David Stanton – Ireland hurt by gambling reform delays

Addressing Irish Parliament last week, David Stanton Fine Gael MP detailed to a Justice Committee his frustrations at delays in introducing new gambling laws to Ireland.

Although the Irish government has approved the mandate of the  Gaming & Lotteries (Amendment) Bill, which will establish a new independent regulator monitoring the Irish gambling industry – Stanton maintains that Ireland has been hurt by a six-year delay in developing a regulatory framework.

Stanton a junior minister at the Department of Justice, has been a key advocate for the development of an independent regulator overseeing Irish gambling standards and policy implementation with regards to addiction issues, advertising, consumer engagements and problem gambling.

Entering 2019, David Stanton had detailed to media, his hopes for the Irish government to deliver on its approved Gambling Control Bill, establishing a new gambling control office.

Despite its Parliamentary approval, the implementation of new gambling laws remains slow as the Irish Treasury completes its final assessment on Irish betting duties.

Adding further frustrations for Stanton, last March Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar detailed that it could take up to 18-months to establish a new gambling regulator.