William Hill has banned ban the use of credit cards for online betting in Ireland. The move comes after the Irish Independent showed that several major bookmakers still accepted credit cards, an action opposed by the
Irish Safer Gambling Code.
The publication also revealed that several firms who claim not to accept credit card bets get around that by using Apple Pay apps.
“It is our ambition that nobody is harmed by gambling and we’re getting in touch to let you know that we will be voluntarily removing credit card deposits as a payment option,” the company said.
Earlier this month, the Irish Independent disclosed that Apple and Google had provided Irish betting apps with a method to stop credit card gambling here through methods such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, despite at least one major local betting company ignoring the measure.
Revolut, which also connects to credit cards, told the Irish Independent that it would unveil technology to allow companies separate credit and debit card gambling deposits.
However, another big offshore betting company, BetVictor, still allows direct credit card deposits for Irish customers. BetVictor does not allow their customers to bet using credit cards in the UK, where it is against the law.
The head of the Irish Bookmakers Association said it cannot sanction credit card gambling because the Irish government has not formally outlawed it.
The Irish government expects to introduce a new gambling regulator that would have significant powers to fine betting firms. Credit card betting is expected to be one of the measures outlawed. But the appointment is not supposed to happen until the end of the year at the earliest.
In related Irish news, the Northern Irish Assembly propelled a regulatory overhaul when it approved the consideration stage for the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Bill. Sponsored by the Minister for Communities Deirdre Hargey, the legislation entered the initial stage in September 2014, with the goal of updating regional betting regulatory oversight.
The public has demanded new regulatory controls on gambling, particularly as it pertains to with regards to protection of the young and vulnerable as well as introducing a mandatory Code of Practice and obligations for the betting industry to fund research, education, and problem gambling treatment via a betting levy.
The Assembly’s Committee for Communities recommended that the Department of Communities conduct research on the calculation of a betting levy as well as coming up with responsibilities of a gambling regulator.
The regulator should also ally with Great Britain as bettors use many of the same online services.
Committee Chairperson, Paula Bradley MLA, observed that the Committee would have preferred the bill be a total replacement of the 1985 legislation rather than just an update, but accepts the difficulty in incorporating online gambling.
“We are therefore pleased that age restrictions regarding access to gaming machines has now been set at 18 and that it will now be an offence for operators to allow minors to play gaming machines.
Further recommendations focused on gambling as a ‘public health problem’ arises and how gambling-related harm can be addressed.
“Restructuring of gambling legislation in Northern Ireland still has a very long way to go. We are hopeful however, that this bill will lay the groundwork for a more comprehensive and holistic approach when the Department for Communities introduces the second stage of reforms in the next Assembly mandate,” Bradley said.
Following the consideration stage, the bill will pass to the further consideration stage and then the final stage should these phases be completed. The proposes laws will receive Royal Assent and pass into Northern Ireland law, implementing the 35-year update.
