Ireland’s Revenue Declares War on Dublin’s Illegal Casinos

Ireland’s Revenue has issued authorities letters into a range of illegally working casino centers across Dublin giving them 21 days to remove gambling machines in their premises, The Times mentioned earlier this week.

News about the government bureau launching a crackdown against illegal operations arrived after an investigation by The Times showed that a number of Dublin-based arcades have used their licenses to operate gaming machines, thus hammering a 1988 citywide ban on the latter devices.

But, The Times reported that a number of arcade centers are violating that ban and are using their arcade machine licenses to operate gaming machines.

According to Revenue definitions, arcade/amusement machines are games which gives players the chance to win no more than an chance to play again or even a non-monetary prize the value of that can be worth no more than €7. The Times discovered that the gaming machines at a few of the arcade premises across Dublin offered players the chance to bet up to €2,500 on casino-style games such as video poker, roulette, and blackjack. Such premises now have 21 days to remove all gaming machines or face seizure of those.

Industry Responds to the Looming Crackdown

The Irish Amusement Trades Association (IATA), which reflects both licensed and unlicensed arcades, has reacted quickly to the pending crackdown, saying that it had been contemplating legal actions against Revenue’s ruling. The institution has long been lobbying for the ban on casino-style gaming in Dublin to be raised.

IATA General Secretary John Roche has said that Ireland’s present gaming laws are archaic and therefore are violating directives of the European Union in relation to the provision of gaming services across member countries. Ireland’s gaming industry is regulated under the Gambling and Lotteries Act that took effect back in 1956.

Irish lawmakers have been operating for decades on a piece of legislation which would replace the obsolete regulations, but not much progress has been made so far.

An Revenue spokeswoman has told The Times than any operator of gaming machines without the necessary license or using an arcades license to operate gaming machines would have their machines seized and would be prosecuted. IATA maintains that they can confront the taxman in court and even triumph, mentioning recent European Court of Justice rulings, under that any legislation restricting gambling to certain areas in a specific country ought to be reviewed if they are applied properly.

According to some 2015 study by Gambling and Leisure Association Ireland that the issuance of arcade licenses is more affordable compared to gaming machine ones and by imitating the former, the nation is thus losing revenue. The study also stated that of all 7,559 arcade enthusiasts issued, around 5,000 were really used for gaming machines that offered cash prizes.

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