Too many are at risk of addiction: A gamble not to update betting laws

THE multibillion-euro betting, gaming, and gambling industries in Ireland are regulated by arcane laws, principally the 1956 Gaming and Lotteries Act and the Betting Act of 1931. Successive governments have been well aware for decades that these are way past their sell-by dates.

Hence the introduction in 2013 of the Gambling Control Bill by the then minister for justice, Alan Shatter. The bill is full of good intent, prioritising the protection of underage gamblers. There are real concerns children are being groomed by online games, which are a precursor to gambling sites. Any law must prohibit activities that encourage children to go from gaming to gambling.