Irish gaming legislation change on hold

While a number of casinos are currently operating in Ireland as private members' clubs, those looking to jump into the business in a big way are still waiting for the government to show its hand over legislation on the market. And casinos have become big business.

And while the plan is that the government is planning to impose some type of legislative framework on casinos, operators are still not sure if they're being bluffed, or if this is the real thing.

Earlier this month, the Justice Minister Brian Lenihan said that a report drafted almost a year ago by a committee, headed by barrister Michael McGrath, would likely be presented before a Dail committee for consideration "in the near future".

The industry had hoped that the Minister for Justice would be discussing proposals for new regulations and the possibility of larger casinos; however, given the economic climate, this is no longer a key concern for the government.

"Unfortunately regulation of gaming in Ireland has slipped down the list of priorities for the moment," David Hickson, director of the Gaming and Leisure Association of Ireland, told InterGaming. "We had been hoping for an announcement setting out government policy for regulating the sector before the summer recess, but it has now been pushed back to the autumn."