An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Amendments Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, 12 to 14, inclusive, and 37 are related and may be discussed together.

Minister of State at the Department of Justice (Deputy James Browne): I move amendment No. 1:

In page 14, to delete lines 21 to 28 and substitute the following:

“ “advertise” includes advertise by means of an image, sound or text;”.

As I noted on Committee Stage, I will bring forward a number of amendments to update and clarify some of the definitions in the Bill on Report Stage. Amendments Nos. 1, 3, 5 to 7, inclusive, 12 to 14, inclusive, and 37 are Government amendments that are technical in nature.

Amendment No. 1 updates the definition of the term "advertise" in the Bill. It is necessary to facilitate the amendments and clarifications to the advertiser provisions outlined later in the Bill.

Amendment No. 3 provides an updated modernisation definition of a gaming machine in the Bill. The existing definition, originally introduced in the Finance Act 1975, is not compatible with the approach of the Bill and needs to be replaced with an updated definition that reflects modern gaming machines.

I will speak to amendments Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive, 12 to 14, inclusive, and 37. Amendment No. 5 updates references in the Bill to the National Lottery Act 2013 with a short reference.

Amendment No. 6 clarifies, for the purpose of the Bill, that a participant is defined as a person participating in a relevant gambling activity. It does not include a reference to a person participating in a meeting of a board of the authority as outlined in section 18(2) or a person participating in an oral hearing conducted by an adjudication officer outlined in section 202(14).

Amendments Nos. 7 and 37 clarify that application store services are online services and ensures the consistent use of the term throughout the Bill. Amendment No. 12 removes the reference to advertising betting in the definition of providing a betting activity. The amendment is necessary to ensure that not just licensees providing betting and bookmaking activities can advertise such activities or be held liable and responsible for any breaches of the advertising obligations under Part 6.

Amendment No. 13 removes the reference to advertising gaming from the definition of providing a game in the context of gambling. The amendment is necessary to ensure that not just licensees providing gaming activities can advertise gaming for the purpose of gambling and can be held liable and responsible for any breaches of the advertising obligations under Part 6.

Amendment No. 14 removes the reference to advertising a lottery from the definition of providing a lottery. The amendment is necessary to ensure that not just licensees providing an advertising lottery can be held liable and responsible for any breaches of the advertising obligation under Part 6.

[Click here to read the full debate on the Oireachtas website]

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Dáil Éireann debate. Questions on Policy or Legislation, 24 April 2024

Deputy Martin Kenny: The Government is proceeding with the Gambling Regulation Bill and it is due to pass through the House later today. Essentially, the difficulty is that it prohibits charities and sports clubs from advertising their draws and other vital fundraising initiatives if they have a prize fund in excess of €10,000. I am referring to organisations such as North West Hospice, which runs Ocean FM radio bingo, and Limerick Camogie, which is advertising a draw with a prize of a car that has a value greater than €10,000. In my own constituency, various GAA clubs have lottos and often have prize money above that amount. Indeed, St. Mary's GAA in Carrick-on-Shannon is planning to raffle a house this year as part of its fundraising activities. The Government has refused to listen so far to the charities and voluntary organisations, many of which do vital work and provide the type of services we have heard raised in the House, such as services for people with disabilities. The Government legislation, if it goes through, will seriously curtail the fundraising activities of these organisations. Sinn Féin has put down an amendment to deal with this. Will the Government back that amendment to ensure they can continue to fundraise as they currently do?

The Taoiseach: I am very proud of the gambling legislation that the Government is bringing forward. Gambling has had a significantly corrosive impact on many families and communities that are impacted by it. I also do not want the Bill to have unintended consequences, whether for charities or areas like the horse racing industry. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, have brought forward a number of amendments to try to address the issues for charities. We will be happy to debate and consider all amendments later. I would point out that I imagine there will be further amendments to come as this Bill moves into the other House.