Written answers
Thursday, 16 May 2024
Department of Finance
Gambling Sector
Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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148. To ask the Minister for Finance what sanctions are used for businesses operating a gaming business without a gaming licence (as per Revenue's register of gaming licences); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22250/24]
Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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149. To ask the Minister for Finance how many prosecutions have taken place of gaming establishments operating without a licence (as per the revenue.ie register of gaming licences) since 2019, per year and per county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22252/24]
Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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150. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is aware there are casinos operating in Waterford without gaming licences in 2024 (as per Revenue's register of gaming licences); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22253/24]
Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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151. To ask the Minister for Finance the details of sanctions taken against casinos or gaming premises operating without an annual or three-month gaming licence (as per the revenue.ie register of gaming licences) since 2019, per county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22247/24]
Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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152. To ask the Minister for Finance how many gaming and casino businesses are currently operating without a licence in Ireland (as per the revenue.ie register of gaming licences); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22248/24]
Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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153. To ask the Minister for Finance how long gaming and casino businesses are allowed to operate without a licence in Ireland (as per the revenue.ie register of gaming licences) before prosecution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22249/24]
Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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154. To ask the Minister for Finance the exemptions that are in place for businesses that wish to operate a gaming premises without a gaming licence (as per the revenue.ie register of gaming licences); how any such exemptions are assessed and monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22251/24]
Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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155. To ask the Minister for Finance how many gaming machines are currently licensed for Waterford in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22255/24]
Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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156. To ask the Minister for Finance how many gaming machines were licensed in Waterford since 2019, per year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22256/24]
Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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157. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of revenue generated through gaming machines licence fees in Waterford gaming premises and casinos since 2019, per year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22257/24]
Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 to 157, inclusive, together.
An operator of gaming machines must apply annually to the District Court for a certificate in respect of a gaming licence. This is required for each premises where it is intended to make gaming machines available for play. Where the District Court grants this certificate, the operator must then apply to Revenue for a Gaming Licence for each premises concerned. An operator of gaming machines must also apply to Revenue for a ‘Gaming Machine Licence’ in respect of each gaming machine made available for play. Gaming Machine Licences may only be issued by Revenue to an operator who already holds a Gaming Licence (for the premises) and who has paid the relevant excise duty. Revenue can only advise on the numbers of issued licences and does not hold information in respect of numbers of unlicensed operations.
Gaming operators are not entitled to operate without a licence in Ireland. Compliance of gaming operators is divided between An Garda Síochána and Revenue under current legislation. Compliance in respect of failure to hold a Gaming Licence for any place where gaming machines are available for play is a matter for An Garda Síochána. Revenue has powers to seize any gaming machine (exclusive of its contents) that is available for play without a current Gaming Machine Licence displayed on it.
There are no exemptions in place for businesses that wish to operate a gaming premises without a Gaming Licence. Under the 1956 Act, operators of unlicensed gaming premises are subject to enforcement by the Gardaí. Where a licensed premises operates unlicensed gaming machines, Revenue has the power to seize those machines and on summary conviction impose excise penalties.
There are 372 gaming machines currently licensed for 2024 in Waterford.
I am advised by Revenue that the number of gaming machine licences issued for Waterford in each year since 2019 is set out in the table below.
| Licence Category | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaming Machine 3 Month Licence | 715 | 400 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gaming Machine Annual Licence | 49 | 398 | 0 | 375 | 428 | 372 |
| Total | 764 | 798 | 0 | 375 | 428 | 372 |
The revenue generated through gaming machines licence fees in Waterford gaming premises since 2019, per year, is set out in the table below.
| Licence Category | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaming Machine 3 Month Licence | 103,675 | 58,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gaming Machine Annual Licence | 24,745 | 200,990 | 0 | 189,375 | 216,140 | 187,860 |
| Total | 128,420 | 258,990 | 0 | 189,375 | 216,140 | 187,860 |
I am advised by Revenue the number of gaming machines seized by Revenue, under section 43 of the Finance Act 1975 in each of the years 2019 to 2024 is outlined in the table below.
| Year | No. Seized | Per County |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 259 | 239 Dublin20 Louth |
| 2020 | 60 | Dublin |
| 2021 | 0 | - |
| 2022 | 0 | - |
| 2023 | 0 | - |
| 2024 (1 January to 14 May) | 0 | - |
I am further advised by Revenue that one conviction was recorded in 2020 for an unlicensed gaming machine in Co. Kerry.
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