Irish senators Lynn Ruane and Alice Mary Higgins have proposed a complete ban on bonuses within the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022, which is currently being debated, as it nears completion to pass into law.
Although an outright ban on gambling bonuses was initially proposed within an early version of the bill, amendments have changed the regulations to allow for free bets.
The rule was changed at the debate stage of the lower parliament (Dáil Éireann) in May.
Ireland’s Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 is coming towards the end of the senate’s committee stage. Once all proposed amendments are heard in the Seanad Éireann, it will pass to the report stage and final statements before being signed into law.
Deputy James Browne, the bill’s lead, said at the time it was impossible to ban all forms of gambling bonuses and so operators could provide free bets to all players, but not using a targeted approach.
Ireland gambling bill is “unbalanced” in approach to player safeguarding
Ruane’s latest amendment, proposed during the senate’s debate last week (2 October), seeks to reinforce the bill’s original wording.
“These types of inducements are an entry point into gambling for young people. There are clear examples of inducements being banned in different contexts,” Ruane said.
“The national lottery is not allowed to provide tickets for free or at a reduced rate; alcohol retailers are prevented from operating happy hours or loyalty card programmes; and retailers are legally prevented from supplying voucher coupons for tobacco products.”
She said she believes parts of the bill were “unbalanced” with respect to safeguarding players and insisted the onus should be on the operator and not the customer.
On the ban on targeted marketing, Senator Mark Wall, also supporting the ban, asked how the regulator is expected to precisely monitor these rules.
“For the life of me I cannot see why [the minister] has to introduce free bets and inducements. We want to protect the most vulnerable. We have to do so. The only way we can protect the most vulnerable is to use this bill to ban inducements and free bets,” Wall said.
Ban on bonuses could benefit black market
However, Senator John McGahon warned that players may be tempted by black market gambling bonuses if they can’t get them from licensed operators.
Although the removal of the blanket prohibition is certainly welcome, the remaining restrictions pose significant challenges for businesses. The ability to proactively seek out and attract customers is fundamental to any business or industry and gambling is no exception.
McGahon insists the restrictions on bonusing will impact competition among licensed operators and their ability to engage with players.
“Without the ability to communicate directly with potential customers, gambling companies are left at a significant competitive disadvantage, particularly in an industry where other forms of entertainment and digital services are aggressively marketing to similar audiences,” he added.
Browne said he was facing criticism from both sides of the argument. He reiterated his stance against a complete ban on bonusing, noting: “I do not support the complete ban of all promotions in the gambling industry.”
Browne said he ultimately could not accept the amendment on bonusing.