The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland will be an independent regulator of gambling in Ireland – but what tasks and challenges will the body face?
Known as the GRAI for short and Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann in Gaeilge, the body will shortly replace a medley of existing organisations.
That is once the Gambling Regulation Act (2022) is finally enacted, which will create the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland and give it the relevant powers it requires.
At the moment, both the regulation and licensing of gambling in Ireland is operated under numerous pieces of legislation.
As well as setting up the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, the new legislation will repeal outstanding laws, helping to simplify and clarify gambling licensing and regulation in Ireland.
Existing laws include the 1931 Betting Act, last updated in 2015, as well as the 1956 Gaming and Lotteries Act and 2013 National Lottery Act, the latter remaining in situ. But one of the hurdles in the way of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland will be finally getting the legal powers required.
When will it launch
Currently there is no exact date for when the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland will come into effect, with the bill first put forward in 2022 still yet to work its way fully through the Oireachtas.
That being said, it is expected that the bill will be approved this year, meaning it should become law at some point in 2024.
In order for legislation to become law in Ireland, a bill must pass through 10 different stages.
Currently, the Gambling Regulation Bill has passed through all five stages of the Dáil and has currently passed three of five stages in the Seanad.
However, when the Dáil has passed a bill, as it has done with the Gambling Regulation Bill, the Seanad can only delay its implementation into law.
The Department of Justice has already got the ball rolling by establishing a Programme Board to ensure that once the Bill is implemented into law, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland can come into proper existence as soon as possible.
Of course, one of the challenges the authority will face is making sure that there are members in place for when the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland comes into effect.
Anne Marie Cauliford was appointed chief executive officer designate of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland in September 2022 by Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne.
In total seven members will be appointed, including a chairperson, all expected to have the relevant experience in the industry of adjacent fields.
The members will be made up of no fewer than 3 men and no fewer than 3 women at any time.
As such, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland must find a diverse group of candidates with relevant experience.
One of the first concrete tasks the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland will have is to implement – and operate -the National Gambling Exclusion Register.
Bettors will be able to register with the body, excluding themselves from gambling online with licensees.
Anyone will be able to exclude themselves in a variety of ways, including limiting specific gambling activities, with specific gambling operators, and for either an indefinite or specific period of time.
This will mean licensees cannot allow a registered person to gamble, accept a payment for gambling from a person on the register, or advertise to that person in a way that would encourage them to gamble. This includes both existing bookmakers but also the large number of new Irish bookies that are launched weekly according to Scs.ie.
One of the driving forces behind the legislation has been to deal with the issue of problem gambling in Ireland, arguably the biggest challenge the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland faces.
A study conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) into Problem Gambling in 2023 found that 3.3% of the adult population in Ireland is consider to have Problem Gambling.
That figure would equate to 130,000 in Ireland, or every 1 in 30 adults, to have Problem Gambling.
The most alarming figure was that these numbers were 10 times higher than the last estimates conducted in 2019, highlighting how the issue has grown in recent years.
The ESRI also found that a further 7.1% reported multiple problematic behaviours and experiences, but ultimately fell short of the threshold for Problem Gambling.
This equates to a further 279,000 adults in Ireland, exemplifying the need for a new independent regulator.
Whilst there will be big tasks to deal with initially, the body will also face further challenges a few years down the line.
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland hopes to be self-sufficient in financial terms in three years’ time, raising required funds for running costs via a new licence fee structure.
The authority will also raise funds for a Social Impact Fund by mandatory contributions calculated annually on each licensee’s turnover.
This fund will enable further research and related initiatives into reducing and hopefully eliminating compulsive and excessive gambling, as well as raise awareness and implement educational measures, whilst also supporting problem gambling treatment activities.
Once the Social Impact fund is established, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland will have to decide which eligible Research Institutions, Charities, Support Organisations will be selected to receive funding.
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland will face further challenges in the future, currently unknown to the gambling industry.
As legislation in other countries has shown, it is easy for laws to quickly become outdated in terms of dealing with technological advancements in the gambling industry.
For example, the growth in online gambling has added a completely new dimension to gambling legislation that did not exist 15 years ago, when a new bill was first drafted.
One of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland’s main tasks moving forward will be to remain vigilant and adaptable to arising issues and trends in the gambling space.
