RGDATA Calls for full review of impact of Bookie bets on National Lottery
RGDATA has urged Minister Paschal Donohoe to initiate a formal consultation and review process concerning the practice of Lottery Betting in licensed bookmakers to determine the impact of the practice on the National Lottery, players, retail agents and Good Causes funding.
The review could also look at how Lottery Betting is addressed in other jurisdictions and to address any related public policy and regulatory issues.
In a letter to the Minister RGDATA said:
“The local community retailers that RGDATA represents have played a significant role in the growth and positive benefit of the National Lottery since its establishment in 1987. As the State Lottery established to generate funding for Good Causes, the National Lottery has had a very positive impact in the many communities where our members are located.
“As responsible retailers, we recognise and apply the restrictions and safeguards that exist surrounding the sale of National Lottery products, which remains tightly regulated and controlled. The National Lottery by virtue of its sole objective of generating funding for Good Causes and its tightly regulated status with high levels of player protection, is a world apart from mainstream gambling and its various heavily addictive online manifestations.
“The continued practice of allowing betting to take place in licensed bookmakers on the outcome of National Lottery draws is a matter which we believe requires to be reviewed.
“This practice undermines the National Lottery, and damages and erodes Good Causes Funding and the National Lottery official agent fees. RGDATA welcomed Senator Barry Ward’s Private Members Bill on the issue and we were disappointed to see that the Bill did not get the support of Government to allow it advance.
“When the Bill last came before the Seanad at Committee Stage, your colleague, Minister Smyth indicated that the Bill gave rise to a number of issues that needed to be carefully considered and as such the measure was kicked into abeyance.
The purpose of this correspondence is to request that you initiate a formal consultation and review process concerning the practice of Lottery Betting to determine the impact of the practice on the National Lottery, players, agents and Good Causes. This review could also look at how Lottery Betting is addressed in other jurisdictions and to address any related public policy and regulatory issues.
“Allowing such a consultation and review process would provide an opportunity for the issues around Lottery Betting to be fully ventilated and for all relevant stakeholders to make their views known on whether the current practice should be retained or restricted. It would also allow policy and legislation to be developed on an evidential basis mindful of potential impacts and considerations.”
