Irish racecourses will be permitted to increase their outdoor capacity by “up to 50%” for upcoming meets from 6 September, as part of the government’s latest COVID-19 response roadmap. Under the new guidelines, racecourses across Ireland will also be permitted to operate at 60% indoor capacity “for hospitality purposes” – however racegoers must be consuming food and beverages in addition …
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Ireland’s betting sector will implement sweeping changes brought in by a new ‘Code of Practice on Safer Gambling’ established by the Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA). This weekend, the IBA communicated that Ireland’s retail and online bookmakers had agreed to follow new industry rules, standards and conduct on safer gambling and player protection duties. Mirroring UK policy, the new code will …
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The Irish retail betting landscape has come up against its fair share of challenges in recent years, with the introduction of a 2% tax on turnover over €2.5 million, the absence of a central gambling regulator and most recently the closure of all non-essential shops. But despite these hurdles, fixed costs have remained at a steady level (and in some …
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FSB Tech has signed an agreement to revamp the self-service betting terminal (SSBT) capacity of BetXS – one of Ireland’s remaining independent bookmakers operating betting shops in County Dublin and Meath. The agreement will see FSB deploy its SSBT systems to modernise BetXS in-store environment to optimise engagement with modern sports customers. FSB upgrades will provide BetXS with a customised …
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The Irish Labour Party has launched draft legislation with the intention of banning the advertisement of gambling, following similar calls by sporting bodies. If successful, the Party’s Gambling (Prohibition of Advertising) Bill 2021, would ban all gambling advertising in Ireland, separating the gaming industry from sports and entertainment. “Gambling addiction is a silent scourge across the nation, which is why …
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Greyhound racing will continue to take place behind closed doors in England, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) has confirmed. There were some doubts as to whether the sport would be allowed to go ahead amid Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s tightening of COVID-19 restrictions. However, the GBGB has said that it has ‘not been informed of any intention to …
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Racing in Ireland will continue without spectators after the Irish Government introduced new, stricter measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 earlier today. The sport has been staged behind closed doors since its resumption on 8 June and the Government confirmed on its official website that protocols will remain in place to protect racegoers. Elite sports, horse racing, greyhound racing, …
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Ireland has passed the ‘interim Gaming and Lotteries Act’, establishing the foundations for a planned sweeping reform of the nation’s gambling laws in 2021. The overhaul of Ireland’s gambling legislation will provide a long-awaited modernisation of existing legislation for the sector that dates back to 1931 and 1956, updating codes and standards for the digital age and modern consumer. The …
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Playtech Plc has secured a ‘five-year extension’ to its existing lead igaming technology and systems supplier contract with BoyleSports, Ireland’s second-biggest betting firm. Updating the market, FTSE250 Playtech confirms that it will continue to serve as lead igaming platform and software supplier for BoyleSports’ regulated UK and Ireland markets presence. BoyleSports will continue to be serviced by Playtech’s ‘full igaming …
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After confirmation that the country would be entering a six-week lockdown, Irish bookmakers will close their doors to the public, with horse racing and greyhound racing exempt from the new measures. The measures, which will see the entire country enter Level 5 lockdown protocols, will affect more than 800 betting shops across Ireland – a move which BoyleSports has said …
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