Irish gambling regulator holds opening ceremony for new offices
Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan and minister of state Niall Collins attended.
Ireland.- The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has held an opening ceremony for its new offices at Ballaugh House, Mount Street Lower, in Dublin. The minister for justice Jim O’Callaghan and minister for state Niall Collins, who unveiled a plaque to commemorate the occasion.
O’Callaghan highlighted the GRAI’s role in regulating the gambling sector, protecting people from gambling harm and providing certainty for the industry.
Chairperson Paul Quinn and CEO Anne Marie Caulfield thanked the ministers for their commitment to passing the Gambling Regulation Act and establishing the authority.
Quinn said: “On behalf of my colleagues, I would like to acknowledge the excellent groundwork that has been already laid by Anne Marie and her colleagues in both the Authority and in the Department of Justice over the last couple of years. This hard work set us well on the road to success, albeit we know there will be the inevitable twists and turns in progressively introducing regulation.
“The authority will bring robust and much-needed regulation to gambling in Ireland, giving certainty to industry and building trust in the many consumers who enjoy sociable gambling, while also importantly protecting the most vulnerable in our society. It is essential that we build that public and industry trust by getting the three legs of the regulatory stool, licencing compliance and enforcement, to mutually reinforce each other in creating a robust framework.
“The societal impacts of problem gambling are very much at the core of the legislation and establishing this Authority. I am hopeful that our work will reduce the stigma and secrecy associated with problem gambling by building greater awareness of its extent as a public health issue, by conducting research to inform decisions of the Authority and Government Policy, and in providing greater supports to the public using the planned Social Impact Fund.
“I am clear that in the coming years our work will make an enormous difference to the lives of so many people affected by gambling addiction, not only those addicted themselves but also their families, friends and colleagues, and but also those who may be on the path to addiction and who, though our work, may stop getting to that point.”
Caulfield said: “It is fair to say that the introduction of the Gambling Regulation Act is one of the most important pieces of legislation enacted in recent years. I want to thank you Minister and your officials in the Department of Justice for your support and we look forward to working alongside you and your officials into the future.
“It would be wrong of me not to also mention former Ministers James Browne and Helen McEntee, both of whom were incredibly supportive of the Authority and who championed the passage of the legislation. At every stage of the legislative process, the public health mandate was kept front and centre, and as an independent regulatory body, we will continue to keep public health at the centre of everything we do.
“This commitment is reflected in our mission to effectively regulate and educate in order to safeguard current and future generations from gambling harm.”
The regulator has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the British Gambling Commission. In a recent interview with Focus Gaming News, a spokesperson for the GRAI said the regulator was on track to open licence applications this year, having already invited expressions of interest from operators. It has also opened a consultation on the creation of a social impact fund.
