716. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is considering raising the current prize winnings threshold from the current €365,000 under the current lotteries Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73953/26]

Section 28 of the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 as amended (the ‘1956 Act’) provides that a lottery licence may be granted by the District Court and may be subject to certain conditions. One of those conditions, included in subsection 28(10), is that the maximum total value of prizes for a once-off lottery in any year shall not exceed €360,000. Subsection 28(13) provides that I, as Minister, may vary the amounts specified in subsection 28(10). Currently, I am not considering raising the amount specified in subsection 28(10).

The regulation of the gambling sector, including certain lotteries, is being overhauled through the phased commencement of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 (the ‘2024 Act’). The Act establishes an independent agency to regulate the gambling sector, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), and ensures that the GRAI can respond appropriately to ongoing and future developments in the gambling sector.

The 2024 Act, once the relevant provisions are commenced, will repeal the 1956 Act. The 2024 Act provides for a similar type of licence to allow once-off lotteries (to be operated once every 12 months) with prizes of up to €360,000 for both commercial and charitable/philanthropic purposes. Schedule 3 to the 2024 Act provides for the maximum relevant payments and maximum winnings for certain gambling activities. These limits may be varied by the GRAI, with my consent as Minister, as provided for in section 83(2) of the Act.