Racing TV Irish service will not be affected until Gambling Bill implementation

The new law which prohibits daytime gambling advertising in Ireland is not expected to be implemented until 2026 – meaning the existing Racing TV service broadcast to Ireland will continue uninterrupted until then.

Ireland's Gambling Regulation Bill successfully passed through the legislative process in both Houses of the Oireachtas on Wednesday night. It will now be signed into law by the President. The new law will prevent gambling advertising between 5.30am and 9pm.

Martin Stevenson, CEO of RMG, parent company of Racing TV, said: “We understand that there will be a window before the ban comes into effect with some reporting suggesting it may be 2026. We are very aware of – and take seriously – the importance of broadcasting Irish racing in Ireland and we will now work closely with HRI and AIR in trying to find solutions.”

Stevenson, pictured above, went on to outline his concerns at the outcome, saying: “Naturally, we have followed the progress of the Gambling Regulation Bill with great interest and wholly support its core objective of protecting those at risk from gambling harm. 

“Since the legislation has now been passed, I want to state again to the Minister, and everyone who is connected to, and enjoys Irish Racing, that it is simply not economically viable for Racing TV to create a separate channel for Ireland with bookmaker advertising removed.

“We are dismayed that the Minister did not acknowledge, or engage with, the fact that Racing TV is a small, independent broadcaster. We simply do not have the scale and facilities to regionalise our coverage and offer feeds with different advertising.

“The Minister’s assertion that providing a separate channel for Ireland, stripped of gambling advertising between 5.30am and 9pm, is ‘very straightforward’ appears to point to him disregarding the issue of the unviable economics of doing so, which we have laid bare on a number of occasions.”