Minister to crack down on 'wild west' illegal raffles and lotteries at sports clubs

In that Independent article in the OP, it's reported that Dave Stanton is the man "tasked with moving forward legislation covering gambling", legislation which he intends to introduce "by the end of the year". Looking into it a bit further on Google, this seems to be a move to implement the Gambling Control Bill which was first published in 2013, but has been delayed and kicked about since. Something new is badly needed as the courts currently require the Gaming and Lottery Act 1956 to refer to for relevant cases which come before them.

Regulation in the gambling industry is a positive IMO - I fancy a casual bet from time to time, I know there are plenty of responsible gamblers who do it as a hobby and bet only what they can afford to lose, I know that there are people out there who are good at it and make a living from it. However, I also know of houses lost, families broken, lives shattered and that gambling addiction is a genuine, large problem in society.

Personal responsibility comes into any addiction, absolutely. However, in an age where betting advertising is all over the place (TV, internet, famous actors/personalities endorsing betting companies, logos on football jerseys etc) and the ease of which one can put on a bet without leaving their house, I'd argue that the willpower required to exercise that personal responsibility has increased greatly. Some regulatory measures which are more recent than 60 years old, both progressive and smart, are required.

Maybe the forthcoming version of the Bill will address all of that, but Stanton being so outspoken about and focused on such a small thing as local raffles and lotteries as a primary issue, essentially non-profit fundraisers, isn't promising.

There is mention in the article of a broader, preventative, smart move to ban U18s from gambling, but then there's this to make up for the tax that the government will lose from the U18's betting with tax-paying businesses...

In an interview with the Irish Independent, Mr Stanton said he was also committed to introducing a "social fund levy" on betting companies, with the cash generated being ringfenced for the treatment of gambling addicts.

Ah right, another tax so, another levy, social something something, for the treatment of addicts of course.

From the original draft of the Bill in 2013 (90 pages of which can be read here, if anyone cares to read it all)

The powers, duties and functions of the Minister as set out in [this Act] are for the purpose of ensuring:

(i) fairness in the conduct of gambling,
(ii) the protection of vulnerable persons, including children, from risks to their well being arising from gambling,
(iii) the avoidance of circumstances where gambling could, inadvertently or otherwise, facilitate or enable criminal or illegal activity
(iv)consumer choice and protection

Okay, point (iii) is where this local raffle and lotto measure will fall under I guess with the likes of tax evasion, intentional or otherise, but it just seems like such small potatoes. A senator raised concerns to Dave Stanton in the Seanad last Summer of slightly larger potatoes - He spoke of anecdotal reports of members of organised crime, mainly pimps, using betting firms as a regular means to launder their illegal takings. Stanton merely said at the time that this was an issue, and referred to this forthcoming Bill which would address it.

Now almost a year later, it seems that this required regulation for the gambling industry is nigh. Rather than introducing it to the press and starting off the public discourse with something more ambitious, targeting more organised, deliberate and sinister areas like the one raised in the above paragraph, it seems we're supposed to get the pitchforks out for the hang sandwhich makers who try to get a clubhouse built or some floodlights installed for their local sporting organisation.

Don't get me wrong - I've no great affection for the GAA as a big business organisation, or actively take part in their sports as an adult, but lottos and raffles are the bread and butter of small, forgotten clubs around the country. Many of these clubs around the country are the lifeblood of a community, more so in the extra-rural parts of Ireland of which there are quite a few. They are also dependent on physical and financial voluntary assistance from members of the community. Many offer their support by putting a few quid towards the club lotto, it's not like they are chomping at the bit and betting large sums on potential winnings of about €5k.

I'm not saying that illegal activity is okay once it's only a little bit of illegal activity and once the perpetrators are "pillars of the community", just that this is such a bizarre place to start from in such a huge industry in need of regulation.

They want to protect the kids as part of the primary functions of this new Bill of course, but strangling the kids local sporting organisations with bureaucratic red tape which will cost money to service and adhere to will only serve to put the clubs which are already struggling into extinction.