Ireland Operators adopt Credit Card Ban

Ireland Operators adopt Credit Card Ban. The ban will prohibit players from using credit cards for gambling in both shops and online. (Photo by Issy Bailey on Unsplash)

Irish bookmakers have reached an agreement to enforce a ban all through the gambling industry. The ban will prohibit players from using credit cards for gambling in both shops and live online casinos and will also prohibit a whistle-to-whistle ad ban around live sports.

These changes and ban have been introduced through an updated version of the code of practice for safer and secure gambling from IBA (the Irish Bookmakers’ Association). This code delineates a set of commitments made so far in the industry including measures put in place for player protection. All members of the Irish Bookmaker’s Association including operators like Entain, Flutter Entertainment, and Boylesports will now embrace and adopt the new version of the code.

According to the IBA, this latest version of the code represents a range of minimum commitments that the industry will make and many operators will go beyond and above the set-out provisions. Operators like Flutter Entertainment has already adopted the credit card ban while other operators are currently making the necessary adjustments and technological changes within their business so that they can also adopt the ban on or before the end of the year.

Gambling advertisements aired around live sport before 9 pm and which runs from five minutes prior to an event until five minutes after the event will now be restricted as a result of the ban introduced to whistle-to-whistle advertising.  However, this ban does not affect greyhound racing or horse racing.

IBA Chairperson Shows Delight In Significant Step Forward For Irish Gambling

A report in the Irish Independent newspaper echoes IBA chairperson, Sharon Byrne, speaking on the new development:

The association recognizes the need for the continued development of the highest standards of safer gambling in the industry. She added that they also particularly believe that the restriction on whistle-t0-whistle advertising and the ban on credit card usage are significant steps in the right direction.

Sharon continued that the IBA has since been calling for a regulator to be established in Ireland and that they approve of the government’s dedication to legislating for the establishment of the regulator in the coming period.

The chairperson further explained that the code is not the solution to problem gambling and that the IBA believes that more can be done if there is a regulator. The IBA however believes that these current measures put in place represent a continuation of the industry’s journey in recent years to make sure that standards are enhanced for all. In her concluding remarks, Sharon expressed optimism that operators who are yet to adopt the new safer gambling measures will do so very soon. She concluded by stating that the IBA is eager to work with the proposed gaming regulator in Ireland to adopt advanced evidence-based safer gambling measures.

 

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