426. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice if he will make the necessary changes to ensure that bookmakers that are granted a licence to operate in Ireland are required to take the appropriate steps to allow gambling addicts to easily self-exclude from their business (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7695/24]

James Browne, Minister of State at the Department of Justice: At present, the regulation of gambling and similar activities in the State is split between a number of Departments, agencies and Local Government. As Minister of State with responsibility for Law Reform, I currently have no regulatory or oversight role in relation to the activities of licensed bookmakers in Ireland. Licences are issued to bookmakers by the Revenue Commissioners in accordance with the Betting Acts 1931-2015 and my colleague, the Minister for Finance, is responsible for matters arising from those Acts.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 was published on 2 December 2022. The Bill sets out the framework and legislative basis for the establishment of a new, independent statutory body – Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland – and for a robust regulatory and licensing regime to regulate gambling in-person and online, and for the regulation of gambling advertising, websites and apps.

At its core, the Bill is a public health measure aimed at protecting our citizens from gambling harm, including younger people and those more vulnerable in our communities. The Bill completed Committee Stage in Dáil Éireann on 11 July 2023, my officials are preparing amendments to the Bill in advance of Report Stage, and it is hoped that the Bill will be enacted in the coming months.

Section 44 of the Bill provides for the establishment and operation of the National Gambling Exclusion Register. The Register will allow persons to register with the Authority to exclude themselves from gambling online with licensees. A person may exclude themselves from specific gambling activities, with specific licensees, or with all licensees for a specific or indefinite period of time. During their exclusionary period, a person shall be prevented from participating in gambling as per the specified terms of their exclusion, access to their account will be prohibited and any moneys held by a licensee must be refunded to that person within 7 days of entry on the Register.

Section 45 of the Bill prohibits licensees from –

• allowing a person on the Register to gamble,
• accepting a payment for gambling from a person on the Register, or
• communicating with a person on the Register in a manner that would encourage that person to gamble or that promotes gambling,

and a licensee that breaches such a prohibition shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine, to up to 5 years imprisonment, or to both.

Furthermore, section 48 of the Bill provides that a person may participate in an exclusion scheme operated by a licensee rather than the National Gambling Exclusion Register if they so wish.