Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will begin by praising the former Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, for his work prior to the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, taking office. Deputy Stanton did Trojan work.

This is an issue we must grasp. It is the generational issue of our time. We have an obligation and a duty. If we are waiting on the jungle that is the gambling industry to act, we might as well forget about it. The O.K. Corral must be shut down and it is up to us to do it. Social responsibility must be imposed on the gambling industry and betting shops.

It is not just about gambling, however. It is also about the issue of loot boxes. I commend a good friend of mine, Eoin Barry, who has done a lot of work with me on the issue of loot boxes and young people. This is a modern form of gambling for young people. Senator Cassells is right in that young people are on their gadgets morning, noon and night. We might only hear a beep but that beep could signify something sinister and insidious that involves spending their parents' money. We need gambling reform. It is absolutely necessary. A regulator is a prerequisite. We must also regulate the in-game purchase of loot boxes. That should be done immediately as a matter of priority. We are behind Europe on this. These hide behind the FIFA games and Fortnite. It is about capturing young people. Their experience of gambling is beginning at a very early and formative age.It is an insidious form of gambling and we have an obligation and a duty to work to ensure that we change and reform behaviour for a generation. If we do not, we will pay a significant social cost.

I am disappointed by the remarks of Senator Higgins regarding horse racing and the greyhound industry. These are very important industries. There are hundreds of thousands of jobs in the industries and it is unfair to masquerade the men and women who work in the horse-racing and greyhound industries in the way that was done here today. It is very unfair. Some of the Senators who were waving flags last Saturday week for Rachel Blackmore are coming in here today and criticising the horse-racing industry.