Government accused of ‘ostrich approach’ to gambling regulation

IRELAND is the only EU country with no law specifically governing casinos, a conference heard yesterday.

The number of casinos has almost doubled here in the past three years, but the Government is adopting an “ostrich approach’’ to regulating gaming and gambling activity, said Waterford Institute of Technology lecturer Ivor O’Donovan.

There was a need for laws to deal with loopholes that allowed casinos to window-dress themselves as private members’ clubs in order to sidestep the law, he added.

More than 40 members’ clubs are currently engaged in casino gaming, he told a tourism conference at the Institute of Technology, Tralee.

‘’What is clear is that there is neither adequate policy, nor an encompassing legislative framework, to support regulation and development of casinos in Ireland,’’ said Mr O’Donovan, who has conducted research into the issue.

But, he also said the regulated development of casinos could benefit tourism and help the economic regeneration of some areas.

While he could not see parts of Ireland becoming like Las Vegas, or Monte Carlo, he felt casinos could be a niche, or value-added product, for tourism in densely-populated areas.

Mr O’Donovan said the Government had not acted on the review of the Gaming and Lotteries Acts and, to date, no serious consideration had been given to the casinos issue.

Gambling in Ireland is now worth over €3 billion per year and the industry employs 1,000 people directly in casinos, he said.

Tourism Ireland chairman Hugh Friel told delegates he expected visitor numbers to hold up this year, despite the economic downturn.

Last year, the country welcomed more than eight million tourists, who generated €4.5bn in spending, but changing economic circumstances have led to pessimism by some commentators.

Mr Friel, however, said he remained optimistic, though he felt there would be no growth this year.

‘’I’m confident figures will remain much the same as last year, north and south, despite challenges such as the exchange rate for the dollar and the exchange rate for sterling in the South,’’ he said.

He cited lack of growth in the US and British economies as another factor, but visitor numbers from other European countries should increase.

Since 2002, overseas visitor numbers have risen by 31% and 280,000 are now employed in tourism here.

It was vital that the industry here paid particular attention to price, service and quality, he stressed.

Mr Friel said competitiveness was now a huge issue, with the emergence of new and existing competitors ramping up their marketing activities, creating a fiercely competitive market.