The Government has been criticised for amending landmark new gambling legislation to allow for free bets to be offered to the general public.
Minister of State at the Department of Justice James Browne brought the legislation again to the Seanad this week, one step from its final stage before being signed into law.
When enacted, the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 will establish the country’s first-ever gambling regulator. Strict curbs will be brought in on gambling advertising along with hefty penalties should gambling firms breach new requirements made of them.
Advocates have said the legislation has been badly needed for well over a decade now, as Ireland falls behind other countries in regulating gambling while rates of problem gambling have surged.
However, one amendment that is causing a stir is the change to allow “inducements”, such as free bets, in the legislation.
Mr Browne had said it was “impossible” to ban all forms of inducements in the bill, so gambling firms will now be allowed to offer free bets, so long as they are offered to the whole population and not targeted to individuals or specific groups.
Labour Senator Mark Wall said: “We don’t offer an alcoholic free drink, or do we? How is that going to be controlled?
“Minister, if I’m an individual with a gambling addiction, surely then if one of the gambling companies advertise a free bet, then I’m entitled to it as much as the person next to me.”
Independent senator Lynn Ruane said free bets “bring people back into gambling” and are used to “entice them back”, as she hit out at Mr Browne for saying that they can be offered generally.
She said:
Ms Ruane also raised the topic of “loot boxes” in video games. In popular series, such as EA Sports FC, loot boxes are items that can be paid for with real money that have a small chance of providing a top footballer in the game.
“We believe, are satisfied and advised that our definition does, in fact, cover gambling on gaming devices and consoles,” Mr Browne said.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil senator Shane Cassells highlighted incessant lobbying over the bill during his contribution.
He accused other TDs and Senators of “bending the knee” to industry, adding: “What was even worse were the threats then made by those in the horse racing industry, in particular, to say the industry would collapse if the Minister of State’s legislation went through the Houses. Anything but.”