MP Browne calls the scrutiny of a gambler’s financial data overly intrusive
The Ireland Gambling Commission is proposing that the country’s bookmakers conduct affordability checks on gamblers who lose more than £100 (US$127) a month. This would require players to provide proof of their income to gambling companies in order to resume wagering. Fortunately, there seems to be enough resistance in the right places to keep the measure from advancing.
UK officials are adopting the measure to try and decrease gambling addiction, which they fear has been increasing since the pandemic. However, the Irish Sun has verified that the Irish Government doesn’t intend to follow the UK with affordability checks, although they also look to target addiction.
James Browne, the minister of parliament in charge of gambling regulation, told the Irish Sun that he won’t be considering possibly implementing affordability checks, believing they are too invasive.
“The UK [has] brought in income assessments or affordability checks. My understanding is anecdotally that [it] is having a massive impact on the horse racing over in the United Kingdom in terms of people participating,” said Browne.
“We’re not doing that here because I think (and others agree) that affordability checks are quite personally invasive in the people who are gambling. I don’t think that is an appropriate way to go,” he added.
Browne is currently working on his own gambling legislation with hopes that it will pass the Dail and Seanad in 2024. The new legislation would ban gambling advertising online and on TV before 9 PM, eliminate promotions like free bets and implement new support channels for gambling addiction.
Irish horse racing industry officials have voiced concerns that the law would start a slow decrease in the industry, as TV networks would be hesitant to broadcast racing without income from gambling ads.
