A bill being considered in the Irish legislature that would limit winnings from roulette and card games to €3,000 could drive gambling underground, industry critics warn, the Irish Independent reported June 22.
Winnings would be capped at €3,000 and bets would be limited to €10.
The U.K.-based gambling industry consultant Regulus wrote: “Consumers don’t go to the black market for just one product” and added that 30 percent to 40 percent of online gaming in Ireland might be affected, losing €80- €100 million each year.
A large number of players might shift to black-market operators to find higher jackpots and no betting limits, said Regulus. The company’s co-founder Paul Leyland said a €10 limit only makes sense for slots.
He added, “The other limit is the €3,000 on a prize, which sounds like a lot of money if you are dealing with a single prize for a single event. It is still very dangerous because high-value customers really matter in gambling.”
He continued, “If you imagine top Irish racing owners or trainers betting on a horse, they are expecting to win more than €3,000. We know that limit doesn’t apply to betting on racing, but we can assume such a gambler has the same attitude to gaming.”
He concluded, “If you direct high-value customers to the black market for some products, why should they stay in the regulated market for other products?”
A spokesman for the Department of Justice said the limits will be enforced by the Gambling Regulatory Authority, which will also be able to combat illegal operators.
The spokesman said, “The bill contains a suite of measures to address unlicensed gambling activity, such as blocking access to unlicensed operators and activities, and blocking the advertising and promotion of same.”
