IRELAND’S new gambling regulator is plotting a crackdown on adverts that fuel addiction or lure children into betting, declaring: “We will combat problematic gambling.”
In an exclusive interview with The Irish Sun, Regulator ANNE MARIE CAULFIELD also shoots down claims that a new daytime ban on betting ads will devastate Irish horse racing, as she believes fearful TV stations will still be able to operate here.
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Earlier this month, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan signed an executive order which officially kick-started the new Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland.
The last Government passed legislation that will see the Authority ban gambling ads on TV and online between 5.30am and 9pm and outlaw online inducements such as free bets.
Anne Marie has been appointed as CEO of the gambling watchdog and has already had more than 250 meetings with bookies, racing industry officials, addiction charities and other Regulators around the globe in recent months.
And today, the Regulator wants to reassure punters who like the odd gamble at the weekend that they have nothing to fear from the new rules and regulations that coming down the line.
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NEW Gambling Regulator Anne Marie Caulfield emphasises that the upcoming regulations won’t affect casual bettors.
Her focus is on protecting children and those suffering from gambling harm without disrupting the experience for most gamblers.
She said: “In relation to somebody who likes the odd bet, it won’t change at all. Nobody is outlawing gambling.
“What this act is very much involved in is making sure that children are protected and that those who are suffering from gambling harms are protected.
“But in terms of the other 90 per cent, they won’t notice any difference.”
Asked if she liked a bet herself, the Regulator said: “Not since I took up this job, but I would have, from time to time, before that.”
Under the Regulator, all bookies, casinos and gambling companies will have to apply for a license in order to operate in Ireland.
This licensing system will be up and running before the end of the year — meaning the bans on daytime gambling ads and promos won’t kick in until next year.
Television channels Racing TV and At The Races have warned that the ban on daytime gambling ads could see them pull out of Ireland be- cause of the cost of having a separate stream from the UK.
This sparked concern that the horse racing industry in Ireland — which supports thousands of jobs — could be devastated by the withdrawal of the TV firms.
RACING CHANNELS
But, the Regulator believes these fears have been overplayed and the racing channels will still be able to operate within the ad ban.
She told The Irish Sun: “We have met with Horse Racing Ireland in relation to our licensing regime.
“With regard to the TV channels, we don’t anticipate that they would be affected.
“They will still be able to operate outside of the watershed in terms of the various advertisements.”
The main drive of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland will be to help protect people who suffer from addiction and prevent children being encouraged to gamble.
GAMBLING HARM
In recent months, the Regulator has met families who have lost loved ones to gambling addiction — meetings that have left a mark.
She said: “It is heartbreaking to hear their stories.
“That is something we absolutely want to play our role in.
“One of the first things I did was commission a study by the ESRI and they found that gambling harm is ten times higher in Ireland than previously thought.
“That really focuses the mind on the fallout for the people involved, but also family or friends.”
GAMBLING LEVY
As part of the new laws, gambling firms will be forced to pay a levy that will pay for a Social Impact Fund, which will be used to combat problematic gambling.
A public consultation will be launched to ask people what they think this money should be used for.
The Regulator believes that addiction treatment care, research, education and awareness campaigns could be paid for through this fund.
Bookmakers operating 24/7 online could be forced to pay higher rates.
ONLINE CLAMPDOWN
Anne Marie told how online gambling in Ireland has exploded since the pandemic, with research showing betting is now split 50:50 between physical shops and online.
The regulator is also looking to clamp down on online gambling inducements.
Anne Marie believes online betting is an area that needs particular attention due to the risk it poses to young people.
Anyone found guilty of allowing a young person to gamble faces up to eight years in prison.
She said: “People with lived experience have said to us it is a difficulty that it is available 24/7.
“There was a study of 16 year olds, and 28 per cent of boys had been gambling in the last 12 months.
“When you combine that with the figures in relation to the ERSI study, where they found that children who gamble before the age of 18 are twice as likely to develop an issue with harmful gambling in later life, that issue is a very important one for us.”
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