Northern Ireland Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has urged Stormont Assembly ministers to support amendments introduced to the “1985 – Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Bill”.

Hargey has been charged with leading the overhaul of Northern Ireland’s gambling laws, which have remained unchanged for the past 35-years. This September, Northern Ireland’s assembly approved Hargey’s ‘first phase amendments’ required to update the territory’s land-based gambling laws and consumer protections.

The first phase of amendments will update laws related to operating gambling premises, improving the protection of under-18s, as well as certain relaxations on licensed venue’s operating hours…

Once adopted, Hargey stated that the amendments will allow NI ministers to introduce a statutory levy on the gambling sector to fund the territory’s safer gambling initiatives.