Irish bookmakers agree whistle-to-whistle advertising ban

The Irish Bookmakers’ Association’s updated code of practice also introduces a ban on gambling using credit cards.

Ireland.- After recent calls for change from politicians, Irish bookmakers have agreed to an industry-wide ban on credit card payments and a whistle-to-whistle advertising ban for live sport.

The new restrictions have been introduced in the Irish Bookmakers’ Association‘s (IBA) updated code of practice for safer gambling, which sets out the industry’s commitments to player protection. IBA members include Entain, BoyleSports and Flutter Entertainment.

The credit card ban will cover both land-based and online gambling. Some bookmakers have already introduced the measure, while others need to make updates to their technology, which they must make before the end of the year.

The advertising ban will cover all live sport shown before the 9pm watershed apart from horse racing and greyhound racing. It will run from five minutes before the start of events until five minutes after, much like the BGC’s ban in the UK.

IBA chair Sharon Byrne said: “We recognise that there is a need for the industry to continue to develop the highest of standards for safer gambling. We believe in particular that the credit card ban and the ‘whistle-to-whistle’ advertising restrictions are significant steps on that path.

Byrne echoed political calls for the introduction of a new Irish gambling regulator. She said: “The IBA has long called for the establishment of a regulator in Ireland and we welcome the government’s commitment to legislating for that in the coming period.

“This Code is not the answer to problem gambling and we believe there is more that can be done within the forum provided by a regulator. However, we believe that these measures continue the journey the industry has been on in recent years, to ensure standards are increased for all.”

Gambling advertising has recently come under fire in Ireland, both from the Irish president, Michael D Higgins and from Sinn Féin, which proposed a ban on all gambling ads on television between 6am and 9pm.

The minister of state for justice, James Browne, has pledged to introduce legislation to reform Irish gambling and create an “extremely powerful” gambling regulator by the end of the year.