Irish government begins global search for country’s first gambling regulator
CEO of Gambling Regulatory Authority sought for powerful role which will implement and oversee new powers for Ireland’s betting sector
The search for Ireland’s first betting regulator has officially begun as after months of speculation, the CEO role at the Irish Gambling Regulatory Authority has finally been advertised internationally.
The successful candidate will be responsible for the establishment of the new state body, which will be staffed by up to 100 employees and oversee the country’s €7bn (£5.8bn) betting industry.
While the salary is quite modest by industry CEO standards – starting at €145k – the office itself is significant with the new regulator having powers to issue fines of up to €20m and put businesses out of operation for failing to comply with new gambling laws.
Those laws will be brought to Ireland’s houses of government, in a large piece of legislation, by the end of this year and will be passed into law in 2023.
The CEO at the Gambling Regulatory Authority will be an expert on the gambling and gaming industry, who will act as regulator, enforcer, investigator, instigator, inspector, approver and promoter of the sector, and who will also oversee lotteries and bingo.
Minister of State James Browne, the legislator charged with imposing regulation, previously told EGR that the position needed to attract the world’s best talent.
However, with a basic salary package in line with mid-ranking Irish civil servants, it will be interesting to see the calibre of candidate that comes to the fore.
Based on Personal Pension Contributions (PPC), pay scales start at €145,283 moving to €166,196, with a different rate to apply where the appointee is not required to make a pension contribution.
The salary scale for the Irish regulator will have been loosely benchmarked on the UK equivalent – executive director of the UK Gambling Commission.
A 19-page ‘Candidate Information Booklet’, which accompanies the internationally advertised role, emphasises that the CEO “shall be a public servant and hold office for a period of five years”.
Under gambling regulation, a raft of measures including how betting companies advertise and market their brands and products, as well as how they communicate with clients, will change to curb issues of problem gambling.
Teething issues aside, the role of the CEO to the gambling regulatory body will be seen by the right candidate as an extremely exciting position in an industry facing enormous change.
Applicants have until 21 March to apply.