Highly awaited irish gambling regulation bill takes center stage at One-Zero
One-Zero, the convergence of sport, business, and technology, was held at AVIVA Stadium last week in Dublin. The conference showcased an impressive array of speakers, including legendary sports promoter Eddie Hearn, former Manchester United star turned entrepreneur Louis Saha, three-time Super Bowl champion Lonie Paxton, and emerging technology innovator Daniel Wyles from Flutter Entertainment. Across two days of panel discussions, notable figures from eCOGRA and renowned brands like Under Armour, Eurovision, PGA, Boca Juniors, Colo-Colo, and England Rugby addressed topics such as innovation, strategy, and performance.
One-Zero, renowned globally for its spotlight on the forefront of sports technology, business, and innovation, expanded its scope this year to include the betting and gambling industry. Among its discussions was a panel dedicated to the highly anticipated Irish Gambling Regulation Bill. Moderated by Sarah Curran, Head of Marketing at eCOGRA, leaders in Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC), the panel featured several experts from the gambling industry: Graham Ross, Head of Operations in Europe for PointsBet FBG, Martina Cilia, Manager of International Affairs & Policy Strategy at the Malta Gaming Authority, and Niamh Gallagher, Marketing Manager at Mindway AI.
Graham initiated the discussion by highlighting the industry’s overall support for a purposeful regulatory framework, emphasizing the need to build on existing structures rather than starting anew. He also underscored the positive contributions of Irish-based operators to the global gambling landscape while acknowledging the challenges posed by insufficient local regulation, particularly regarding problem gambling.
Martina echoed Graham’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among regulators and the industry to ensure player protection. She referenced regulatory directives aimed at safeguarding players’ interests and maintaining transparency within the industry.
Niamh drew attention to the significant economic potential of the gambling sector in Ireland, paralleling it with the country’s beef exports. She advocated for a comprehensive approach to player care, citing the UK’s multifaceted strategy as a model worth considering.
Key insights from the panel discussion include:
– Broad support among stakeholders for a robust regulatory framework in Ireland, with concerns regarding operational feasibility and alignment with policy goals.
– Opportunities for mutual learning and innovation through relationships with regulators in other jurisdictions.
– Recognition of the substantial economic opportunity presented by the gambling industry, balanced with the priority of player welfare.
– The importance of accurate data collection and early intervention in addressing problem gambling behaviors.
eCOGRA, accredited by the Irish National Accreditation Board (‘INAB’), established an Irish office in Dublin last year, poised to support the implementation of the new regulatory framework. One-Zero will return to Dublin in March 2025 to continue driving conversations on the future of sports, business, technology, and gambling.
About eCOGRA
Founded in 2003 to establish and improve operational standards and player safety requirements in the online gambling space, eCOGRA has amassed a wealth of experience in implementing international best practice standards and requirements and ensuring these are maintained through regular review and monitoring.
eCOGRA acts as a regulatory audit partner to over 200 multi-jurisdictional operators, software providers and other relevant service providers in the online gambling industry.
It is the first online gambling testing laboratory authorised to offer operators and service providers accredited ISO/IEC 27001 certifications for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) and is the only laboratory able to provide Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services. The company is an approved testing laboratory with several online gambling jurisdictions.
The Independent Testing Laboratory is staffed by a team of professional auditors with Big 4 auditing firm experience, information security experts, test engineers and responsible gambling specialists.
eCOGRA’s jurisdictions can be viewed on their website https://ecogra.org/about-us/jurisdictional-approvals. eCOGRA have never had any of their accreditations suspended or revoked, or any application for approval by a jurisdictional regulator rejected.
For more information about eCOGRA’s testing and certification services, please visit www.ecogra.org.