Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes. The report explored gambling behaviour in Ireland, specifically the issue of problem gambling and its impact on the individual, the gambler’s relationships with social connections and the wider impact of problem gambling behaviour on community and society. The Betting (Amendment) Act 2015 brought remote bookmakers and betting intermediaries offering betting services in Ireland into the regulatory regime for the first time. At the same time, these operations were brought into the betting tax net, effectively doubling the revenue receipts from this source.

The 2015 Act was seen as a temporary measure pending the introduction of a wider Government approach to gambling under the gambling control Bill being prepared by the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Bill, as proposed, will update all existing laws on the regulation and licensing of gambling activities, including betting and gaming. It also includes a proposal to establish a social fund to assist in counteracting the ill effects for society, as well as for persons and their families, of irresponsible gambling. The scheme does not include the national lottery, whose activities are separately regulated under the National Lotteries Act 2013. Having been given special responsibility in this area, the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, is working to ensure that legislation providing for the regulation of the gambling sector can be published at the earliest opportunity. Discussions with the Office of the Attorney General are under way.

With regard to Deputy Doherty’s amendment to prepare a report on increasing betting tax to 3% to be paid by the customer, my predecessor committed to reviewing the betting duty regime through the work of the Tax Strategy Group during the debate on last year’s Finance Bill. The Deputy will be aware that this report was published in the Tax Strategy Group paper earlier this year. As part of this review, which included consultation with stakeholders and interested parties, consideration was given to the impacts, benefits and drawbacks of both imposing betting duty on the customer and also of increasing betting duty rates. The review found, among other things, that applying a charge directly to the customer is problematic. Betting customers are price sensitive and such a change to taxing the customer could encourage a move towards alternative forms of gambling that are not subject to tax or to seek out unlicensed operators.

I might add that, as part of the process, Department officials met with various stakeholders, including the advocacy groups Problem Gambling Ireland and the Rutland Centre. I do not propose to accept these amendments.

I wish to add one point. I accept the Deputy's view in regard to problem gambling. From speaking with the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, I agree the legislation he is seeking to have passed should be prioritised.

Everybody in the House should try to facilitate that. That would be a huge help. The Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, has done a large amount of work, much of it in his time as Chair of the justice committee.