Govt Approves General Scheme Of The Gambling Control Bill

Alan Shatter TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence has announced that the Government has approved the General Scheme of the Gambling Control Bill 2013.

Work will now get underway on completing the drafting of the Bill.

The Gambling Control Bill 2013 presents a unique opportunity to update the law in this area and to provide for a comprehensive new licensing and regulatory framework for gambling.

Minister Shatter, said: "This legislation has the twin objective of effectively regulating the new and dynamic gambling sector that has emerged in recent years, while also providing the opportunity to introduce important new measures to protect vulnerable adults and young people. The updated legislation and new regulatory regime will provide for a consistent interpretation and application of the law across all areas of gambling and as a result, it will bring legal certainty to the area. I believe that this Bill will give Ireland a well regulated gambling system that will be recognised as such internationally."

The Gambling Control Bill 2013 will repeal and replace all existing arrangements for the regulation of betting, gaming, bingo and lotteries (except for the National Lottery). It extends the licensing regime to include on-line and electronic gambling. The Bill also sets out the arrangements for the licensing and supervision of casinos. Under the Bill, the number of casinos will be limited to 40 and no casino will be permitted to have more than 15 tables.

Minister Shatter continued: "Under the new law, anyone offering a gambling service to anyone in the State, by whatever means and regardless of whether the operator is based in the State or elsewhere, must have a licence. A new executive agency will act as both the licensing authority and regulator for the sector, and will have responsibility for checking compliance and in enforcing the law generally. The agency will be self-financing, from licence fees and other charges."

(CD)