Irish President demands gaming ads ban

Sports betting operators would be limited by the new advertisement regulation.

Ireland.- Ireland joins the list of European countries that decided to regulate the advertisement sector for the gaming industry. According to Irish press, the President, Michael D Higgins demanded new regulation on sports betting advertisement and gaming promotions for both online platforms and land-based entertainment centres.

President Higgins said he is very concerned about gambling. “If I had my way, I wouldn’t have advertising of any access to gambling platforms in sport at all. I really worry when I read the cases,” he said. “I visited the Hope House in Mayo recently who have been a great assistance to some people who have got over what is, hopefully, a terrible temporary problem.”

”I think in a way we should protect our sports of keeping them free from this kind of stuff,” he added then. “I just think [sport] should be protected from it. There is no one being heavy about it. What you can do is through education obviously, through the school systems.”

Higgins demanded a new regulation that would further protect the “vulnerable players” and sets a market with “the integrity of games.” “Having care for everyone who participates means not exposing them when in fact they are vulnerable. How you deal with vulnerabilities is by preparing them of course.

“But you can’t do everything through education. For too long in Ireland we often ignore problems that are staring us in the face,” added Higgins.