Spread of gambling - Human cost here may be disastrous
The sheer scale of the Irish gambling industry has reached the point that bookmaker Paddy Power, having overtaken the banks in value, is now the country’s biggest financial institution.
Arguably, the so-called National Recovery Plan represents the biggest gamble of all. And given this Government’s benevolence towards the international bond holders who gambled on loans to now insolvent Irish banks — money the beleaguered taxpayer will have to fork out — the popular perception is that the administration would be equally benign towards casinos if it were in power.
This assumption is underpinned by political reality. In order to save its neck, the Fianna Fáil-Green coalition bought the Dáil vote of Tipperary North TD Michael Lowry across the baize cloth of a proposed gambling casino in his constituency, a €460 million Las Vegas-style venture he is actively promoting.
It is doubtful if the Fianna Fáil-Green coalition will have time to enact gambling legislation that Mr Lowry would consider favourable before the impending general election. But clearly it would be in his interest to do so. Don’t bet against it.
Where gambling is concerned, Ireland is one of the least regulated countries in Europe, an unenviable distinction that applies to so many aspects of Irish life. Thus it is encouraging that the options document places emphasis on the dangers of people becoming addicted to gambling.
Stringent measures are essential to protect young people who could be vulnerable to addiction. Unless this growing dimension of Irish life is properly regulated the cost in human terms could be disastrous.
It is proposed that an independent panel will decide where casinos will be located and who should get the licence. There should be no question of removing such a body from local authority planning requirements.
Nor should the rights of local communities to influence decisions that affect them be diluted. It is also crucial that panel members be drawn from a broad range of interests including, for instance, a representative of Gamblers Anonymous.
With advances in technology, people can now play poker and bet on the horses online from the comfort of their homes. With slot machines destined for betting shops and casinos proposed at rural crossroads, whatever party is in power must ensure the industry is carefully managed. Otherwise, with so many out of work and so much time to kill, the risk of people falling victim to the gambling disease could increase dramatically.
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