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

The report referred to by Deputy Burton 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.

In a significant move in the area of regulating betting services, 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 Lottery 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.

The Deputy will be aware that a review of betting duty 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. As part of the process, Department officials met various stakeholders, including advocacy groups such as Problem Gambling Ireland and the Rutland Centre. The review can be found as part of the tax strategy group papers published on the Department's website. Accordingly, I do not propose to accept the amendment.

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