Ulster GAA’s secretary, Brian McAvoy, recently voiced worries on how the Gambling Regulation Act might affect county boards and GAA clubs.
Ireland recently started to update its gaming laws, just like the UK. A historic bill to improve gambling laws and address major issues with compulsive gambling was enacted by the Dáil back in October.
The bill also aimed to establish an independent statutory gambling organization and fight illegal gambling. Although the Gambling Regulation Act aims to make improvements, there are worries about how it would affect county boards and GAA clubs.
Limitations on Gambling Advertising Could Impact Nonprofits
The annual report was released earlier this week by Ulster GAA, the provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association, which oversees the province of Ulster’s hurling, gaelic football, handball, and camogie sports. Ulster GAA’s secretary, Brian McAvoy, covered a lot of ground in the report, including the recently enacted gambling laws.
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Advertising for gambling will be prohibited under the new rules. The law effectively forbids advertisements from running on TV, radio, or on-demand services between 5:30 AM and 9:00 PM. Gambling games with maximum payouts above €10,000 ($10,300) are affected. According to McAvoy, the limitations may have an effect on non-profit organizations like the GAA even though they are intended to lessen the likelihood that minors may encounter gaming advertisements.
The secretary of the Ulster GAA expressed disappointment that the GAA was not added to the list of exceptions, which includes charity and philanthropic groups. McAvoy commented about the value of supporting clubs and county fundraising through drawings, noting that those who participate do so “to lend support to the venture, which will invariably be to the benefit of the entire community.”
“While fully appreciating the desire to limit media exposure to commercial gambling outlets and companies, especially amongst young people, it is disappointing that the Association’s efforts to include not-for-profit community organizations, like the GAA, to be included in the group of ‘exceptions,’ alongside charitable and philanthropic bodies, were not taken on board by the Government,”
According to Brian McAvoy, the Ulster GAA’s annual report
The GAA contributes to the fight against gambling harm.
Ulster GAA’s secretary praised the GAA’s continuous collaboration with Gambling with Lives, the leading charity, to address possible consequences of excessive gambling and raise awareness. He clarified: “Feedback has been hugely positive, and Ulster GAA will continue to work with the GAA at national level and with suitable partners as policy develops in this area.”
McAvoy noted the Stormont All Party Group on Gambling Harms, which works to raise awareness of problem gambling as a public health concern. The executive cited a recent research that cautioned about the dangers of gambling.
According to McAvoy, YouGaMSI’s research, “Code Red: Young People and their Exposure to Gambling Marketing through Media and Live Sport on the Island of Ireland,” painted a “damning picture.” The secretary further indicated that the Ulster GAA will continue to work with specialists and the national GAA to combat problem gambling and harm.
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