Betting is inherently linked with Irish culture and society with gambling and sports betting dating back to even the 16th century. However, the betting culture within Ireland has drastically shifted with the introduction of online betting sites and slots over the past decade.
The betting industry has exploded over recent years, with the market value of online betting being projected to reach over €300 million in 2023 and is expected to have an annual growth rate of 4% between 2023 and 2027.
Irish regulators have struggled to keep up with this rapidly changing industry, with the legislative framework within Ireland being largely based on The Betting Act that was passed in 1956.
However, this will soon change with the passing of a New Gambling Regulation bill that will install an independent regulator and make some critical changes to Irish betting regulations.
Let’s discuss legislation that will be introduced, and what potential impact this could have on the Irish betting market shortly.
Current Legislation
Current legislation within Ireland surrounding online betting is admittedly lacking behind countries such as the UK. The primary legislation that betting regulation is currently based on is the 1956 Betting Acts, which mainly focused on slots within amusement parks and within pubs.
While this had been amended throughout the years, with the most amendment coming in 2015 with the legalization of online casinos, overall current legislation is lagging. Current regulation of betting sites within Ireland is fragmented throughout a range of governmental departments within Ireland.
This includes the Department of Justice and Equality, the Irish Tax Authority, and district courts. Such fragmentation has led to ineffective legislation for such a rapidly growing industry.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar admitted this in 2019, stating that Irish betting regulation needed a major overhaul.
Therefore, it is no surprise that in 2022 the Irish government announced the creation of the Gambling Regulatory Authority, an independent regulator of both online and in-person betting.
The new Gambling Regulatory Authority
The Gambling Regulatory Authority will have several legislative powers that will impact online betting sites in a variety of ways.
One of the biggest changes to Irish betting sites is that the advertisement of online betting sites on TV and radio will be banned on every broadcast between the hours of 5:30 am and 9:00 pm.
This is an extremely significant change as TV and radio advertisement is an extremely important and lucrative avenue for online betting sites to attract new customers.
Another potential change in the future could be the banning of free bet promotions by online betting sites. These free bets are a huge attraction for customers to betting sites, and this banning could significantly impact bookmakers’ ability to attract Irish gamers to their sites.
Another key change to the current legislation is that rather than one license being given to all types of betting sites and casinos, now there will be different types of licenses for each type of bookmaker/ casino.
With this new change, there will be B2C gaming, betting and lottery licenses, B2B licenses, as well as charity licenses for different types of bookmakers. The independent authority will also have the ability to alter the fees that come with different licenses.
This change will allow the Irish government to introduce specific legislation/ rules depending on the regulatory needs of each sector of the market. This is a huge development compared to the old regulatory framework, where blanket rules would be introduced for all types of online and in-person betting institutions.
The punishments for providing gambling opportunities without a license have also increased drastically, with failure to comply with these rules carrying a maximum sentence of eight years in prison and a fine up to the court’s discretion.
The independent authority will also be in charge of raising and managing funds for Ireland’s Social Impact fund. These funds will be raised both through government funding and fines on companies that do not adhere to the new regulation within Ireland.
The Social Impact Fund will be used to finance research, training, and education on gambling addiction within Ireland. This is an especially important change for young Irish adults, with it being estimated that young adults are at risk of developing a gambling addiction 2-3 times more than an adult.
The authority will also be in charge of the promotion of awareness of safe gambling to the public, especially surrounding the regulation and licensing of gambling activity. These changes will ensure that betting sites must be clear with their advertisements and provide support to customers that struggle with addiction.
Overall, it is evident some key changes are coming to Irish betting sites in the next few years. Regulation surrounding the advertisement, promotional offers, and licensing of betting sites will change drastically.