What is and is not legal in Ireland in relation to gambling can be somewhat confusing because of changes introduced to the regulatory system over the last ten years. Yes, this can make it hard to keep up with, but it does show the country is committed to keeping pace with this thriving industry that is growing due to technological advances.
The Irish Government has understood that outdated statutes and laws were incompatible with the changes in the industry and has evolved legislation to allow the economy to benefit from the iGaming industry.
Following the introduction of the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland has been established and is expected to be fully functional sometime in 2024. The bill commits to establishing a gambling regulator focussed on public safety and well-being. The Regulator is responsible for the advertising and content of gambling websites and apps.
The Gambling Regulation Bill was a significant reform of the country's gambling laws, which had not been updated since the Lotteries Act of 1956 and the Betting Act of 1931. It was first mooted fifteen years before that but took a long time in its drafting. This is fortuitous as there have been significant changes within that decade and a half, with the rise of blockchain technologies, live dealer gaming, social casinos and the meteoric rise of mobile gaming and apps. While the UK might have been an early adopter of iGaming, its Gambling Act of 2005 has, at times, struggled to keep up with the fast pace of change in the industry.
Ireland's Gambling Regulation Bill created a regulatory system that brought in-person, mobile and online gambling laws together. One of the first things it did was to introduce a ban on TV gambling ads between 5 pm and 9.30 pm to shield younger viewers from potential gambling harms. There was a blanket ban on social media advertising, and restrictions were introduced around club sponsorship.
In addition, gambling stakes cannot be paid for using credit cards, and VIP memberships or bonuses are closely monitored. Promotions that are deemed to be too enticing or could prey on people with a gambling addiction are also banned. The regulator is responsible for maintaining a National Gambling Exclusion register to help prevent gambling harms. In addition, the regulator will be charged with issuing licenses to online operators. Only those of good standing will be permitted to conduct business in the country, making it easy for punters to find the best online casinos in Ireland such as the ones listed on www.casino.org. The regulatory body is also responsible for running the Social Impact Fund, which commits to researching and implementing programs to help with problem gambling.
In-person casino gambling has always been operated via a loophole in the 1956 Gaming and Lotteries Act. Commercial casinos were prohibited from operating, but private member gambling clubs were not. Therefore, enterprising business owners set up gambling clubs where members could play all kinds of casino and table games, including poker, blackjack, roulette and slots. There are around fourteen such 'casino clubs' in Ireland, and because of their membership requirements, playing for real money in these establishments does not violate the law. Recent attempts have introduced legislation to allow forty legal land-based casinos in the country, but there is no precise date for when(or if) this might make its way to the statute book. If the law were adopted, land-based casinos would open to the general public, and there would also be changes to the poker and bingo industries on and offline.
However, online casino gambling is already legal in Ireland. The country's gambling laws allow citizens to play in licensed, regulated domestic and offshore online casinos. The market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years and be worth US$ 0.7 billion this year. Annual growth of 1.4% will result in a projected market value of US$ 0.7 billion by 2028, with around 475,000 people playing online. Much of the growth is attributed to the growing number of tech-savvy players and the clear, robust regulatory framework the casinos operate within.
Based on these forecasts, regulation seems to be good for business and the economy. The presence of a Regulator and licensed online casinos gives people the confidence to give online gambling a try. They know what they are doing is legal and have the reassurance of a regulator to fall back on should something go wrong. Not allowing people to top up their online casino account with a credit card helps to protect players and helps them budget and stay within their limits.
Horse racing and sports betting is a staple of Irish culture, and the country's earliest gambling laws regulated bookmaking and pari-mutuel wagering. The 1931 Betting Act was updated in 2015, allowing offshore sports books and betting exchanges to be integrated into domestic policy. This was advantageous to the economy because offshore operators contribute via tax revenues raised.
The 1956 Gaming and Lotteries Act also prohibits commercial bingo halls from operating in the country. However, the proprietors used the same loophole as the casino owners and established member-only bingo clubs where people could play for real money. There are also plenty of high-quality legal online bingo sites for Irish customers.
The 1986 National Lottery Act established a lottery to raise funds for good causes and offered scratchcards and the Lotto game. Irish residents can also play EuroMillions and The Daily Million. The law was updated with the 2013 National Lottery Act, which was driven by the financial hardships of the Republic of Ireland and brought in much-needed revenue via the sale of online lottery tickets. A portion of the sale of the license to a third-party operator enabled the building of a national children's hospital.
While gambling may have its detractors, operating a regulated market allows the state, the economy and the player to benefit from best practices. While industry operators are undoubtedly the biggest benefactors, good gambling legislation leads to a win-win situation for everyone.
