Irish Senate to Discuss Ban on Lottery Betting

Senate Considers Amendment No. 113

On Tuesday October 8th the Seanad Éireann will consider Amendment No. 113 to the Gambling Regulation Bill. Proposed by Senator Barry Ward the amendment will prevent regulated operators from offering bets on the outcome of the National Lottery unless specifically permitted under Part 7 of the National Lottery Act 2013.

The retail association RGDATA has raised concerns about third party lottery betting. They say it reduces the National Lottery’s funding for good causes and commissions for retail agents. RGDATA estimates that funding for good causes decreases by 20% each year due to unauthorised lottery betting.

Call for Legislative Action

Tara Buckley, RGDATA’s director general, has called on Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohue to use this legislative opportunity to ban lottery betting. In her letter she wrote: “Rather than continuing to allow Ireland to be a laggard in EU terms in continuing to allow Lottery Betting, does it not make eminent sense to use the current legislative opportunity to outlaw this practice.”

“Given the significant positive outcome that such a ban would yield, is this an opportunity that you can afford to miss?” she added.

Government Response and Collaboration

Justice Minister James Browne says he needs Donohue’s agreement to include the ban in the upcoming gambling reforms which are still being considered by the committee. Buckley is calling for the departments to work together to get the amendment considered when the Bill returns to the Senate for Report Stage.

Meanwhile some senators are calling for a total ban on gambling adverts. Senators Michael McDowell and Mark Wall are in favour of this. But Minister Browne is in favour of more moderate restrictions, proposing limited hours for gambling ads on TV and radio. He wants the proposed Irish gambling regulator to decide on the hours and platforms for these adverts.