Ireland Online Gambling Regulation
Appearance and fast development of Internet has led to a forthcoming of particular life things that as a result became an inherent part of our daily routine. Most people couldn’t stand before gambling games and even laws that prohibit gaming business are not able to overcome a gambling passion. As it appeared, approximately a half part of mankind is able to enjoy online gambling in different variations legally in the generally accepted legal age of 18.
Gambling 24/7: The addiction Ireland doesn’t know enough about As betting moves out of the bookies’ and on to the mobile phone, a new kind of gambling addict is emerging. The following regulatory or governmental bodies are responsible for supervising gambling in Ireland: The Office of the Regulator of the National Lottery (ORNL). ORNL was established by the National Lottery Act 2013. The 'Regulation of Gambling in Northern Ireland Consultation' document (the ' NI Consultation ') was published in order to gauge public opinion on a wide range of gambling legislative and regulatory issues, the underlying purpose being to determine whether and where reform is necessary (particularly in the eyes of those working within the gambling industry) to bring the Northern Irish legislative regime into line with advances in the modern industry. Gaming & Lotteries Act, 1956 – States regulation of casino and lotteries (excludes National Lottery) and deems most forms of public gambling illegal. Betting Acts 1931-2015 – Provides the current licensing scheme for bookmakers, online and offline.
Millions of gamblers all over the world are the best evidence of rash online gambling evolution. The improvement of new technologies made online casinos more available for those people who have never dreamt about it. There are currently approximately 70 – 80 world countries where online gambling games are legalized and prospered.
Play or Not to Play - Gambling Law Question of Gamblers Worldwide
Online gambling is one of the advanced and profitable spheres in a global net but not all countries implement it. For that reason in many countries, the online gambling industry is
in great demand and in other countries officials keep it under lock and key. If you think of becoming a global frequent client of online casino you have to remember about online gambling regulations in different countries and, of course, in your homeland. In today’s globalization and integration of international business each country has its laws that in a general way determine the object of the gambling industry.
The policy of the countries according to online gambling regulation can be divided into several versions:
- Absolute embargo. In this case, there is legislatively fixed restriction in online gambling. However, offline casinos can be legalized.
- Partial restriction. Let us suppose, betting offices and totalizers are permitted, but cards game and roulette are forbidden.
- Indirect restriction. In Belarus President's Edict clearly indicates what gambling games can be permitted. But there is no online gambling in the list. Nevertheless, booking offices are permitted to take online stakes and in that way to pay winnings.
- A tacit agreement. There is no particular law and penal policy of a government. Everybody pay taxes and nobody touches them.
A nightmare of gambler is to find him in a country with illegal online gambling
Online gambling business has substantially taken his stand as the profitable industry and weirdness of his regulation. It is really getting tough for offline casinos that work hard to cut down and restrict Internet use for gambling. But it is just a fight with the windmills.
Online casinos are illegal in 39 countries. So if you are a traveling gambler, firstly check the “black list” of countries before getting into the unfortunate situation.
COUNTRIES RESTRICTED TO PLAY ONLINE CASINO:
In 93 countries situation is more interesting and online gambling is neither prohibited nor permitted. Such territories called “gray” or “hanging”.
HANDING COUNTRIES:
Japan, Canada, and China are relentless foes of online gambling legalization and up to date, wage the war not only against online casinos but also internet banks that support gambling industry.
Russian legislation forbids the activity of providing and organizing gambling games with the application of information-telecommunication systems, including Internet. But there are no restrictions for making bets on foreign gaming resources.
In Lybia, online gambling is compared with a witchcraft or black magic and has criminal responsibility.
Countries of the Muslim world, including Turkey and Egypt, are strictly prohibited playing any gambling game because of laws of the Koran.
The strongest online gambling hit was made by the USA where authorities released a prohibition of unhappy memory called UIGEA that forbids gambling companies to make any money transactions via Internet. In consequence of law- breaking there is an administrative and criminal responsibility (5 years of jail). Many foreign casinos refuse Americans in online gambling participation. However that may be, there is the biggest amount of gamblers in this country.
Ireland Online Gambling Laws
Each state provides its own policy and online gambling legality can be considered from different points of view. In some US states, gambling games are outlawed. In Nevada legislation permits online gambling inflexibly controls this sphere and gets taxes.
European loyalty and favor to online gambling as a guarantee of efficient benefits
Ireland Online Gambling Regulations
As a rule, the first reaction on new modern ideas in society and technologies is a reaction of European countries including online games. European online gambling regulations are in developmental stage. While the whole world, headed by the USA, tries to find out new methods of combating with online gambling, European countries mind up the decisions for profitable benefits.
Online gambling in the UK is due to a perfect legislative regulation, reasonable tax assessment system and an old history of online gambling. Up to date, online casinos in the UK are permitted in the presence of online gambling licenses from the “white list countries”.
For Italy such games as online roulette, poker, blackjack etc. are absolutely legal but with several limits. For example, fixed limitations on monthly money loss and, in the case of limits reaching, the access to online casino is blocked.
Eastern Europe has a great potential of online gambling development in such countries as Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic. Ukraine is also getting a perspective direction in the development of online gambling games. However, in Poland, the government recognizes online gambling as an illegal affair in order to protect gamblers that unconsciously pour money down the drain.
Gibraltar and Malta are two European countries which called “tax paradise” for online gambling games as there are no limits for its development. Malta was the first country that regulated the law of online gambling. Nowadays the popular online casinos, poker rooms, and betting offices use the licenses of this country. The popularity is explained by low taxes, easy licensing and perfect control system of giving out services. Gamblers here are safe and sound as the reputation of those countries is allowed to trust their funds to companies with secure licenses.
As you can see, European views of online gambling problem are substantially different. And to this day is hard to understand the authorities of some countries that try to take care of their citizens or financial part of this issue. Why do not adopt the experience of countries that luckily regulate online gambling and receive quite good incomes to the budget?
Online gambling is not as black as it painted
On a global basis, controlled and adjustable online gambling business represents a quite nice outlook. The distinctive feature of gambling is an application of latest technological elaborations. Somewhat exactly online gambling galvanizes improving technologies, burnishing it and testing permanently in order to enhance the quality of software. That’s why authorities in different countries come to understanding that necessity of online gambling legalization is not only important but also economically advantageous for countries development.
People have been gambling since the first man walked out of Africa hundreds of thousands of years ago, but it is only recently with the introduction of legalised gambling that we have seen it take off among the general public. From humble beginnings, at racecourses and sports events, we now see betting shops on every street, and that along with the proliferation of the Internet has led to a massive rise in the industry throughout Ireland.
Establishment of the Industry
Betting on sports has always been a popular pastime for the Irish. The first laws to regulate the industry came in 1956 with the Gaming and Lotteries Act. The laws were introduced to regulate slot machines, betting shops and racecourse betting. The 1956 act has been the main reference point for all gambling in Ireland until the emergence of online gaming, which needed new regulations to monitor all gambling transactions in the country. After the act was passed, there was no real change in the gambling industry until the launch of the National Lottery in 1986 which was set up with the idea to help worthwhile causes and give the responsible adults of the nation a chance of winning big, every week.
The Introduction of Online Gambling
In 2015 the Irish Parliament introduced new regulations to monitor online gambling. Since then, online gambling has flourished with an estimated 12% of all adults using the internet to gamble at some point. The Irish are known for their love of sport, and more importantly, local sports such as Gaelic football and hurling. Therefore it really is not surprising that the most popular form of online gambling is by far Online sports betting.
However, the number of online casinos in Ireland has also grown, providing players with a varied choice of casino and slot games. Although traditional betting shops and trackside stalls are still popular, we expect to see a continued increase in active users playing and betting online throughout the coming years. The online betting arena is highly competitive in Ireland with foreign and local companies able to set up within the country.
Regulation Changes
Many countries have realised the need for stricter rules for gaming companies and Ireland is no different. There are rules which ministers are looking to pass through parliament that regulates customers behaviour when gambling to help to ensure a thriving industry while keeping a careful eye on compulsive gamblers who may spend too much money on the activity. These rules have seen heavy protests from gamblers but are only designed to stop those who are losing many thousands of Euro every month.
Horse Racing is Still Top
Ireland has been a world leader in horse racing since the establishment of the Irish Grand National in 1870 at Fairyhouse racetrack in County Meath. Many horses that have won the Irish Grand National have gone on to win other major races in the UK and further afield. Today, horse racing is still the most popular sport to place a bet on with millions gambling online every year on Irish and international events.
Ireland has twenty-six race tracks and has an affinity with horse racing as a spectator sport, and it is ingrained in the national character, deep with cultural significance partly due to the rural makeup of the country. There are two types of racing which are popular with gamblers, and these are flat races and hurdles, with flat racing taking the most money annually and the flat racehorses commanding the highest prices when at auction.
Other Popular Sports
As a proud sporting nation, Ireland has many sports that get large attendances every week. Perhaps the one that generates the most conversation among the public is Gaelic Football, which is only played within Ireland. However, they do play against Australian Rules teams with slightly different rules for these games and gambling on the results is a popular pastime for many Irish people. Rugby Union is another popular sport that gets strong support, and we commonly see an Irish team win the European Cup, competing against other large rugby nations such as France and England. Although the Irish football team are highly competitive, the nation’s domestic league does not gain the attendance you might see in other European leagues, but many will still gamble online to support their team.
Sports Betting Sites
The biggest sports betting websites in Ireland are Paddy Power and Boylesports. Paddy Power is a majority stakeholder in Betfair which has helped to give the company an extensive reach not just in Ireland but operating in the UK also. Paddy Power has many customers in Ireland and with the addition of Betfair have become one of the biggest online gambling companies in the UK.
Boylesports is the country’s largest independent bookmaker and is headquartered in Dundalk. The company has had high profile brand ambassadors such as Kevin Kilbane, Stan Collymore and Gordon Elliot. Although these two companies account for the majority of online gambling in the country, we expect to see many others grab a share as the industry continues to grow and thrive among the Irish public.
The Future of Gambling
Although politicians continue to attempt to curtail or regulate the gambling industry in the country, we expect to see a steady rise in online gambling. An Irish adult can play casino games, bet on sporting events and play games to win money all at the touch of a screen. There are many calls to put an end to this, but these are met with protests from people who don’t want a nanny state that controls every facet of our daily lives. Gambling is a big business and will continue to thrive over the coming years as the industry finds more unique and inviting ways that we can gamble a little money with the chance of hitting the jackpot.