EGBA Applauds and Cautions Ireland on Proposed Gambling Regulations

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) published in a press release commenting on Ireland’s proposal to establish a gambling regulatory authority. EGBA welcomed the news, and they believe this to be progress for the Irish gambling industry. However, the organisation expressed concern about the extensive restrictive measures of incentive structures.  

EGBA’s Secretary General, Maarten Haijer, commented:

“We welcome the Irish government’s publication of the General Scheme of the Gambling Regulation Bill. This is an important milestone, and it provides companies, including our own members, with some certainty as to the direction of travel of the legislation. The EGBA looks forward to engaging with Minister Browne and his team to share our experiences from other European jurisdictions.”

Late in October, Ireland announced they were getting closer to establishing a regulated online gambling market. As it stands, the country has outdated legislation pertaining to gambling. James Browne, Ireland’s Minister of State for Law Reform, Youth Justice, and Immigration, disclosed what the Irish Regulatory Body’s duties would be.

 EGBA Concerned That There Is No Rainbow

EGBA supports the proposal and they are happy about the progress the EU country made. They believe this is a step in the right direction for Ireland to establish clear legislation for regulating online gambling. The proposed regulatory authority and the plans for a national self-exclusion register excites the association. Haijer added:

“With Ireland one of the two remaining countries in Europe which has no dedicated regulation of online gambling, this is an important opportunity to shape an Irish online gambling market which is well-regulated, meets the consumers’ needs and expectations, and sets a high level of consumer protection.”

A concern from the EGBA’s perspective is the reports of a ban for free bets and controlling customer incentive structures. The authority is of the opinion that such unwarranted and stringent measures have the potential to channel gamblers toward black market sites. These types of sites do not operate within regulations and it would leave vulnerable players at significant risk.

 The Not-So Charming Irish Gambling Regulator

Minister James Browne described the prospective Irish Regulator as extremely powerful and when he addressed the Seanad Éireann, he described its duties. The safety of Irish gamblers and those at-risk seems to be the core of all regulatory directives.

A self-exclusion register will allow players who feel at risk or who have experienced gambling harm to omit and block themselves from all Irish gambling sites. They will also clamp down on gambling advertising to minimise exposure to vulnerable parties.

The proposal suggested that enticements such as free bets as joining bonuses or loyalty bonuses need to be outlawed. There was also mention of legislation to ban VIP treatment and other incentives that motivate players to gamble for prolonged periods. Paying for bets with a credit card or loan will be illegal. They expect that the finalisation process could take at least a year to complete.

 Everything in Moderation

Ireland intends to maintain a tight ship for their online gambling sector, however, it is always wise to learn from others’ experiences. In the past year, Sweden’s online gambling industry saw severe regulations put in place, albeit temporary.

EGBA argues these steps drove Swedish players into the arms of black market operators. The most likely players to wander into these unprotected waters are ironically the ones most at risk of gambling harm.