Gambling law rules out ‘super’ casinos

Two years after the Government said it was to “immediately” start modernising the country’s 50-year-old gambling laws, Justice Minister Alan Shatter has published the heads of a bill to regulate the industry.

The Gambling Control Bill 2013, published yesterday, ruled out the possibility of introducing ‘Las Vegas-style’ super-casinos such as that backed by Independent TD Michael Lowry, which had been proposed for Tipperary.

When enacted, the bill will restrict the number of casinos to 40, will only allow them to have a maximum of 15 tables, and will require each establishment to hold a licence.