Tag Archives: Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)

Concerns raised over political links to betting sector ahead of Irish regulation

SBC News Concerns raised over political links to betting sector ahead of Irish regulation

Reports in the Irish media over TDs’ attendance at a betting industry ‘VIP tent’ have prompted criticism from political rivals and in other national outlets.  The Irish Daily Mail, the Ireland-facing edition of the UK’s Daily Mail, reported this week that TDs and Senators from the ruling Fiianna Fáil and Fine Gael parties attended a VIP event at Punchestown racecourse …

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Irish Gambling CEO search underway as Minister encourages applications

SBC News Irish Gambling CEO search underway as Minister encourages applications

The application window for the position of CEO of the forthcoming Irish gambling regulator is open to a wide range of applicants according to Minister James Browne. Responding to a question from Deputy Paul Donnelly of the Dáil Éireann, the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, assured representatives that the recruitment search for an inaugural CEO is wide …

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Former Paddy Power Directors call for regulatory changes as Ireland legislates

SBC News Former Paddy Power Directors call for regulatory changes as Ireland legislates

Former Paddy Power Chief Executive Stewart Kenny and Chairman Fintan Drury have called for changes to oversight of the betting and gaming industry in Ireland, as the country moves forward with legislation to introduce an industry regulator. As reported by The Times, the duo – along with Ian Armitage, the former director of the now Flutter Entertainment-owned bookmaker’s first financial …

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Irish Minister outlines scope of ‘extremely powerful’ regulator

SBC News Irish Minister outlines scope of ‘extremely powerful’ regulator

James Browne, the Republic of Ireland’s Minister of State for Justice, has outlined the scope of an ‘extremely powerful’ gambling regulator in the country, but a Labour Senator has called for earlier action. Reported by The Irish Times, Browne detailed that ‘comprehensive legislation’ will support the creation and operations of an ‘extremely powerful’ regulator – which will be launched by …

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Irish President addresses ‘serious questions’ on gambling advertising

SBC News Irish President addresses ‘serious questions’ on gambling advertising

President of Ireland Michael D Higgins has issued a statement regarding sports betting advertising, arguing that there are ‘serious questions’ to be addressed surrounding the issue, as his country embarks on a regulatory overhaul of the sector. The statement follows Higgins’ appearance at a 34-unit gambling rehabilitation centre in Wicklow operated by the Tiglin charity earlier this month, where he …

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Former Paddy Power CEO Kenny labels mobile betting a ‘massive social problem’

Playtech Paddy Power

In a recent interview with RTE’s Prime Time program, Stewart Kenny, one of the co-founders of international bookmaker Paddy Power, labelled gambling a ‘massive social problem’ due to increased mobilisation and regulatory shortcomings. Kenny helped establish Paddy Power in 1988, having been a long-time fan of gambling as a pastime since placing a bet on Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974, …

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Ireland’s McGrath expands calls for betting reform to National Lottery

SBC News Ireland’s McGrath expands calls for betting reform to National Lottery

Michael McGrath, the Public Expenditure Minister for the Republic of Ireland, has called for a ban on private bookmakers taking bets on the numbers of the country’s National Lottery. According to the Irish Independent, McGrath is concerned that the National Lottery and Euromillions are undermined by bookmakers who offer similar products under their own brand names – a practice he …

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Bristol City Council introduces ban on gambling advertising

SBC News Bristol City Council introduces ban on gambling advertising

Bristol City Council has updated its advertising and sponsorship policy to include a prohibition of all gambling related adverts. As reported by local media outlets such as BristolLive, the new initiative could cost up to £150,000 in lost revenues. Advertising of alcohol products and payday loans, as well as foods with high sugar and fat content, will also be restricted …

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League of Ireland – betting sponsorships an ‘internal matter’

SBC News League of Ireland - betting sponsorships an ‘internal matter’

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has introduced a ban on betting sponsorships, although this will not apply to clubs competing in the League of Ireland. Calls for a severing of ties between betting operators and sports clubs have been mounting in Ireland, with two of the country’s major sporting authorities – the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and Gaelic Players …

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Flutter takes leading role on Irish safer gambling duties

SBC News Flutter takes leading role on Irish safer gambling duties

Flutter Entertainment has announced an update to its safer gambling commitments within the Republic of Ireland. As the operating company of Paddy Power, Flutter stated that it has chosen to ban credit card transactions and will further implement a whistle-to-whistle TV advertising ban across all sports programming. In addition, the firm will donate  1% of Net Gaming Revenue (NGR) to …

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