EU reveals proposals to control gambling

No betting on footballers getting yellow cards, a facility for gambling addicts to lock themselves out of websites, and a limit to the amount anyone can spend are all included in the latest effort to bring gambling under control in Europe.

Gambling is growing by 15% a year as more people log on to online betting and gaming sites, most of which are able to ignore national rules and regulations.

About 7m people spend an estimated €13bn a year on gambling, with few real controls over minors or people who have addiction problems.

An overwhelming majority of MEPs voted for a new structure that recognises the realities of online gambling and allows EU-wide rules to be implemented.

However, it could be another two or three years before the plans become a reality.

Former GAA president and Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly said he was delighted the European Parliament backed his proposals to help prevent match-fixing and any fraudulent or negative influence online gambling could have on sport.

He wants sporting federations and gambling operators to ban betting on so-called negative events during a game, such as yellow cards, throw-ins, corner kicks, or penalty kicks.

“The parliament’s report specifically calls on clubs to introduce a self-regulatory general ban on players, coaches, referees, medical and technical staff, and those having a direct influence on a sports event could not place bets on their own sports events,” he said.

“Under the co-ordination of the European Commission, I also want to see greater co-operation at European level on the prohibition of online betting illegally on match-fixing or junior sports competitions involving minors.”

Justice Minister Alan Shatter introduced the Gambling Control Bill in July, but Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins said that gambling crosses national borders and needs to be tackled at an EU level.

“Gambling is a huge revenue earner for member states, but online gambling is no ordinary market service — it’s an area which has seen unprecedented economic growth and, tragically, a parallel increase in addiction and other related social problems,” he said.

“At present, it’s impossible to effectively implement age restrictions or indeed to protect vulnerable consumers from excessive gambling.”

One of the proposals in the report would see gamblers having to set a limit on what they would spend when they register with a site. People could also exclude themselves from betting online. All this would be facilitated by introducing customer e-verification.