Legislation on online gambling urgently required in the interest of Irish jobs

Last week I called on Minister Alan Shatter to urgently bring forward legislation on online gambling in the interests of Irish jobs and players.

In April and July, I raised the issue of threats to the estimated 1,600 Irish jobs in the online gambling industry and its ancillary support services with Minister Shatter. Minister Shatter agreed at the time that recent developments highlighted the need to update our existing legislation and that the promotion of employment should be a major consideration when this takes place.

This industry has largely developed without the necessary legislative architecture to regulate it and to provide the clear transparent controls that are required to protect players and their money. Minister Shatter informed me in July that preparations were at an advanced stage to update our gambling legislation to include measures to address online gambling. I would urge him to introduce this legislation as soon as possible.

An opportunity exists to provide real investment and employment opportunities in this sector by introducing an appropriate licensing framework that would convey a positive signal to international betting operations that have expressed an interest in or have already invested in Ireland. This licensing framework would also allow for the extension of the betting levy to remote bookmakers and betting exchanges to the benefit of the exchequer.

I have again written to the Minister to ask when he intends to introduce this legislation which should protect the interests of online players, industry workers and taxpayers alike.