Fianna Fail will ban credit card gambling and bring in a strict industry regulator straight away if elected to government.
Justice spokesman Jim O’Callaghan has set out the party’s key pledges to crack down on gambling, which he sees as “exploitative” in Ireland today.
The proposals include the above credit card ban, a new ‘whistle to whistle’ ban on betting during the middle of sport matches and the outlawing of the “insidious” problem of 'loot boxes' in video games.
Mr O’Callaghan said: “The reason we believe a gambing regulator is necessary is that it would be able to put forward proposals that would properly regulate an industry that, being frank, is making money off the misery of problem gambling of vulnerable people.”
The problem is affecting sport in particular, with the recent heartfelt testimonies of GAA star Oisin McConville highlighting it.
A blanket ban on the sponsorship of sports is proposed, along with the abolition of all sports advertising.
Mr O’Callaghan said there had been great success when similar advertising bans were introduced for smoking and this could be repeated.
This will all be overseen by a new Gambling Regulator, which will be financed by the industry through a government levy.
