Lobbyists have told the Seanad that commercial gambling companies, including bookmakers, must be suspended from what they called “piggybacking” and must not be allowed to draw profit from the National Lottery by permitting bets on its draws’ outcome.
Barry Ward, a Fine Gael Senator, spoke to the Seanad, saying that almost one-third (28%) of every €1 spent on products of the National Lottery is donated to good causes but individual players are actually not protected from spending too much money on a daily basis or gambling for too long on the National Lottery products.
For the time being, the Government has allowed Irish players to spend a maximum of €90 daily. Also, under the rules applicable to National Lottery products, no gambling on them is allowed after 10:00 PM. However, Senator Ward said that no such restrictive measures apply when it comes to commercial gambling services, which are currently allowed to offer their services online 24/7.
According to Mr Ward, some gambling companies that operate in the unregulated gambling and bookmaking sector take advantage of the products offered by the National Lottery for their purposes, as they allow people to place bets on the outcome of National Lottery draws. On top of it, this usually happens without such commercial gambling companies making any contribution.
Ireland Still Lacks Adequate Legislative Framework to Regulate the Gambling Sector
According to estimates, the Irish gambling industry’s worth is estimated in the range from €6 billion to €8 billion on an annual basis. However, the country is still lacking an adequate legislative framework that would guarantee suitable regulation for the entire sector in line with the market’s conditions and volatility. A long-awaited bill under a gambling regulatory body is set to be established to control the sector is expected at the end of 2021.
The National Lottery (Amendment) Bill of Senator Ward is aimed at suspending commercial gambling companies to allow Irish customers to place on the results of National Lottery draws. The piece of legislation, which has already been published, seeks to impose fines amounting to up to €100,000 for such violations. As the sponsor of the bill has explained, the country’s authorities need to prevent private gambling organisations from deriving profit from unlawful “piggybacking” on the National Lottery infrastructure without offering the same social benefits and dividends to the Irish people.
No voluntary contribution for good causes is made by private bookmakers at a time when the National Lottery provides funding for community organisations, good causes, local projects and innovation. Furthermore, the National Lottery provides principal funding to health and wellbeing, sports, arts and culture, heritage, youth and community organisations.
This is exactly why Mr Ward has been insisting for the Government to make sure it prevents such private organisations from taking advantage of the Lotto and other products offered by the National Lottery and draw financial profit. The Bill he has proposed is aimed at amending the National Lottery Act of 2013 in a way that would allow the prosecution of both individuals and corporate entities.
- Author
Daniel Williams
