Irish Government proposes maximum stake and payout limits for gaming machines
The Irish Government has continued to crack down on gaming machines across the country after announcing proposals to impose a new €500 limit as a maximum payout on gaming terminals.
The move comes amid rising concerns regarding the relevance of the current legislation, with members of the Dáil Éireann expressing that it is outdated.
As part of the crackdown, the Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan has outlined a number of changes to the Gaming and Lotteries Bill, which is currently being reviewed by the Oireachtas.
The government has also proposed a maximum stake limit of €5. Flanagan had reduced an proposal submitted earlier this year, which would have seen the maximum stake set at €10 and the maximum payout set at €750.
The reduction comes as a number of lobby groups across Ireland had expressed that the previous proposals did not go far enough in tackling problem gambling, and that further measures were required.
The legislation proposed by Flanagan has now proceeded to Report Stage in the Oireachtas which means further changes are still possible.
Earlier this year, a Northern Irish government department launched a public consultation on the creation of a new gambling policy and the effects of problem gambling. The public consultation will help gain an insight into the policies needed to combat problem gambling in the country. Operators across Northern Ireland have already voluntarily agreed to implement the £2 maximum stakes on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs).
Source: SBC News
