The Gambling Regulation Bill was first introduced to Dáil Éireann on 2 December 2022, with the aim of establishing a gambling regulator and modernizing regulation, including new methods for protect players and vulnerable groups. These include banning credit cards and restricting bonuses and advertising.

A national self-exclusion program and a social impact fund which will be supported by a compulsory levy are also to be introduced as part of the legislation.

During the October 16 parliamentary session, Labor MP Brendan Howlin said he recognized the bill was not perfect, “but it is urgently needed because it deals with one of the social problems the most urgent.”

The bill’s chief deputy, James Browne, said he expects the legislation to pass within a year. “That would certainly be the goal, (although) we can never be sure of these things,” he said.

However, the next Irish general election is due to take place no later than March 2025, which could impact the next stage of the bill.

Although this is the last session before the bill goes to the president for signing into law, lawmakers flagged various remaining concerns and requested last-minute amendments.

One of these amendments adopted during the session gives the regulator a legal basis to publish details of any violation of the licensing regime by licensees, as well as details of sanctions imposed, in order to raise awareness among stakeholders about those who act illegally on the market.

It also allows the regulator to seek a court order to block advertising from illegal and unlicensed operators.

“This is an important and effective regulatory tool used in other jurisdictions and will reassure the public that they are protected whilst allowing the authority to send the message that they are regulating the industry” , Browne said.

MPs fear gambling bill will be ‘rushed’

Some MPs have expressed concern that the bill is being “rushed”, given the number of amendments presented at this final stage.

“This is a very complex Bill and we are dealing with a very wide range of Seanad amendments, many of which relate to issues that have been discussed here and which are probably not appropriate to deal with strictly speaking,” Howlin said.

Regarding matters regarding the regulator, Browne assured that board members must have experience of gambling and betting pathology, including some with lived experience.

“Furthermore, in running the campaign on the public nomination system to select members of the authority, the minister will have a say in the criteria for selecting members of the authority,” Browne said.

Regarding advertising, the final bill prevents gambling licensees from marketing their brands or products online, but operators flagged by members will find ways to circumvent this rule by offering gifts in exchange for customers who register on a site or application so that they can be marketed directly.

Browne said he believed licensees could not advertise either the licensee or the business, and that this rule would cover most circumstances. He noted that the regulator will have the power to enforce new marketing regulations to restrict the types of advertising offered.