Mr. Colm Finlay:

I am Colm Finlay from Orchadia Systems. I am a licensed independent bookmaker. I thank the committee for inviting me today to share my thoughts on the new gambling Bill due before Oireachtas later this year. I should preface my remarks by saying they relate primarily to retail betting in betting shops. My credentials are that my family have been involved in bookmaking going back four generations, so I have great in-depth knowledge and understanding of the business at the coalface.

In my earlier submission to the committee, I identified three key areas that must be addressed in the proposed Bill if we are to have a proper framework governing the industry: underage gambling; gambling addiction in all its aspects; and anti-money laundering, AML, issues. Members will see that technology can solve all three, so let me deal with each briefly.

The first issue is underage betting. Sports and betting have become deeply intertwined in recent years. This has been driven by massive television coverage, advertising and social media exposure. Young people have been seduced by the glamour and excitement of sports and betting. The inevitable recreational exposure has led to vulnerable youths being drawn into this world of easy money. Given the way betting shops operate, it is not possible, within the financial constraints of their operation, to control or monitor underage behaviour. Staff are under pressure dealing with transactions and are unable to supervise closely. I believe technology can solve this issue.

The second issue is gambling addiction. This, by its nature, can be a very secretive activity but with appalling consequences for individuals and their families. Current betting shop vetting procedures are simply not fit for purpose. There is no industry-wide process to recognise, control and manage the vetting process. Proper identification using technology can overcome this. Sophisticated electronic controls can be put in place at the point of sale to ensure compliance.

Third, the AML issue has come the fore with recent publicity on how criminals manage to disguise their financial activities through the medium of betting. This corrupt activity has implications not just for betting and it has also influenced sporting outcomes. Again, technology can address this comprehensively.

I would be pleased to answer any questions the committee may have.