Online gambling to see credit card delay

CONSTRAINTS and time delays are to be introduced on the use of credit cards for online betting, under plans being drafted by Justice Minister Alan Shatter to protect vulnerable and young people.

Ads that promote betting as a fashionable or trendy pastime will also be banned under strict measures being drawn up to overhaul archaic gambling laws.

Online gambling providers will be required to operate “due diligence checks” on customers. This could include enforcing a 12-hour delay between when players register and when they are allowed actually to play.

This would help deter under-18s from attempting to use their parents’ credit cards and players could be required to provide online confirmation of their identity or age or register for PIN numbers, according to details obtained by the Irish Examiner.

Mr Shatter last week announced the drafting of new gambling laws which will effectively regulate the growing number of unregulated private casinos operating nationwide.

The new laws, not expected to be implemented until next year, will also for the first time govern online gambling and betting providers through licensing and tax measures.

Las Vegas-type gambling resorts have been ruled out which effectively will shoot down plans for a €460 million super casino outside Thurles, Tipperary.

Mr Shatter last week said “shortcomings” in current laws dating back to 1931 were exposing young people and other vulnerable persons to “unacceptable risks”.

Restrictions being considered include a time delay between when players present online with credit card details and when they can actually start gambling.

This would discourage impulse gambling and deter children from using adult card details. Regular customers would also have to use a PIN number to prevent any abuse of credit cards already registered and also to alert operators to possible addictive habits.

Such time-delay restrictions, as well as the requirements to supply online identification documents, are already practised by British-based gambling providers on the internet.

It remains to be seen exactly how Department of Justice officials intend to police online betting and gambling operators, particularly those based outside Ireland. Bookies Paddy Power point out that only two of the top 10 online bookmakers are based here and it would be unfair if competitors based outside the state could escape restrictions.

Restrictions on advertising for gambling or betting are also being ironed out.

Businesses will also have to strictly adhere to the terms of a gambling licence awarded to them. Staff will have to be trained to spot persons with addictions.

A system of fines and possible prison terms are also being considered for offending gambling providers.