Casinos.co.uk: Casino News Archive
Thursday 29th November 2007
Ireland dithers over casino future
Although casinos currently operate in Ireland as private members' clubs, the government could be hindering the gaming industry by delaying decisions.
Justice minister Brian Lenihan claimed that a committee report regarding casino legislation drafted nearly a year ago would be presented for consideration shortly, but after a month nothing has surfaced.
This comes after a 2000 report recommended a watchdog should be set up to regulate gambling and casino registration, but after seven years nothing has been done.
Although casino operators now anticipate legislation, they are still waiting to see what form it will take.
Former minister for justice Michael McDowell first clouded the issue, declaring that casinos should be banned then settling for a review.
Parts of the new report that have been leaked recommend that any ideas of allowing a supercasino in Ireland should be put on hold.
It also proposes higher taxes for casinos, plus a substantial licence fee.
JJ Woods, who runs Atlantic Casino Consultants, told a newspaper that if new legislation attracted foreign casino operators to Ireland, then local operators might be pushed out of the market.
"I know of very few Irish casinos that are run on par with international standards. There's a real lack of management experience," Mr Woods explained.
"The government has an opportunity to do something that was made a mess of in the UK," he added. "Enabling the expansion of casinos in Ireland under a proper legislative framework could be great for tourism," he claims.
Source:Direct News
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