Politicians have been lobbied dozens of times this year over long-awaited gambling legislation, which is expected to pass through all stages of the Oireachtas in the coming months.
Analysis of the Lobbying Register shows more than 60 entries so far this year connected to the Gambling Regulation Bill, with around half of these being direct lobbying of James Browne, the minister of state spearheading the legislation.
“Our laws are completely outdated; they are from the 1920s and the 1950s,” said Mr Browne. “They’re not fit for purpose or don’t even exist in so many areas”.
It comes after new ESRI research published last week suggested that rates of problem gambling in Ireland are about 10 times higher than previously thought, leading to the issue being described as a “public health emergency”.
Lobbying entries show that the likes of Flutter Entertainment, which runs Paddy Power, and BoyleSports held meetings with politicians, including the minister, to “seek clarity on certain matters” and “share [their] views on key aspects of the bill”.
Under the bill, charities will need to have a licence to permit gaming, betting, and lottery activities such as a charity raffle.
Labour had proposed an amendment to the bill to exempt charities from its requirements, with Aodhán Ó Ríordáin telling Mr Browne that charities such as a hospice may run a lottery for a car or a holiday, and this is a “very different dynamic” to other gambling activities.
