Acting Chairperson (Senator Garret Ahearn): I welcome the Minister of State to the House. No. 2 is the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022, Report and Final Stages. The proceedings shall conclude at 7.30 p.m., if not previously concluded. When is it proposed to take Report Stage?

Senator Timmy Dooley: Now.

Acting Chairperson (Senator Garret Ahearn): Is that agreed? Agreed.

Before we commence, I remind Senators that a Senator may speak only once on Report Stage, except the proposer of an amendment, who may reply to discussion on the amendment. Also, on Report Stage, each non-Government amendment must be seconded.

Senator Lynn Ruane: I move amendment No. 1:

In page 23, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following:

“(b) a personal gaming device or console,”.

Senator Paul Gavan: I second the amendment.

Senator Lynn Ruane: A lot of the discussion has previously happened on Committee Stage but some of the amendments we have brought forward to Report Stage are ones we felt we could not really let go at the last Stage of debate.

The Minister of State stated he would come back on amendment No. 1 and that he would consider our amendment. I hope that he can accept this amendment today as he did indicate an interest in addressing it on the previous Stage. The amendment includes a "gaming device" in the definition of remote devices that might be used to gamble under this Bill. We highlighted on Committee Stage how children are at risk of being exposed to gambling through video and computer games such as loot boxes and in-game purchases which offer rewards entirely at chance, mimic gambling activity and offer an entry point to gambling for children and teenagers. It is estimated that half of the gambling industry's annual earnings are made from these types of in-game purchases.

We have concerns about how the industry might adapt to the new regulations given the profitability of this sector. Moreover, there is a clear link between loot box spending and developing problem gambling behaviours in older adolescence.

As I noted at the beginning of my contribution, the Minister of State said he would give this amendment further consideration between Committee Stage and Report Stage. We hope that he can accept our amendment at this Stage.

Acting Chairperson (Senator Garret Ahearn): If no other Senators wish to speak, then I ask the Minister of State to reply.

[Click here for the full debate]