How Online Casinos Are Regulated in Ireland

Author: Live Casino Direct
 
How Online Casinos Are Regulated in Ireland
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Gambling is legal in Ireland. The government passed a series of Acts and amendments to regulate the activity. It created regulatory bodies like the Irish Revenue Commissioners. It also provides social funding to help those who experience problems with their gambling activities.

The Betting Act was introduced in 1922 to address growing concerns about illegal booking operations in the country. It was the first step toward reigning in a free-wheeling industry that frequently abused players to enrich game operators. Under the Act, gaming operators must obtain a license from the state and publicly display that license in conspicuous place. Online casinos in Ireland are backed by physical gambling halls that are already licensed and meet the gaming authority’s requirements.

The gaming control bill enacted in 2013 restricts the number of land-based casinos to 40 establishments. There have been 25 licenses issued to date. Ireland is trying to establish a central regulating authority to govern online and offline gambling throughout the country. The Gambling Regulatory Authority is slated to be activated by 2023.

The general sentiment in Ireland is that a well-defined set of laws and regulations currently exist that represent the interests of the gambling industry and consumers. Additional rules are being proposed regularly, such as banning the ability to place bets during live sports games and using credit cards as a payment method when gambling.

The minimum legal age to gamble in Ireland is 18. Operators must pay taxes and annual license fees based on revenues. Online gambling in the country is regulated by the Revenue Commissioners and other appropriate international regulatory bodies.

Online and land-based betting is legal. Operators must pay taxes and annual license fees based on revenues. The minimum legal age to gamble is 18 years old.