Ireland’s long-awaited Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 has entered its final stages following a debate by a committee in the Irish Senate last week. The bill, which was first introduced to Irish Parliament in 2022, will see the creation of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland and mark a significant shift in the way online gambling is regulated in the country.
Next Stages
The Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 was first introduced to the House on December 2nd 2022. The bill proposed a regulated online gambling market in Ireland, with the country currently not having a clearly regulated and structured market in place.
The bill has been a big source of debate and has been stuck in the committee stage since May. With debates over the bill now finished, it will move into the report stage. This means that final statements on the bill will be made to the Dáil Éireann (lower house of parliament) and can then be signed into law by President Micheal Higgins.
The status of the bill was facing a potential roadblock with talks of an upcoming general election being held in the country before the end of 2024. While the election still looks likely, it now appears the bill will be passed before that happens.
Advertising Restrictions
As it is in many regulated markets, gambling advertising has become a big source of debate in Ireland ahead of the bill being passed. One senator, Mark Wall, proposed a full ban on all gambling advertising in the country amid concerns that it was becoming rampant and would only increase once the bill has passed.
James Browne, Ireland’s Minister of State, has confirmed there will be restrictions on advertising under the new regulators but has refused the idea of an outright ban. Instead, gambling advertising will have to adhere to a watershed, something which critics have suggested may have a serious impact on horse racing in the country.
Debates around the situation will continue over the coming weeks, but Ireland now looks closer than ever to finally launching a fully-regulated gambling market.
