Aspers has its eyes fixed on Ireland

The British chain sent a letter to the Department of Justice expressing its interest in opening in Ireland if legislation to allow large casinos is implemented.

Ireland.- British casino chain Aspers has written to the Department of Justice showing its interest in opening in the European country when legislation allowing large casino operations is implemented.

A number of letters on the issue have been written over the past three years as back in 2013 Alan Shatter introduced Gambling Control Bill, which has yet to be passed.

David Hickson, the director of the Gaming and Leisure Association of Ireland and managing director of the Fitzwilliam Casino and Card Club is calling on Tánaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald to publish the draft bill.

“We’re not licensed, and that’s part of the problem, but the other part of the problem is that the entire gambling industry at the moment is made up of licensed, unlicensed, or improperly licensed,” Hickson said. “But none of them are actually regulated, there’s no body with oversight over any aspect of the gambling industry.”

“If you look at the register of private members card clubs in Ireland there’s about 40 clubs around the country – what the bill proposes and sets out is that there would be 40 casino licenses,” he added. “So what they’re saying is we want a geographical spread, but we don’t want to increase the number of casinos currently available in Ireland.”