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National Lottery Regulator

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018

Tuesday, 17 April 2018

Ceisteanna (297, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

297. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to ban or regulate third party bookmakers whose business model consists of taking bets on the national lottery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15766/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

304. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the sales code of practice on the website of the lottery regulator was written by the regulator or by the lottery operator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16140/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

305. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the body responsible for monitoring the implementation of the national lottery's sales code of practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16141/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

306. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of licensed lottery agents for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16142/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

307. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of special draws and additional or top-up prizes and the value of these held by the national lottery under clause 6.9.2 of the contract awarded to a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16143/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

308. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the fees paid to a company (details supplied) for its role in the awarding of the national lottery contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16144/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 304 to 308, inclusive, together.

I have been advised by the Office of the National Lottery Regulator as follows:

Pursuant to Clause 8.12 of the Licence to operate the National Lottery, the Operator is required to prepare the sales code of practice, and submit the Code to the Regulator for approval. Schedule 5 of the Licence further provides that the Operator shall review the Code at least once in each Financial Year and may submit amendments to the code to the Regulator for approval. The Regulator may approve a submitted Code and may make modifications to it before approving it.

The sales code of practice, on the National Lottery website, was written by the Operator and approved by the Regulator.

In relation to the monitoring of the implementation of the sales code of practice, pursuant to Clause 8.17 of the Licence, the Operator is required to use its best endeavours to comply with the sales code of practice code and is also responsible for ensuring that every Retailer uses its best endeavours to comply with such provisions of the code of practice as are applicable.

The Regulator is responsible for monitoring the Operator’s compliance with the Licence, including the sales code of practice.

The number of licensed Lottery agents since 2014 are as follows:

Year

Licensed Lottery Agents.

2014

3,739 (Core Network)

2015

4,002 (Core Network)

2016

5,337 (4,008 Core Network and 1,329 Lottery Select)

2017

5,780 (Core Network 3,969 and 1,811 Lottery Select)*

*Of these, c.500 represent post offices that are co-located with a retail outlet

Since transition to the new Licence regime, the National Lottery has supported or conducted a total of 34 special draws and events, which resulted in additional prizes to 837 winners, through a variety of competitions, promotions and top-up prizes. The Regulator has advised that the Operator considers the value of these prizes to be commercially sensitive and has not consented to the release of this confidential information in accordance with Clause 20.6 of the Licence. Accordingly, while the Regulator has this information, I am advised that it cannot be released to the Deputy in accordance with Clause 20.6 of the Licence.

The professional fees paid for financial and commercial advice received by my Department regarding the competition for the current National Lottery licence was €1,189,650. It is worth noting that a fee of €405m was received into the Exchequer for the award of a 20 year licence to the Operator, PLI, in 2014.

In regard to the matter of third party bookmakers taking bets on the outcome of the National Lottery, officials in my Department are engaging with the concerned parties with a view to determining the appropriate policy response.

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