Bringing the stakes and prizes of gaming machines in Northern Ireland into line with those in the rest of the UK has been welcomed by the country’s trade association.
Gerald Steinberg, chairman of NIACTA, told us this week that he welcomed the move by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
“NIACTA is a professional body for our industry, which employs 2,000 people in Northern Ireland. We have been working closely with the Department of Communities over a long period of time to have our outdated legislation brought into line with the rest of the UK.
“We would like to place on record our appreciation to minister Gordon Lyons for bringing forward these proposals and to his staff in the Department of Communities. We have been engaging with the department over a wide range of legislation including safeguards and protections.
“NIACTA is a trade body with robust professional standards and a code of conduct for our members. As legitimate land-based operators paying taxes and rates we have argued for a level playing field against the exponential growth of online gambling, which operates without regulation and offshore.
“Legislation is too often targeted against land-based businesses in the gambling and entertainment sector with zero safeguards in place to protect vulnerable adults with addictions from the reach of online gambling organisations.
"The legislation was created when technological changes such as the iPhone and apps were not part of the infrastructure of the gambling industry.
“These proposals are moderate and proportionate and we look forward to further engagement to ensure forthcoming legislation is both fair and progressive - especially in recognising the fundamental changes and challenges in our industry.
“NIACTA represents about 60 per cent of all gaming centre and amusement operators (including bingo halls, seaside arcades, adult gaming centres, entertainment providers in shopping/retail centres and gaming machine suppliers) in Northern Ireland.
“NIACTA provides guidance and support to members on regulation, enforcement, best practice and standards within the industry sector.”
In a survfey depicting how Northern Ireland people gamble, organised by the Department of Communities in 2016, it was shown that 46.8 per cent of people played the National Lottery, 23.7 per cent scratchcards, 22.8 per cent sports betting, 20.2 per cent other lotteries, 4.6 per cent on bingo and only 6.6 per cent played gaming machines.
