Irish National Lottery operator hits out at Lotto betting firms

Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI), which operates the Irish National Lottery, has called on the country’s government to ban offshore companies that offer betting on draws.

According to the Irish Sun newspaper, PLI has met with a number of ministers to discuss the issue in an effort to establish a “legislative solution to prevent damage to the sustainability of the National Lottery and Good Cause Fund”.

Companies that allow customers to bet on the outcome of a draw do not have to make a donation to good causes, but punters are still able to win jackpot prizes.

The newspaper said PLI is pushing for a similar law that is in place in the UK whereby bets on the national draw are not allowed,

A spokeswoman for PLI said: “The National Lottery is concerned at the growth of unregulated, offshore, bet-on-lottery operators over the last 18 months.

“The parasitic activities of these lotteries are posing a serious threat to the National Lottery, and in turn the millions raised annually for good causes.

“We urge the government to take urgent action to protect the National Lottery from this threat.

“The National Lottery was set up with the express purpose of raising funds for good causes.

“There is a loophole in the current regulatory environment which allows betting on the outcome of lotteries, and offshore betting companies — underwritten by insurance policies — are exploiting this loophole.”

In response, a spokesman for Ireland’s for Public Expenditure said that it would be “engaging further” with PLI and the country’s gambling regulator “in respect of reviewing the impacts of these online betting websites on the Irish National Lottery and in examining any potential actions that could be considered to address these issues”.

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