There are around twenty casinos in Dublin that operate as private members’ clubs in order to get around 1956 legislation that made commercial casinos illegal. It is expected that this week the Irish Minister of Justice, Michael McDowell, will bring forward legislation to outlaw such arrangements. Last April he made his intentions clear that he intended to make the law workable and close the gaming establishments.

The move to ban such casinos in Ireland is not without opposition. They have been operating for years without being licensed but without coming into conflict with the authorities. It is said that some other ministers and members of the government are not in favour of shutting down the de facto casinos, and that members of the judiciary and police force are amongst the gamblers that play at the private members’ clubs.

Commercial casinos may be illegal in Ireland but there are licensed bookmakers and a National Lottery. In the past there was a tacit understanding between the State and the gaming clubs that the operations were within the law. As recently as last October, a €5.5 million (US$6.7 million) development – the Sporting Emporium – opened as a new casino club above Chronicle Bookmakers.

If the Minister of Justice achieves his purpose, it seems that casino gaming in Ireland will cease or be driven underground. An extensive review of the Irish gambling acts was carried out in 2000, but there was no recommendation to make commercial casinos legal. (E-07.17.06)

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