Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

I welcome the Minister to the House. Last November in a parliamentary question I asked the Minister whether he was aware that a gambling casino had opened up in the vicinity of Grafton Street. He replied that he was aware that such type of facility had been opened. It would be difficult not to be aware because it opened with a great fanfare of publicity and some well-known figures were present.

I further asked the Minister whether he was satisfied that the casino was operating legally and whether the legislation governing the operation of casinos covered this casino. He replied that this private club had been recently visited by a senior Garda officer and no irregularities were detected that would justify a prosecution under the Gaming and Lotteries Acts 1956 to 1986, the relevant legislation for such matters. He assured the House that the premises would continue to receive Garda attention but that there were no proposals to amend the law at that stage. It is obvious that since that time the Minister has developed some proposals. He stated with reference to the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006 that he would table amendments to provide for the prohibition of gambling.

The Gaming and Lotteries Acts prohibit gambling unless it is a game of chance or partly a game of chance. It is a question of the definition of a game of chance or partly a game of chance. A wide range of gambling takes place in the country. We are all familiar with gambling on horses, dogs, the national lottery, bingo and slot machines. The State is involved in some of those activities. It runs the tote at race courses and is the sole beneficiary of the national lottery.

The Minister stated that casinos offered an advantage to the casino over the gambler in casino-type operations. If the State were the owner of the casino, it is difficult to see how the matter would not be regulated in an even-handed fashion. I am not putting forward an argument for bringing casinos into existence but I ask the Minister whether he will proceed with a bald prohibition or whether he will regulate the area. All gambling is a game of chance. I understand that Ireland is only one of two countries in the European Union that does not have casino-type gambling and that a number of countries in the European Union, such as Austria, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, have casinos run by the State. Casino-type activities include roulette, poker and blackjack. Are these casinos more prone to criminal activity or prostitution or any form of crime or are they so biased against the punter that they create an offence by relieving the punter of his money? I have not seen too many poor bookies so there seems to be an inbuilt factor against the punter in most gambling because it is a game of chance.

My point is to determine whether there is a principle involved, whether some gambling is different from other gambling, whether lottery gambling is worse than gambling on horses or whether roulette gambling is worse than playing cards. In all cases the punter can lose his shirt and perhaps win something every now and again.

The Gaming and Leisure Association of Ireland came to my clinic recently to raise the issue with me. I told the representatives I would raise the issue with the Minister. They would like to meet the Minister to discuss the issue and to argue the case whether it would be best to regulate the industry or ban it entirely. If it is the latter, it may then be forced underground to a degree. Gambling can be carried out on-line where the server is located outside the country. I ask the Minister for clarification of his thoughts.

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