David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not happy either that this has been delayed. We have established a working group which is reviewing the main provisions of the 2013 Gambling Control Bill. In this regard, the group gave particular attention to considering the optimum structure of the proposed regulatory authority having regard to the decision on this by Government on 10 January 2018. The group considered governance and logistical practicalities of the establishment of the proposed regulator. Other issues considered by the group included the future licensing of gambling activities, including gaming, arcades, lotteries and casinos, combatting possible money laundering through gambling, improved protection for consumers and vulnerable persons, the approach to be taken to advertising sponsorship and the promotion of gambling activities and match fixing.

The working group will inform the redrafting of the general scheme and assist in the achievement of the objectives of betting regulation, the channelling of all gambling in legitimate ways, enhancing consumer protection and increasing the protection of vulnerable persons.

The Government did not oppose the Private Members' Bill. It was very useful to have that Bill and to debate the issues. As I noted during the Second Stage debate, it is a reproduction, as the Deputy said, in its entirety of the general scheme of the Bill approved by Government and published in 2013. The Private Members' Bill, surprisingly, made no mention of the significant decision of Government in January 2018 to update the 2013 scheme and to produce independent statutory regulation.

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