Results 11,101-11,120 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations of the National Lottery: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McGrath: -----and available at all times. Are there 19 scratch cards on the market?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations of the National Lottery: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McGrath: To clarify, those are year-round games. Are there also seasonally themed games? Ms Boate mentioned Christmas-themed games.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations of the National Lottery: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McGrath: Such themed offerings are among the approved games we have considered. There are no other seasonal ones I have not addressed. Are the games Christmas Countdown, Christmas Millionaire Raffle and Merry Money, respectively noted at Nos. 122 to 124, inclusive, included on the list at which I am looking?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations of the National Lottery: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McGrath: How many are approved?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations of the National Lottery: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McGrath: That is what I am trying to understand. We went through the games that are on the market.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations of the National Lottery: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McGrath: There are far more approved games that the operator could bring to the market for occasions such as Christmas, etc.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations of the National Lottery: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McGrath: The statement provided by Ms Boate notes that there have been 113 requests from the operator, not all of which would be for new games. Looking at the list, most are section 45 applications. Ultimately, 87-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations of the National Lottery: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McGrath: Were 66 games approved?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations of the National Lottery: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McGrath: Are those 66 games made up of scratch cards and instant win games?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations of the National Lottery: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McGrath: Based on those numbers, the vast majority of approved games are on the market.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations of the National Lottery: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McGrath: The operator has more than 50 games in the market.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations of the National Lottery: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McGrath: Is the witness saying that the total approved is 66?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations of the National Lottery: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McGrath: Therefore, the balance of the remaining ones, 15 or whatever, would be pop-up games at Christmas and seasonal gifts for a few weeks.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations of the National Lottery: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McGrath: Would there not be notification and then it would be revoked?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations of the National Lottery: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McGrath: Yes, I understand.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations of the National Lottery: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McGrath: That is fine. The sales were €670 million in 2015, €750 million in 2016 and €800 million in 2017. It is up about 20% from 2015 to 2017.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations of the National Lottery: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McGrath: It is now a commercially driven operation and there is very extensive advertising. Is the witness satisfied with her remit and what she is empowered to regulate under the Act? Has she requested any additional powers or suggested any amendments to the legislation to the relevant Minister?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations of the National Lottery: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McGrath: On the question itself, the witness has not asked for or suggested any amendments to the legislation or her role as the regulator.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations of the National Lottery: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McGrath: I will address the issue of unregulated, offshore, bet on lottery operators, as they are called. The licensed operator has raised this issue. It has been presented that they are masquerading as being the national lottery or certainly giving people the impression that, by betting through on these platforms, they are betting on the national lottery. They are in fact, because they are betting...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations of the National Lottery: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McGrath: The position seems to be that the activity has escalated very significantly in recent times and that people are in effect betting on the national lottery. They are betting on the outcome of these draws using these bet on lottery products through these operators who are licensed, it would appear, but are unregulated and are offshore. It does present a potential loss of revenue for the...