A potential softening of attitude by the Government in relation to a proposed ban on gambling advertising that threatens TV coverage of Irish racing has been indicated by a Minister.
Martin Heydon, Fine Gael Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine, has said a “common sense approach” can be adopted in relation concerns within racing about new gambling legislation being introduced by junior minster James Browne.
Part of minister Browne’s long-awaited gambling Bill proposes a ban on advertising between 5.30am and 9pm.
Both the subscription channel Racing TV, which holds home-viewing rights to Irish racing until 2029, and Sky Sports Racing have threatened to quit the Irish market if they don’t get an exemption from the ban.
