Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will speak now, if that is all right.

I support Deputy O'Callaghan's amendments, with which I agree in principle. There is a need for consultation over the summer, including with people involved in the business but also, importantly, those involved in dealing with individuals with a gambling addiction.

I take Deputy O'Callaghan's point about fairness and having an equal playing pitch in online versus land-based gambling. I do not understand the science, but there is something about the dynamic of slot machines that results in compulsive behaviour. It is reasonable that there are maximum stakes and we need to make sure they are right. I do not believe the three cent, or sixpence, limit is applied in practice, but the rate proposed in the Bill is a huge increase on the rate in the existing legislation. We need to examine revising it downwards from €10, a proposal we would view favourably.

On a technical issue - I would like the Minister of State to examine this - I would have supported the amendments. If they are not being pressed, that is Deputy O'Callaghan's prerogative, but it is my understanding of the way it has been interpreted that, strictly speaking, every line is a game. One could have 25 lines, on each of which one could place a tenner. That issue needs to be examined. One can imagine the matrix in the different lines of fruit, other symbols and so on. The maximum stake is potentially substantially larger than what is officially set out in the legislation because each line is a game and one can win in each of the several combinations, similar to each line in a Lucky 31 being a separate bet. I would like the Minister of State to examine that issue as we need to make sure we get it right. It should involve consultation with the industry but also with those involved in dealing with individuals with a gambling addiction, particularly those who have experienced the dynamics of slot machines and so on.