Ireland announces remote betting bill

Ireland’s Minister for Finance Michael Noonan announced a new bill that will create a new licensing system for remote betting operators.

The Betting (Amendment) Bill 2012 is designed to “ensure a fair and equal treatment of all bookmakers and betting exchanges offering services in Ireland.” The bill will bring into the licensing and taxation regime all remote bookmakers and betting intermediaries, such as betting exchanges.

The new licensing system for remote operators is intended to prevent crime and protect consumers against fraud. It has also been drafted to ensure that all businesses offering betting services from Ireland or to persons in Ireland are regulated appropriately. The bill amends, for that purpose, the Betting Act of 1931, which contains the existing provisions governing licensing of bookmakers and will be scheduled in the next Dáil session.

Provision was made in the Finance Act 2011 for the taxation of remote bookmakers and betting exchanges, subject to a ministerial commencement order.

“This bill will bring into place a fair and equitable licensing and regulatory regime for all bookmakers and betting intermediaries,” Minister Noonan said. “This bill, once enacted, will allow for the extension of betting duty to remote bookmakers and will ensure that all bookmakers' activities offered in the state are taxed equally.

“The fact that off-shore bookmakers were not subject to the betting levy represented a competitive disadvantage to on-shore firms and also narrowed the state’s yield from the levy.”

There is “significant downstream revenue potential” from investment from major companies, he said, noting that such organisations prefer to base themselves in “properly licensed and regulated regimes.”