Online betting duty will safeguard local bookmakers - O’Connor

Jobs in bookmakers around Tallaght will be better protected by the Government’s plan to introduce betting duty for online betting, according to local TD Charlie O’Connor.

Deputy O’Connor believes the measures announced in the Budget to ensure that bets placed on the internet by domestic punters are subject to the same level of duty as applies in betting shops, will help local bookmakers to survive.

“The fact is that online gambling is becoming more and more popular and this was starting to have an impact on bookmakers,” said Deputy O’Connor.  “One of the advantages enjoyed by online gambling websites is that up until now they have been exempt from betting duty.”

“This meant that if someone wanted to put a bet of a few euro on a race, then it would cost them less to do it through the internet and that was driving more people to use bookmaking websites.  While Paddy Power, a Tallaght-based firm, is one of the online success stories, we were also seeing a lot more foreign bookmakers competing in the marketplace and that was making it more difficult for small Irish bookmakers.”

“By introducing an online betting duty at the same rate as is currently paid in bookmakers throughout the country, the Government is helping to safeguard the Irish bookmaking industry.  It is a move that I hope will help to safeguard jobs in local bookmakers around Tallaght.”

“While the full legislative details still have to be brought forward, and I expect the industry will be commenting on the proposed measure, what is important is that this applies to all online betting websites operating in the Irish market.  Otherwise it would be possible for companies to get around the legislation by offering their online services from an offshore location.  I will be making this case to the Minister as he and his Department draft the legislation.”

“In the meantime, I’m sure most of the local bookmakers will welcome this initiative, which will remove the unfair competitive advantage that was open to their online competition,” Deputy O’Connor concluded.