Oireachtas must settle and authorise the Gambling Regulation Bill (GRB) of Ireland as speculation mounts that Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin will call for a General Election.
The GRB has faced a grinding two-year review by the Dáil (Lower House) and Seanad (Senate) of Oireachtas, since being determined as a joint bill sanctioned by the Tri-coalition government of Ireland.
Securing approval in November 2022, the GRB is viewed as ‘binding legislation’ of the tenure of the Tri-coalition government formed by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Green Party.
Pressure mounts on Oireachtas to complete its committee stage reviews and progress the GRB for its signature into law by President Michael D. Higgins.
Revised over an 11-year period, the framework and legislation of the GRB aims to modernise Ireland’s gambling laws and replace the near-century-old Betting Act of 1931.
The GRB will establish the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRA), to monitor gambling activities and supervise standards and conduct as a new authority led by Anne Marie Caulfield.
Under review for two years, Oireachtas has agreed to GRB rules related to no exemptions on licences for gambling activities, AML protections, and the creation of a ‘Social Impact Fund’ to treat gambling addiction and minimise problem gambling harms.
Penalty provisions will see the GRA impose fines of up to €20m or 10% of annual turnover for infringements of GRB laws.
Ireland will establish a new advertising code with stricter controls on gambling advertising to limit the exposure of vulnerable populations, especially young audiences. A key measure is the application of a 9pm watershed, ensuring that gambling advertisements cannot be broadcast to the public before that time.
Outstanding legislation is required on the determination for ‘gambling incentives (Free Bets)’, as ministers have voiced concerns about the impact of gambling promotions, particularly free bets, on vulnerable individuals and the potential for relapse among recovering addicts.
The GRB enters its final passage as pressure mounts on Taoiseach Simon Harris (Fine Gael) and Tánaiste Micheál Martin (Fianna Fáil) to agree on the date of the Republic General Election.
Harris and Martin face two main options: holding the election in November 2024 or delaying it until February/March 2025. Although there has been talk of allowing the government to run until the end of its term in 2025, it is widely expected that an election could be called sooner.
The decision to dissolve the Dáil and trigger an election will require the approval of a split coalition government. While Taoiseach Harris has the sole power to request the dissolution of the Dáil, Micheál Martin, leader of Fianna Fáil, holds significant influence over the timing.
Coalition dynamics make it unlikely that Harris will call an election without Fianna Fáil’s backing, as failure to pass vital legislation would undermine any pre-election momentum.
The two major coalition parties are wary of each other’s movements as they will compete for many of the same voters.
At stake, both parties require a General Election to increase their ministerial headcount in Oireachtas, as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael seek to take control of key legislative affairs to determine Ireland’s Planning Bill, Finance Bill, and a new Social Welfare Bill.
Fine Gael’s recent surge in the polls has made some in Fianna Fáil hesitant to support an autumn election, as Harris prefers to wait until early 2025 when conditions may be more favourable for Fianna Fáil.
Amid political manoeuvring, passing the GRB remains a critical objective for the Tri-coalition government, allowing ministers to showcase joint achievements to voters.