asked the Minister for Justice if he will state the number of licences for the playing of bingo which were issued in the last three years (a) in Dublin City and County and (b) elsewhere in the State.
56.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bingo Licences.
55.
asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the number of complaints of losses suffered by persons who frequently play bingo, he proposes to limit the number of licences for bingo playing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 56 together.
Only a very small and practically negligible fraction of bingo games are played under licence. Those of them that are played under licence are those promoted in licensed amusement halls. In such cases, there is no special bingo licence but bingo is included in the general licence, as a game that may be played, where the applicant so requests.
The great majority of bingo games are played without a licence, the promoters relying on subsection (3) of section 4 of the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1956, which permits gaming without a licence on certain conditions.
This situation may now have to be reviewed as a result of a Supreme Court decision that bingo is a lottery. The text of the judgment and its implications are being studied at present.
Meanwhile, however, I may say that I have received practically no complaints about losses suffered in bingo games. The game is almost invariably played on the basis of a single charge for the night and the gambling element in it is restricted. I am prepared to believe that a small number of people spend more than they can afford but I should be slow to accept that this would justify depriving the great majority of patrons of an entertainment which apparently they find satisfying and in which, as I have said, their possible losses are limited and known in advance.
Is the Minister aware that some ladies play this game as often as five, six or seven times a week?
They play whist as well.
Those who play whist probably have a great deal more money than persons with limited means who play bingo. I respectfully urge the Minister when considering amendments to legislation which may be necessitated by the Supreme Court decision also to have regard to the undesirability of having frequent facilities available to tempt people to spend housekeeping money which would be better spent in another way.
I will consider a review of the situation but I should like to avoid being regarded as a puritanical Minister for Justice.
I am sure the Minister does not regard me as a puritan either. The matter is an urgent one.
Should there be a means test before they are allowed to play?