Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 15, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following:“(c) the holder of the certificate failed to take adequate steps to prevent persons under the age of 18 undertaking betting transactions.”.

This issue was discussed on Committee Stage. While I did not press the amendment then, I feel it is important to highlight the issue of under age betting again. This amendment proposes to add the failure to take adequate steps to prevent persons under the age of 18 undertaking betting transactions as a reason for excluding a person from holding a bookmaker’s certificate.

The reason I put down this amendment is to highlight the fact we have a growing problem with young people engaging in gambling, whether it is going into betting shops, highlighted explicitly in a recent "Prime Time" exposé, and online gambling. It is easy for a 16 or 17 year old to tick the over-18 box when registering an online betting account and engaging in gambling. We all know the problems that fall from that. A recent European Commission paper stated young people have increasing exposure to such sites with 6% of 14 to 17 year olds gambling online. On Committee Stage, the Minister stated it is implicit in the Bill that a certificate can be revoked if the holder of the licence is not dealing with the issue adequately. I would like to make it explicit and I hope the Minister will agree to this amendment.

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