Gaming and lotteries Bill
Deputy McLoughlin sought a timetable for the promised gambling legislation amid growing gambling activity. The Minister of State said the Bill had been published, was progressing through the Seanad, and wider gambling reform work including a regulator was under way.
The Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019 has been promised and I would like some information on the timeframe for the legislation. I ask this question because new methods of gambling are now in place in betting agencies across the country. That has increased levels of gambling and it is important that this Bill is implemented.
Comment on this
The Government approved the publication of the Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019 on 20 March 2019. The Bill passed Second Stage in the Seanad last Tuesday and we are awaiting Committee Stage. The Government also approved the publication of the interdepartmental working group on the future licensing and regulation of gambling. A major public seminar on gambling reform will also happen shortly. In addition, we are also working on the heads of a Bill to put in place a gambling regulator and we will have that as soon as it is ready. I was before the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality in regard to this issue yesterday as well.