An attempt by the Opposition to amend the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 to exempt charity draws from a “watershed” TV advertising ban has been defeated in the Dáil after a protracted and heated debate.

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The Bill is the first comprehensive effort to regulate gambling in the history of the State and reached Report and Final Stage in the Dáil last night. Two amendments to exempt charities from strict advertising rules were defeated by 69 votes to 55 and by 68 votes to 66.

While there has been strong cross-party support for the Bill, there have been some sections which have been strongly contested by Sinn Féin and some Independent TDs, not least what it has described as the “unintended consequences” of the Bill on the charity, sports and community sector.