National Lottery operator seeks ban on placing bets on its draws in bookmakers

A significant battle is brewing over the integrity and revenue streams of Ireland's National Lottery. Premier Lotteries Ireland, the operator, is making a strong case for government intervention to curb the burgeoning practice of bookmakers accepting bets on lottery draws. This 'secondary market,' as it's termed, is not merely a minor inconvenience; it represents a substantial drain on potential revenue, estimated at a staggering €289 million in annual sales.

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The National Lottery wants the Government to stop bookmakers taking bets on its draws, arguing it is being undermined and losing out on some €289 million in annual sales because of the practice.

The implications extend far beyond the operator's bottom line. The National Lottery is a crucial funding mechanism for good causes across Ireland, supporting vital sectors like sports and the arts. The operator calculates that without the diversion of bets to bookmakers, an additional €81 million could have been channeled to these initiatives in 2024 alone. This highlights a fundamental issue: a 'grey zone' in regulation is allowing a parallel market to flourish at the expense of public benefit.

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Without the existence of a “secondary market” in betting shops and online, the lottery operator says it would have been able to contribute an additional €81 million to good causes such as sports and the arts in 2024.

As Ireland prepares to formalize its gambling regulations with the upcoming issuance of licenses by the Gambling Regulatory Authority, the National Lottery's concerns are amplified. The fear is that this secondary market, currently operating in a legal limbo, could become fully legitimized. This stands in stark contrast to the approach taken in the United Kingdom and 25 other EU member states, where such betting is explicitly banned. The Irish Times reports on this push for regulatory clarity, emphasizing that the operator is not prescribing the method of the ban but insists on its necessity.

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betting on the lottery has been operating in a “grey zone” whereby it is neither explicitly legal nor illegal, but has been tolerated.

The economic impact is multifaceted. Beyond lost sales for the lottery and reduced contributions to good causes, the report commissioned by Premier Lotteries Ireland indicates significant losses for traditional retailers, estimated at €238 million, and a potential loss of 1,929 jobs. The value of the lottery license itself is also reportedly diminished. This situation underscores a critical need for the government to address this regulatory gap, ensuring that the National Lottery can continue its vital role in funding Irish society without being undermined by unregulated betting markets.

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We are concerned that they will legalise it,”