“Never on Sunday” has long been the lament of Northern Ireland bookies. That hasn’t stopped customers from betting on Sunday online or across the border.
All that has changed as bookmakers and bingo halls received confirmation the Sunday openings received royal assent on May 3, according to the Belfast Telegraph.
The bookies could have opened for business May 8 but since they were —caught off guard by the announcement from the Department for Communities—it wasn’t expected until the end of May—it may take a couple weeks for the almost 300 betting shops to ramp up and hire staff.
The turn of events marked the first major change to Northern Ireland’s gambling laws since 1985. The change does not impact Christmas wherever that falls. The shops will be closed.
The Northern Ireland Turf Guardians’ Association (NITGA), which represents the bookies of Northern Ireland, said retailers appreciated the word.
“This is a positive development addressing a longstanding anomaly whereby customers were able to place bets online, on a racecourse, or at a bookmaker shop across the border on Sundays but were unable to go to a bookmaker shop in Northern Ireland. Given that such a significant number of sporting events take place on a Sunday, demand had to be met elsewhere, including through illegal betting in pubs and clubs.”
A Department for Communities spokesperson said: “The Bill completed its final stage in the Assembly on 8 March, at which point it is referred for Royal Assent. Royal Assent usually takes 6 to 10 weeks.
“The Department can confirm that the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 became law on 26 April 2022.
