Ireland’s Gambling Regulation Bill is set to be signed into law by president Michael D Higgins imminently, having successfully passed through the legislative process in both Houses of the Oireachtas.
The bill, which contains legislation on a daytime gambling advertising watershed that threatens the viability of Racing TV’s operations in Ireland, was first presented to the Dail (lower house) in December 2022 before completing the legislative steps there in May 2024. It was presented before the Seanad (upper house) on May 14 and moved quickly through the stages, completing the report stage on October 8 before returning to the Dail on Wednesday evening.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that Sky Sports Racing has made provisions for the incoming advertising measures by introducing a separate feed for Irish viewers with a tailored offering.
However, Racing TV, who through its parent company Racecourse Media Group (RMG) holds the rights to show pictures from all 26 of Ireland’s racecourses until 2029, has stated on several occasions that the ban would render broadcasting in Ireland “economically unviable”.
Its expeditious progress in recent weeks has been attributed to the increasing likelihood that a general election will be called in Ireland before Christmas, and the bill was one of the few remaining priorities for the current government.
James Browne: minister of state at the Department of Justice hailed the passing of the bill
Some of the main features of the bill are the gambling advertising watershed between 5.30am and 9pm, the introduction of a prohibition on inducements offered by bookmakers, the creation of a social impact fund to be paid for by annual contributions from bookmakers based on turnover and the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), which was allocated €9.1 million in the budget for 2025.
James Browne, the minister of state at the Department of Justice, said: “I am truly delighted to welcome the passage of this long-awaited legislation, which is the result of many years of hard work by myself and a team of dedicated departmental officials. It provides for a new streamlined, simplified and coherent licensing framework – one that reflects the nature of gambling in modern society and addresses the proliferation of digital gambling activities and advertising in recent years.
“At its core, this legislation is a public health measure aimed at protecting our citizens from gambling harm, including younger people and those more vulnerable in our communities. When established, the GRAI will have the necessary enforcement powers to enable it to take appropriate and focused action where providers are failing to comply with the provisions of the authority’s licensing terms, conditions and regulations.”
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