Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2026
284. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has considered any proposals to ban online gambling advertising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27481/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra289. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the measures his Department is taking to protect children from online gambling advertising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27459/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 289 together.
The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 (‘Act of 2024’) contains provisions in relation to the advertising of gambling activities, including online and on social media.
The Act of 2024 established a new, dedicated, independent statutory authority – Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (the ‘Authority’) – to regulate the gambling sector. The provisions of the Act and the powers of the Authority are being rolled out on a phased basis. Earlier this year I signed a commencement order which allowed the Authority to begin accepting and processing applications for remote and in-person betting licences, in line with the Act of 2024, from 5 February 2026. As the Authority builds up its resources, commencement of the licensing of the gaming and lotteries sector will next take place.
The advertising provisions of the Act of 2024 mostly apply to those licensed by the Authority. The Act provides for a number of safeguards to protect people, most notably children and vulnerable persons from the harms associated with gambling, with a particular focus on online activities.
These measures include section 146 which provides that advertising of gambling activities on social media or video-sharing services may only be permitted where a person has an account on a social media or video sharing service and has specifically subscribed to a licensee’s account on that service and section 149 which provides for a watershed prohibiting gambling advertising between 5:30 am to 9 pm on audio-visual on-demand media services, on-demand sound services and broadcasters.
Section 144 provides for a wide-ranging power to allow the Authority to prescribe the times, place and events where gambling advertising can be broadcast, displayed or published, and allows the Authority to specify the frequency which advertising can be shown or broadcast and the duration of such advertisements.
The Act also includes a number of provisions dedicated to protecting children offline. Section 151 prohibits the manufacture, import for sale in the State, or the sale or supply (including free of charge) of branded clothing or merchandise, by a licensee, that are intended to be worn or used by children. Furthermore, section 159 of the Act prohibits a licensee from sponsoring or causing another person to sponsor:
- an event or part of an event where the majority or participants or attendees are children.
- an event aimed at children;
- an organisation, club or team that has children as members;
- a premises that is used by an organisation, club or team that has children as members; or
- a public activity that appeals to children.
These sections have not been commenced as yet. The protections and safeguards provided for in the Act are contingent on the majority of the sector being licensed and regulated by the Authority. Officials in my Department are continuing to work, in collaboration with the Authority, on progressing the further commencement of the remaining provisions of the Act as quickly as possible.
