New Irish measure forces betting firms to shut problem gamblers accounts

The Irish government is hatching yet another plan that will tighten the noose on betting operators in the country.

A new measure seeking to force betting operators to close the accounts of problem gamblers will be introduced on Tuesday as part of the government crackdown on Irish bookmakers, according to The Irish Examiner report. The proposal, which is expected to be presented by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan before the cabinet, may pave the way for the establishment of an independent gambling regulator that will penalize erring gambling firms.

Political observers also believe that the new law will give the regulator power to force gambling operators to freeze the accounts of cash-strapped problem gamblers who aren’t capable of repaying the large amounts of money they lose in the game.

The state regulator may also deploy undercover agents posing as problem gamblers in order to check whether the bookmakers are faithfully complying and implementing the rules that the government has set, according to the news outlet.