NI Could Have Its Own Gambling Commission

Following a three month consultation by the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland regarding gambling the Communities Minister has said there is strong support for its own Gambling regulator in the country.

At present Northern Ireland does not has such a body unlike the UK Gambling Commission, the consultation lasted from December 2019 till February this year and in total 382 responses were received.

Michael McAvera an official at the Department for Communities said that nine out of ten supported an independent regulator for Northern Ireland, surprisingly also 60% of those responses supported also the amendment of law in the country to law for casinos and the relaxation of opening hours for bookmakers for them to trade on a Sunday.

Of all those responding to the consultation 97% of them said that the gambling industry should contribute to “funding research, education and treatment” for problem gamblers.

Following the consultation the Communities Minister said they would over the coming weeks make an announcement on the next steps to take.