Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 November 2018
178. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has a role in the certification of slot machines; and if his attention has been drawn to the wider concerns of persons in the gaming and casino industry that without proper regulations the industry is susceptible for use by criminals with activities such as money laundering and issues regarding gambling addiction. [49800/18]
View answerThe Minister for Justice and Equality has no current role with regard to the operation of gaming machines. Part III of the 1956 Gaming and Lotteries Act provides for the conditions for the issue of licences for gaming machines and section 19 of that Act provides for the Revenue Commissioners to issue a licence.
Minister Flanagan has recently signed into law regulations under section 25 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010.
These Regulations prescribe providers of gambling services as designated persons under the 2010 Act, with certain exemptions. This will mean that those providers (which include bookmakers and online gambling providers) will be obliged to carry out customer due diligence, report suspicious transactions to the Garda Síochána’s Financial Intelligence Unit, and comply with the other obligations under the Act.
The customer due diligence requirements will apply where the amount of money paid to the customer or paid by the customer is more than €2,000, whether in a single transaction or in a series of linked transactions.
The Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Unit in the Department of Justice and Equality will be responsible for the monitoring and supervision of these entities for compliance with their obligations under the legislation.
Certain gambling sub-sectors have been exempted as they have been shown to be low risk, following a Risk Assessment carried out by the Anti-Money Laundering Steering Committee chaired by the Department of Finance. These are lotteries, bingo, gaming and amusement machines and land-based poker.
Addiction treatment matters remain the responsibility of the Department of Health.
