The Ireland Interim Gaming Act Came on December 1

Ireland's interim temporary Gaming and Lotteries Act has come into force signaling the forthcoming legal overhaul of the country's gambling industry in 2021. As the government described the Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Act 2019, the "interim reform measure pending the comprehensive reform of gambling in Ireland" came into force December 1.

Gambling Acts

Both permits granted and gambling licenses pursuant to the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 regulations will remain effective until their next expiration deadline and, if that date is after December 1, 2020, the new provisions will apply.

Interim law pursues several key goals including modernizing land-based gambling promotion, streamlining the registration process for lottery and gaming licenses, as well as small scale casinos and lottery operators.

James Browne, Minister of State for Law Reform said:

“Gambling is a large and evolving industry. It must be the subject of a modern, sensible and effective licensing and regulatory approach. My Department is now engaged in the drafting of a general scheme of a new Bill to provide for that comprehensive reform.”

The act attempts to discourage underage gambling by establishing a minimum age for gamblers, changing the stake and reward caps for slot machines, as well as improving customer safety and increasing gambling profits for charitable purposes. Mr. Browne added:

“These activities, held primarily for charitable and philanthropic purposes, are the lifeblood of our sporting clubs and community organisations across the country. Many of these clubs and organisations have had their fundraising efforts hit hard by the pandemic.”

What Does The Government Promise?

The government committed to creating a gambling regulator with public safety and well-being in mind while exercising its authority to control gambling advertisements, gaming websites and applications, and in 2019, following a recommendation from the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Future Licensing and Regulation of Gambling in Ireland, the government passed the act that paved the way for a new legislative system.

State Minister for Law Reform with special responsibility for gaming control James Browne shared his satisfaction to be able to secure €200,000 in seed financing for the proposed regulatory body, with the funds falling under the allocation of justice in Budget 2021.

Since the bill was approved, the procedure has stalled due to the country's political instability and coronavirus outbreak that forced the government to pause its timeline and declare in September that the new regulator will not be alive by the end of the year.

In addition to the general licensing and regulatory enforcement duties characteristic of a gaming watchdog, the proposed regulatory body would assume responsibility for a nationwide self-exclusion registry, as well as ads and gambling operators' sponsorships.

The body will be separate from the government and will be able to operate a common fund that is made up of levies on licensed operators. The fund will finance research, awareness programs and problem gambler therapy.