Irish taxman given new powers over online gambling operators

Ireland’s slow progress on the licensing, regulation and taxation of online gambling operators accessing Irish punters continues, but what seem to be interim measures until the requisite licensing and enforcement agency has been formed took shape this week.

Local media reports noted that Michael Noonan, the finance minister, has pushed forward an amendment to the proposed new gambling laws, which were passed at a second reading in parliament earlier this year.

The amendment seeks to give additional enforcement powers to the Irish taxman, extending powers from tax collection to enforcement actions against unlicensed operators, and taking this mandate over from the Justice Ministry.

Once the Betting Amendment Bill is passed online sports betting will be taxed, with bookmakers accessing the Irish market paying 1 percent of turnover, and betting exchanges 15 percent of profits.

The bill also contains provisions that will allow the deployment of now-standard national sanctions against unlawful operators such as IP-blocking, marketing restrictions, financial transaction disruptions and black listing.

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