Lawmakers in Ireland are reportedly preparing to pass legislation that would amend current regulations and set the minimum age limit for all types of gambling at 18 while instituting revised licensing rules for local lotteries and raffles.
Current rules reportedly prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from buying a lottery ticket or placing a sports wager while it is also an offence for children to be inside a bookmaker.
However, those aged at least 16 are permitted to enter amusement or gambling arcades that may contain slots and the new legislation would purportedly do away with this loophole and also cover carnivals, circuses and funfairs.
The Courts and Civil Liabilities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill will moreover seek to clarify licensing procedures for sporting club lotteries and raffles. Existing regulations reportedly require those behind such contests to first obtain a permit from a police superintendent if the game is to feature a weekly prize pool of up to €5,000 ($5,700) while competitions offering a maximum of €30,000 ($34,200) may be allowed if the operator has the permission of a District Court judge.
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But, David Stanton, the Minister of State for Justice, recently reportedly that he was concerned that such lotteries and raffles were acting without proper authority and regulation due to a lack of awareness surrounding existing laws. The Courts and Civil Liabilities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is to increase the prize limits for these contests while the minister from the ruling Fine Gael political party is additionally preparing to introduce further amendments in the future that could establish an independent regulatory authority for the entire gambling industry and institute self-exclusion policies.
