- New law would increase protection over children and young, while relaxing advertising restrictions.
- Regulation will not affect online gambling.
Northern Ireland’s Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has announced that the Executive will introduce a new law to regulate gambling. The changes are not thought likely to affect online poker.
The current legal framework, the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries & Amusements (NI) Order 1985 was written to regulate betting on tracks and in bookmaking offices, gaming machines, bingo clubs and lotteries.
Mr McCausland explained: “It is necessary to update the current gambling laws in order to address the rapidly changing gambling environment that exists today; changes are also required to ensure that our law complies with relevant EU provisions.”
A review of the law in 2009 was followed up by a public consultation in 2011. The word poker does not appear at all in the consultation responses. Betfair, Ladbrokes and Paddy Power were the only major online poker operators who responded to the consultation.
