Ireland and the UK have signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of gambling regulation
An important agreement was signed in Dublin between the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) and the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). The head of UKGC, Andrew Rhodes, and the head of GRAI, Anne Marie Caulfield, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This event marks the beginning of a new stage of international cooperation in the field of gambling.
The document provides for close cooperation in such areas as compliance with regulatory requirements, information exchange, joint inspections and combating cross-border violations. Both countries face similar challenges in the gambling industry, and joining forces is designed to increase consumer protection and strengthen market confidence.
"Ireland and the UK have similar operational practices and often work with the same companies. This agreement will allow us to share data more effectively and fulfill our responsibilities," said Anne Marie Caulfield, Head of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland.
She also thanked Rhodes and his team for their support during the formation of GRAI, noting that UKGC actually acted as an informal consultant. The UK Gambling Commission has an international reputation in the field of compliance, and has also provided significant assistance in launching an independent Irish supervisory authority.
The new regulator in Ireland has received a wide range of powers, including licensing, control over operators and the introduction of mechanisms to reduce the harm from gambling. Among the priority initiatives is the creation of a National Register of Self—exclusion and the formation of a Social Impact Fund, the purpose of which is to minimize damage to the health of citizens.
The agreement with UKGC is just the first step in a series of international alliances. GRAI is already preparing similar memoranda with other European regulators, intending to build a unified system for data exchange and the development of common standards in the rapidly changing world of gambling.