With the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 coming to its final stages in Ireland, research has been conducted by Ireland Thinks on behalf of Lottoland, with the intent of showing the Irish Government that people are against increased regulation.
Of the 1,387 individuals who took part in the survey, 66% engaged in some form of gambling, with less than a third being aware of the new legislation from the Government.
Of those who currently bet, 19% would seek alternative methods of gambling in the event that gambling is restricted in Ireland, which mirrors results found in a recent PWC analysis which found a number of other countries have witnessed a growth in the black market.
VPof Lottoland, Mike Kirwan, said: “We recognise the overarching objectives of the Bill to regulate our sector for the first time and to establish robust regulatory oversight and accountability in the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI).
“The results of this poll demonstrate that the Irish public are in favour of a sensible approach to the regulation of our sector, which sees increased regulation and harm reduction, without coming at the cost of individual’s ability to bet responsibly.
“We therefore urge Minister Browne to re-engage with our sector, to listen to our concerns and to ensure that this piece of legislation contains clear and robust definitions, which works to effectively protect consumers.”
