New laws on the way to control growing number of casinos
Monday February 12 2007
A Government committee, set up last August to look at bringing in new laws on the gambling operations, reported to the Department of Justice in October.
A spokeswoman said they were currently "finetuning" the plans and would announce them within the next few weeks.
The committee invited public submissions about legislation to cover the growing number of "casino-style operations" in Ireland.
Representatives from the Garda, the Departments of Justice and Finance, local government, tourism and the Revenue Commissioners are on the committee.
At the moment casinos are banned under the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 but poker clubs have been allowed to open for members only.
They operate in a virtual legal limbo.
Unlike betting shops, anyone can open a club without vetting by gardai or a licence from the courts. While betting shops pay a percentage of their turnover in tax, casinos pay tax only from their profits.
The committee is expected to advise on licensing requirements, their codes of practice, inspection and entry, investigation of complaints, appeals against decisions and internet gambling.
Justice Minister Michael McDowell has said there were major concerns over the unregulated nature of casino-style clubs.
Public and local interests must be served by any change to the legislation, he stressed.
The tightening of rules on casinos is also seen as a way of fighting money laundering.
- Edel Kennedy
