Sinn Féin calls for end to Irish gambling “dark ages”

Ireland’s main opposition party Sinn Féin has called for the introduction of a ban on pre-watershed gambling advertising between 6am and 9pm across broadcast and online media.

The party’s 22-page 26 County Gambling Strategy document includes proposals that no gambling ads should target under-18s or families with children.

Sinn Féin has said it aims to introduce modern futureproof gambling legislation, including the establishment of an independent gambling regulator, whose functions would include administration of a problem gambling fund to minimise problem gambling.

Under proposals, the fund will be financed by a mandatory levy or licence fee implemented on Ireland’s gambling industry.

Introductory, free or matched betting offers would be made illegal, while standard warnings highlighting negative effects of gambling would be mandatory on all sign-up pages.

Sinn Féin has also tasked the independent gambling regulator with exploring the introduction of deposit limits and daily time limits for those identified as at-risk gamblers, as well as introducing and enforcing advertising restrictions.

These would include requirements around the “nature, prominence and duration” of warnings contained within all gambling ads.

Participation in multi-operator self-exclusion schemes, designed and overseen by the gambling regulator, would become a licensing condition for anyone operating in the Irish market whether a shop, on track or online.

The strategy document also calls for the adoption of the Swedish Playscan system, which monitors online gambling and alerts players when they engage in statistically associated problem gambling behaviour.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Addiction, Recovery and Wellbeing Thomas Gould TD took aim at Ireland’s government accusing it of “failing in its duty” to protect problem gamblers, something which he claimed these proposals would rectify.

“Current legislation is decades out of date and has failed to keep pace with the online world,” Gould said.

“As a result, our young people in particular are being exposed to often predatory forms of online advertising and gambling which should be regulated.

“I am urging the government to act on my policies and ensure they are introduced without delay. The government must show leadership here and give the issue of gambling addiction the attention it deserves,” Gould added.

Ireland’s coalition government, which was convened in February 2020, has committed to putting forward a gambling control bill by Q3 of this year, as well as appointing a gambling regulator by the end of 2021.

“It is wonderful to hear progress is being made on the issue of gambling but we have to remember that the first Gambling Control Bill was published in 2013 and has sat gathering dust since,” said Gould.

“In the meantime people, particularly those in recovery and young people, are suffering because of a lack of action. This isn’t acceptable,” the TD added.

In addition to its main strategy proposals, Sinn Féin has said it will introduce legislation to ban credit card gambling in Ireland.

“I intend to introduce legislation this year that will see credit cards banned in gambling. It is vitally important that people cannot gamble with money they don’t have,” Gould explained.

“It is time we got serious about this. Over 55,000 people suffering in this state deserve better. Young people deserve better.

“Sinn Fein have a plan that would take gambling regulation in this state from the dark ages and make gambling addiction a public health concern. It’s time to show leadership and to act. The solutions are there if the political will is there,” he added.