Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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424. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the measures he is taking to regulate the slot machine industry here; the work being undertaken in examining the use of amusement licences on premises in which gambling occurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45478/18]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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425. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the measures he is undertaking to address casino type gambling here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45479/18]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 424 and 425 together.

The Department of Justice and Equality has no current role in the oversight of the activities that take place in gaming arcades. Gaming licences (as well as individual licences for gaming and amusement machines) are issued by the Revenue Commissioners in accordance with the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956.

As for casino type gambling, private members' clubs offering gaming facilities and services are required to register with the Department of Justice and Equality under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. 37 such clubs are registered with the Department of Justice and Equality. These private members' clubs are designated persons under the 2010 Act and are subject to compliance monitoring by the Department of Justice and Equality's Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Unit. This involves onsite inspections by authorised officers to ensure that effective anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing policies and procedures are in place in the club and the designated person is adhering to its obligations under the Act, including that staff have been appropriately trained in this area.

However, I am happy to update the Deputy on future plans to address the issues raised by him from the perspective of the Department of Justice and Equality.

Firstly, the Government has prepared amendments to update the 1956 Act. The Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill is currently being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. The amendments proposed under this Bill address certain deficiencies with regard to the conduct of activities regulated under the 1956 Act, and provide for the modernisation of that Act by way of, among other matters, updating stake and prize limits and standardising the minimum gambling/betting age at 18. I hope to receive a text for publication by the end of the year.

Secondly, the Government, on 10 January 2018, approved a number of proposals to update the 2013 General Scheme of the Gambling Control Bill. Critically, the Government approved a proposal to establish an independent regulatory authority for the gambling industry in Ireland. The 2013 proposal had been to have the regulatory function essentially contained within the Department.

To advance the review of the 2013 General Scheme, I chaired an Interdepartmental Working Group on Gambling, comprising all stakeholder Departments and the Office of the Attorney General. The Group met on 5 occasions between February and June of this year and reviewed all of the provisions of the 2013 Scheme, including those relating to casinos and the licensing of gaming machines, as well as other relevant developments since.

The Group is currently preparing its report, which I hope to bring to Government for consideration as soon as possible. It is expected that the report will include, among other matters, recommendations on the future approach to be taken to the regulation of casino type gambling and other gaming activities.