Irish bookmakers to ban credit card betting, limit live sports advertising

The Irish Bookmaker Association (IBA), which includes operators BoyleSports, Ladbrokes, Bet365, Betway and the Kindred Group, has decided to ban credit card betting in shops and online.

Moreover, operators have also agreed to halt “whistle-to-whistle” advertising during live sporting events before the watershed of 9 pm, excluding horse racing and greyhound racing.

Flutter Entertainment, which owns Paddy Power, enforced similar measures earlier this year, announcing it would no longer take bets on credit cards or advertise during live games. The National Lottery has also banned credit cards to purchase tickets online in 2021.

Despite statistics showing that only about 0.8% of the population falls into the problem gambling category, a UK research shows that this type of gambling is especially present among online customers using credit cards: 22% of them are problem gamblers.

The new measures are part of a revised Code of Practice for safer gambling which “outlines a comprehensive set of industry commitments across a range of player protection measures.”

IBA Chairperson, Sharon Byrne, stated: “We recognize 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 band and the ‘whistle-to-whistle’ advertising restrictions are significant steps on that path.”

The new Code, which is being adopted by all IBA members and the majority of licensed online companies operating a sportsbook or casino in Ireland, will be fully operation this year. Operators have by the end of 2021 to make the necessary technological changes within their business to remove credit card paying.

“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,” further added Byrne. “However, we believe that these measures continue the journey the industry has been on in recent years, to ensure standards are increased for all.”

Moreover, the IBA has reiterated its calling for the establishment of a regulator in Ireland, something that the Government is set to legislate for in the coming period. The associated has welcomed this commitment.

“We hope that those few operators who have not endorsed the Code will do so before long,” said the IBA Chairperson. “And we look forward to working with the proposed regulator to adopt further evidence-based measures.”