25 signatures reached
To: The Minister for Finance
Increase Betting Duty to Fund Addiction Services
We want the Minister for Finance to increase Betting Duty from 1% to 2% in Budget 2019 and to use some of the additional funding to help people affected by gambling-related harm in Ireland.
Why is this important?
The Irish State has no funding stream for services that help to prevent or treat gambling-related harm. We all know someone whose life has been impacted by problem gambling - either their own, or that of a loved one. In fact, 1 in 10 of us will experience gambling-related harm in our lifetime. Unfortunately, the HSE do not acknowledge gambling addiction as an issue and don't even mention the word gambling in their Service Plan. This means that support services are left to desperately under-funded NGOs.
Ireland has the lowest Betting Duty in the world - and will continue to do so, even if the rate is increased to 2%. The increase would bring in an additional €50 million to the Exchequer. Problem Gambling Ireland and the Rutland Centre are proposing that €5 million be made available to all relevant addiction services, working in the area of gambling-related harm. This would leave €45 million for other badly-needed state-funded services.
We urge you to contact the Minister for Finance and/or your local TD, asking for an increase in the Betting Duty to fund problem gambling support services.
Thank you for supporting this cause and taking the time to have a positive impact on the lives of the thousands of people in Ireland, affected by gambling-related harm.
Barry Grant, CEO, Problem Gambling Ireland