2153. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will consider a review to legislation to restrict gambling advertising especially on social media and online platforms given the harms related to gambling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26507/26]

2154. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will introduce legislation to outlaw online gambling advertisements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26509/26]

Jim O'Callaghan, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2153 and 2154 together.

The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 contains provisions in relation to the advertising of gambling activities, including online and on social media. The Act established a new, dedicated, independent statutory authority – Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (the ‘Authority’) – to regulate the gambling sector. The provisions of the Act and the powers of the Authority are being rolled out on a phased basis.

In line with the Act of 2024, earlier this year I signed a commencement order which allowed the Authority to begin accepting and processing applications for remote and in-person betting licences from 5 February 2026. Commencement of the licensing of the gaming and lotteries sector will take place next, as the Authority builds up its resources.

The advertising provisions of the Act of 2024 mostly apply to those licensed by the Authority. Among those provisions are section 146, providing that advertising of gambling activities on social media or video-sharing services may only be permitted where a person has an account on a social media or video sharing service and has specifically subscribed to a licensee’s account on that service; and section 149 providing for a watershed prohibiting gambling advertising between 5:30am to 9pm on audio-visual on-demand media services, on-demand sound services and broadcasters.

Section 144 provides for a wide-ranging power to allow the Authority to prescribe the times, place and events where gambling advertising can be broadcast, displayed or published, and allows the Authority to specify the frequency which advertising can be shown or broadcast and the duration of such advertisements.

These sections have not been commenced as yet. As the Deputy will appreciate, the protections and safeguards provided for in the Act are contingent on licences being issued by the Authority. Officials in my Department are continuing to work, in collaboration with the Authority, on progressing the further commencement of the remaining provisions of the Act as quickly as possible.