Northern Ireland Local Government Minister Deirdre Hargey has said the local government will begin a review of gambling laws in the coming weeks. This will be the first time in over three decades that Northern Ireland’s gambling laws will be reviewed.
The government has planned a two-stage legislative update, with the first phase introducing a mandatory code of conduct along with a statutory fee for all operators in the province.
A statutory charge for all gambling operators has been proposed across the UK following a proposal by responsible gambling organizations YGAM and GambleAware. The proposal was put forward following Great Britain’s review of the 2005 Games Act.
Northern Ireland’s proposed new legislation will also make it a criminal offense to allow children to use gambling machines while the revised laws will see a new definition for cheating which will include attempted cheating.
Bookmakers are also expected to be allowed to open on Sundays and Good Friday after a 2019 public poll found 66% of the public approved of such a move.
The second phase of the legislation will be rolled out in the coming months and is expected to include rules and regulations specifically addressing online gambling.
Speaking about the new legislation, Minister Hargey said:
“Gaming legislation has remained largely unchanged since it was enacted thirty-five years ago. As a result, gambling regulation here has not kept pace with industry and technological change. In my view, change is long overdue.
It is clear from our consultation that people are content with some of the existing legal restrictions on gambling being relaxed. But they also believe that the government, the gambling industry and others must do much more to prevent, control and combat gambling problems.
The pragmatic approach I am taking will see us deliver much-needed change in the short term, while ensuring that complex regulatory areas and online gaming are given the time and attention they need.”
Northern Ireland’s gambling laws had previously been criticized by the All-Party Group on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling with chairman Robbie Butler calling the 1985 laws “outdated”.
In a 2020 interview with local newspaper Belfast, Live Butler said:
“While we recognize that for many people gambling can be fun and a way to socialise, it can have a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals and families.
“One of our first tasks will be to hold an inquiry into how we need to reform Northern Ireland’s antiquated gambling laws. Mobile communications mean almost everyone has instant access to online gambling.
“However, this aspect of the industry is largely unregulated as the relevant legislation – the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 – predates the internet.”
Since then, the Northern Ireland Assembly launched an inquiry into gambling law reform which included an in-depth analysis of gambling-related harm in society and public inquiries on the subject. The surveys showed that there was strong public support for gambling reform, with 60% of respondents agreeing that all forms of gambling advertising should be banned outright.
This week’s announcement follows a similar move south of the border with Irish senators recently debating the launch date of a new Irish gambling regulator in Ireland.
Image credit: Dom0803 / CC BY-SA 3.0
