published. It has indicated it will consider an overhaul of the tax regime for the wider sector once the regulations for the new games are in place.
According to provisions within the 2011 Finance Act which accompanied the Betting (Amendment) Act 2012, the Irish government intends to tax bookmakers at 1% of stakes and betting exchanges at 15% of the total commission they charge/receive from Irish players. These tax changes have however not been enacted due to the Irish government heavily amending the latter and then deciding instead to republish ahead of the summer recess, as the Betting (Amendment) Act 2013.
Article written by Stephen Carter
