Free Bets to be Banned in Ireland Under Landmark New Gambling Laws

A proposal for new gambling laws in Ireland is calling for the banning of free bets in the country.

The newly proposed gambling legislation in Ireland also seeks to create a national gambling regulator in 2022. The regulator will be given powers to revoke or suspend gambling licences, and will be able to freeze accounts and block incoming payments to providers, while there will be no inducements or VIP treatment for certain gamblers.

A social impact fund meanwhile will also be established, which will place a levy on gambling companies, which will fund addiction treatment and other awareness measures. A self-exclusion register will be available to allow gamblers to restrict themselves from certain providers for a certain period of time.

Advertising is another area that will be subject to strict measures, with the new regulator able to issue codes around the time and frequency that gambling ads can appear on TV, radio and other media. Bans on ads which may appeal to children will also be put in place.