A plan to reform Ireland’s gambling laws has been opposed at the EU level by Malta, who say winning limits in the legislation may breach European law.

The Government is in the process of updating and reforming national gambling legislation.

Part of the Bill includes setting maximum limits for how much a person can both wager and win on certain games.

A new gambling regulator, with approximately 100 staff, is also in the process of being set up. The Bill is making its way through the Oireachtas.

However, the Maltese government has set out a range of concerns about the proposal, through what is known as the TRIS process.

Under the process, any member state must provide a copy of draft legislation it believes may interact with EU law.

Malta was the only country to respond. Malta is strongly pro-gambling and has a large industry providing online betting.

According to KPMG, it accounts for 12% of its GDP. In an analysis for the Irish Government, Maynooth University noted that Ireland was unique in Western Europe in failing to regulate online gambling.

Some major companies with a significant presence here are regulated for online gambling in Malta. The Department of Justice has also consulted with the Maltese regulator in establishing the Irish regulator.

The Maltese government acknowledged that an impact assessment of the legislation estimated there are ‘high levels of problem gambling in Ireland’.

The Maltese submission added: ‘In Malta’s view, Ireland has not provided adequate justification, neither through the draft Bill nor the impact assessment, as to why it has recognised the need to impose the aforementioned restrictive measure, hence such provision may be considered disproportionate and potentially constitute an unjustified breach of the freedom to provide services.’