Betting Duty 'will put bookmakers out of business'

The Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) is calling on the Minister for Finance to reverse the "irrational and disastrous" decision to double the rate of Betting Duty from 1% to 2%.

The association said the move will immediately drive sole trader bookmakers out of business and make it extremely difficult for small companies to survive.

They said the duty penalises small independent businesses to the benefit of online and telephone gambling which is operated through offshore companies making no contribution whatsoever to the State.

The IBA is seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister to discuss this serious matter.