Ireland's Gambling Regulator Opens Public Consultation on Social Impact Fund

(Photo courtesy of the GRAI)

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has launched a public consultation seeking guidance on how it should spend the cash from a coming social responsibility fund.

The GRAI was established in March following the passage of the Gambling Regulation Act of 2024 and has been tasked with regulating Ireland’s nascent land-based and online gambling sectors. 

The watchdog will be additionally responsible for improving the safety and wellbeing of punters via its new Social Impact Fund, which is to be financed from mandatory levies applied to licensed operators’ annual turnover.

Constructive Comments

The Chief Executive Officer for the GRAI, Anne Marie Caulfield, exclusively told Casinos.com this consultation is to run until May 15 and will be seeking feedback from stakeholders and those impacted by gambling harms. 

She moreover explained the exercise being administered by state-sponsored funding body Pobal consists of four questionnaires designed to reach different representative groups and individuals so as to help shape the future of her organization’s coming Social Impact Fund.

“At its core, the Gambling Regulation Act of 2024 is a public health measure and the mandate of the GRAI is centered on consumer protection,” Caulfield said. 

“While we have a broad remit, protecting the general public, children, and those susceptible to gambling harm is the primary endeavor.”

Sensible Subsidy

Caulfield declared that revenues from the Social Impact Fund will be used to help finance a multitude of community interventions, educational programs, and research and training projects ‘to prevent and address gambling harms’. 

The experienced civil servant described such endeavors as ‘a key priority’ due to furthermore encompass ‘educational and awareness initiatives’ alongside bodies tasked with supporting those dealing with the impacts of gambling addiction.

“Although the GRAI is to oversee the formation of the Social Impact Fund, the Department of Justice will also have a degree of oversight via how the cash is collected with the Minister for Justice determining the levy amount as a percentage of operators’ turnover,” Caulfield said.

Admirable Ambition

Caulfield asserted the main aim of the GRAI’s latest public consultation is ‘to better understand the landscape of service providers and their needs in Ireland’ with any feedback being collated to help identify objectives for a future funding strategy. 

She went on to disclose a wider public consultation is being planned where these initial findings are to be combined with her organization’s draft strategic objectives so as to ensure funding is allocated ‘in the most useful and impactful way’.

“The assessment of need is live on our website and we welcome the views of interested parties,” Caulfield said. 

“This exercise will assist greatly with our strategy and emphasizes the approach of the GRAI to listen to those working directly in addressing gambling harms and serving the public.”