Bookmakers in Ireland have agreed to bans on credit cards across the industry and for betting on live sports.
The measures are part of the updated Code of Practice to promote safer gaming, introduced by the Irish Gambling Association (IBA), which presents a comprehensive set of industry commitments in terms of player protection measures.
All bookmakers must adopt the rules by the end of the year.
IBA members such as Flutter Entertainment, BoyleSports and Entain will adopt the latest version of the Code. The credit card ban will be in place both online and in stores, with the change already in place for some bookmakers, while others will put the necessary changes into effect as soon as possible and no later than the end of the year.
The advertising ban, in turn, will take place before 9 pm, and will take place five minutes before the live sporting event until five minutes later, but will not include horse or greyhound racing. IBA President Sharon Byrne welcomed the changes but noted that more could be done to help prevent problems related to overplaying.
“We recognize the need for the industry to continue to develop the highest standards for safer gaming. In particular, we believe that credit card bans and advertising restrictions are significant steps along this path,” said Byrne.
Byrne added that the introduction of a regulator is critical to any progress in the country: “The IBA has long called for the establishment of a regulator in Ireland and we welcome the government’s commitment to legislate on this.”
The IBA President concluded: “This Code is not the answer to the problem of gambling and we believe there is more that can be done in the forum provided by a regulator. However, we are confident that these measures continue the journey the industry has taken in recent years to ensure that standards are raised for all.”
