Ireland: operators urged to to impose limits

Problem Gambling Ireland has asked online gambling operators to impose deposit and loss limits during the Covid-19 crisis.

Ireland.- Problem Gambling Ireland, has called on operators to impose deposit and spending limits during the Coronavirus crisis and while people remain on lockdown.

Despite sports events around the world being cancelled, betting giants such as Paddy Power, BoyleSports, Ladbrokes, and others continue to offer betting markets and odds.

They are also adding virtual sports games to their product offering, while players are also turning to their online casino sites.

“Live sport is extremely limited at the moment, so vulnerable people are turning to virtual sports, online slots and casino gambling,” Barry Grant, Chief Executive and founder of Problem Gambling Ireland, said.

“Several European countries including Latvia, Lithuania, Belgium, Spain and Portugal, have already implemented restrictions on online gambling and/or advertising of online gambling platforms.”

A system of mandatory deposit limits already exists for the Irish National Lottery’s online platform but no such measures are in place for other online gambling operators.

“Online betting is more addictive than traditional betting. A betting shop closes at night and you have to go home, but with online gambling, you can do it 24/7,” Mr Grant added.

“Online you can bet on tennis games all over the world, NFL, Australian horse racing, anything really. There’s always something going on somewhere in the world.”

The UK’s gambling self-exclusion service Gamstop has experienced a large increase in people seeking to break self-exclusion following the lockdown, and the government asked for operators to remain responsible.