Ireland To License Online Gambling

The Irish head of government (Taoiseach) Brian Cowen has confirmed to the press that there will be a license fee for online casinos and bookmakers who plan to advertise In Ireland. The Irish Field Brian Cowen speaking at the at a dinner hosted by racing newspaper, said that legislation in which license will be a requirement in order to offer products into the Irish market .The Government will introduce legislation to ensure that overseas betting providers comply with a licensing regime that will permit them to sell their products into our jurisdiction. This will add benefits of facilitating the extension of the tax regime for the betting industry to all those providing online and telephone betting, and support funding for the racing industry.”
He added that “all forms of betting including betting offered over the internet, other remote platforms or over the telephone should make a positive contribution.”

Brian Cowen claiming that “such betting must be brought within the tax net, not only will increase revenue, but also it will mean that those currently not contributing to securing the future of important indigenous industries will now make that contribution.”
Ireland’s struggling horse racing industry can benefit from the revenue of the tax regime.

Currently, offshore and foreign online operators are not required to have a license to target Irish gamblers but that would change under the proposed new legislation.

The businesses in Ireland have backed Brian Cowen proposals. However Paddy Power suggested it is a plan “doomed to fail” by introducing new taxation for companies operating in the country and banning those that don’t pay the license fee.