Northern Ireland set to relax gambling laws, using Great Britain as a guide

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The Northern Ireland Executive party is set to relax gambling laws in the country. The new gambling regulations, which were brought to the Stormont assembly by DUP minister Gordon Lyons, aims to bring the country's gambling laws in-line with Great Britain’s rules. Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in the country voted to liberalise them on 28 January. 

The new rules will increase the maximum permitted stakes and prizes that customers can use and enjoy when betting on slots and casino games – most notably gaming machines.

Mr Lyons said: “This is part of a larger pack of reforms that date back to 2021, and as a result of that a new code of practice will be applied to gaming machine operators in a way that it has not done before. 

“It will be an offence to cause, invite or, in any way, permit a person under 18 to play a high-stakes game. There will also be a new offence of cheating, fixing machines or attempting to cheat. We have to take this in the round of agreement and I know that our interventions cannot be too long.”

However, the move comes with opposition in Stormont and in the wider public. Social Democratic and Labour Party Leader of the Opposition, Matthew O’Toole MLA, said the Executive parties were saying one thing but doing another on the impacts of gambling. 

“The Executive parties are inviting the contempt of citizens by saying one thing and doing another on gambling harm,” O’Toole said. 

“This morning the Executive pushed through a regulatory change actually increasing stakes and prizes, and then in the afternoon they voted blithely through a motion lamenting the public health impact of gambling harm in Northern Ireland.

“This is either incompetence or contempt for the public and for our collective role as legislators. While we wait years to take further action on gambling, lives will be lost. If the Executive parties take this issue as seriously as they say, they should commit to legislation being delivered before the end of this mandate.”

According to TUV’s Timothy Gaston, the last time the Assembly in the Northern Ireland examined problem gambling in the country, problem cases were “five times those of England.”

Gaston argued: “Since the return of Stormont, a growing number of intelligent voices have questioned whether we have the competence to govern. I am deeply concerned that these regulations will give credence to those who suggest we do not.”

In addition, the gambling levy that is due to be implemented in Great Britain this year will not be applied in Northern Ireland. 

Gaston added his point, saying: “New gambling rules should only pass when we can be sure that the people of Northern Ireland are afforded at least the same levels of protection as those of Great Britain.” 

To learn more, visit our responsible gambling page which also offers resources and advice on where to seek help if needed.