Irish trade body demands ‘level playing field’ between lottery and bookmakers

(AsiaGameHub) –   In a statement provided to SBC News, the Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) has stood up for the betting sector in response to assertions from the National Lottery.

Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI)—the entity running Ireland’s National Lottery—claims it loses hundreds of millions of euros annually in sales income and tens of millions in funds directed to charitable initiatives.

In a report evaluating the National Lottery’s economic effects, PLI contended that the longstanding practice of both physical and online bookmakers accepting wagers on National Lottery draws is hurting lottery sales.

The FDJ United-owned company has demanded that the ‘regulatory gap’ separating the National Lottery and Ireland’s large licensed betting industry be eliminated. Two additional groups—representing charities and retailers—have aligned themselves with this call.

In reply, Sharon Byrne, Chairperson of the IBA, stated: “We completely reject the National Lottery’s position. Our patrons have been placing bets on lotteries through their local bookmakers for more than three decades now.

“Wagering on lottery results is no different from betting on the outcome of any other event, and it’s a well-established offering for many shops—shops that are already dealing with new rules and regulations under the soon-to-be-implemented licensing system.”

Is Ireland’s evolving betting scene facing too many changes?

The regulatory shifts Byrne mentioned were brought about by the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. This legislation was presented to the Oireachtas in 2022 by the Irish government, with the goal of updating Ireland’s outdated gambling rules.

One major update from the act was the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), a new sector-specific regulator that will assume full control of licensing processes this year.

The Act also created a Social Impact Fund, into which operators are required to contribute annually. The funds are used to back gambling harm prevention and treatment schemes, along with other projects.

Like most laws, however, this one has left some parties unsatisfied—whether it’s those pushing for tighter rules on gambling advertising in Ireland, or the National Lottery operator and its objections to bookmakers taking lottery bets.

For the IBA and the bookmakers it represents, removing a revenue source for betting companies could be an excessive move at a time when firms are adjusting to regulatory changes and some are re-evaluating their presence on Ireland’s high streets.

“Our members are supportive of the new Gambling Regulation Act, but it’s crucial that there’s a level playing field,” Byrne noted.

Putting aside any regulatory hurdles or disputes, Ireland continues to be a key target market for numerous betting operators—both large and small. Just last week, Eurasia Sport‘s 3et became the newest entrant to the market, following Fitzwilliam Sports and DragonBet.