Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I commend the Minister of State on managing to get this complex and complicated legislation onto the floor of the Dáil. He will recall that in opposition between the years 2016 and 2020, on numerous occasions, Fianna Fáil put forward proposals seeking reform of the legislation governing gambling. Regrettably, we did so without success, notwithstanding the fact we brought legislation before the House in 2018. The Minister of State, the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Chambers, the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Rabbitte, and myself were to the forefront in trying to ensure the law in Ireland could be brought up to date. What primarily motivated us was the fact that we had met many of those people who had suffered from gambling addictions and whose lives had been destroyed as a result of finding themselves in a situation with gambling whereby they had either stolen or borrowed money to support their dangerous habit. It is a significant achievement that the legislation has come before the House. In fairness, I suspect the reason there was a delay in legislation coming prior to this is there may not have been the political urgency behind it and also because the legislation before us is unquestionably complex. It takes time to draft that.

Section 9 deals with an area that has been significantly in need of reform for a long period. If we consider the legislation that is being repealed, some of the only legislation regulating gambling in Ireland dates from 1929, the Totalisator Act, and the Betting Act 1931. We will also repeal the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956. In fact, in the previous Dáil, the only relevant legislation that was amended during that Government's term was the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956.

There are a number of interesting, innovative and effective provisions in the Bill. One I particularly welcome is the reference to the national gambling exclusion register, which is provided for in section 44. That will ensure that certain people, whom we designate and want to protect, will be excluded from being involved in gambling activity. These are people who themselves recognise that they have a problem with gambling. They know that one way to ensure they can try to deal and cope with that problem is by putting themselves out of the gambling process. They can now do that statutorily as a result of this exclusion register provided for in the Bill. More importantly, it provides that if a gambling provider does not comply with that exclusion, and allows somebody who has voluntarily excluded themselves to gamble, that provider will commit a criminal offence. I particularly welcome that provision.

The other aspect of protecting and helping people who suffer from problem gambling is to do further research into it and provide them with supports.

This is why it is so useful that we have in section 49 the creation of a social impact fund, which will be used to carry out further research into gambling and the damage it can inflict on individuals' lives. I hope to see the money from that fund being used to make people aware that, when it comes to gambling, the house always wins. That the bookies always win is not appreciated enough by people who have a gambling addiction or people who engage in gambling on a small-time basis. I have no difficulty with people engaging in gambling, for example, putting a bet on a horse and losing, but it would be beneficial to people if there was research to make them aware that the odds were always stacked against them and the house always won.

It is worthwhile noting that a significant amount of money is being made from gambling. The reason there is so much advertising is that it is a profitable business. Since there is a great amount of money being generated by the industry, it is only right that the industry pay for a social impact fund. I hope that the industry will consent to this, but even if it does not, it does not matter because we have decided as the lawmakers that we are going to do this.

Sections 83 to 87 set out the variety of licences that can be issued under the Bill. This recognises the fact that gambling has changed in recent years. Be it a gaming, gambling, betting, lottery, charitable or philanthropic licence that one wants, each comes with different requirements and they should all be recognised as different types of gambling licence.

Part 6 deals with the obligations on those who are involved in the gambling industry. As the Minister of State knows, one of the methods by which the gambling industry attracts people who have addictive personalities or already have gambling addictions is advertising. I welcome that, in section 141, it is expressly stated that advertising on television or radio will be prohibited between 5.30 a.m. and 9 p.m. It might be worth the Minister of State's while just banning advertising completely. Since we are discussing permitting advertising on television and radio from 9 p.m. through the early hours of the morning, we need to recognise that the gambling industry could target many vulnerable people at those times.

Under section 142, the industry will not be allowed to advertise on clothing that is worn by or targeted towards children. Another Deputy spoke about how English soccer betting companies were involved in a great deal of advertising. In the Premiership, betting companies sponsoring clubs seems to be universal. This section means that jerseys that are sold in Ireland cannot be sold to children if they promote betting companies on their fronts.

Regarding section 150 on sponsorships, I welcome that we are going to try to protect children where sport or events are being sponsored. We must ensure that we do not create a generation of people who believe that gambling is a form of normality.

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