Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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15. To ask the Minister for Finance his views that gambling addiction is a very serious issue affecting a broad range of persons, including persons under 18 years of age who are betting illegally; in view of the fact that the Government has passed legislation to enable late openings for betting shops throughout the year, the measures he will enact to tackle underage gambling both online and in shops; and his views that current laws and penalties are sufficient and are acting as a practical deterrent. [6974/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The impact of gambling addiction is one that every public representative has come across in the course of their work. The recently enacted Betting (Amendment) Act 2015 was a first step in providing protection for vulnerable people through the supervision of operators offering remote betting services in this jurisdiction. Sections 4 and 5 of the Act provide that it will be an offence to offer betting services without a licence and provides for the relevant authorities to bring proceedings in these cases.

Deputy O'Sullivan refers specifically to the extension of opening hours for bookmakers premises included in the Finance Act 2014. These provisions formed part of the above mentioned Betting (Amendment) Act 2015 but were brought forward to the Finance Act 2014 to protect jobs in the industry. The extension of opening hours was provided for to allow the bricks and mortar bookmakers compete with the online sector. This recognised the fact that individuals can bet on line through the medium of mobile phones, PCs and other electronic devices 24 hours a day 7 days a week. As I have already said, the Betting (Amendment) Act 2015 provides for the first time a regulation regime for the online sector and ensures that all businesses offering betting services to persons in Ireland are regulated appropriately. With regard to underage gambling it extends to online operators the prohibition on a licensed bookmaker entering into a bet with a person under 18 years of age.

I am conscious of the concerns around gambling addiction and, in particular, underage gambling. The Betting (Amendment) Act was a first step in a move towards the more enhanced regulatory framework being prepared by the Minister for Justice and Equality. In this regard the general scheme of a new comprehensive gambling control legislation was approved by Government in July 2013 and will bring together under one single enactment the regulatory environment for all forms of gambling.