Betting and gaming legislation is set to be relaxed

NIO minister Des Browne has announced his intention to relax the betting law to allow on-course Sunday betting.

There was some resistance to the move by the Democratic Unionist Party's Nigel Dodds when he was Minister for Social Development.

Mr Dodds had delayed making a decision on the issue when he was in office.

Mr Browne, who has responsibility for Social Development, said it was part of a modest package of changes bringing the local betting and gaming law more closely into line with the rest of the UK.

However, the ban on betting in bookmakers on Sundays will remain unchanged.

Racing on Sunday is already allowed and I know race goers and other racing interests will welcome the opportunity of on-course Sunday betting Des Browne NIO minister

Mr Browne said: "I intend to bring forward legislation to provide a number of modest relaxations of the legislative controls on betting and gaming in Northern Ireland, including a change to allow on-course Sunday betting.

"Racing on Sunday is already allowed and I know race goers and other racing interests will welcome the opportunity of on-course Sunday betting.

"This is a limited relaxation of the law on Sunday betting and the current prohibition on Sunday betting in bookmaking offices will stay. When the law is changed, people will be able to choose whether or not they wish to go to a racetrack and bet on a Sunday."

The minister said he hoped the legislation needed to implement the changes would eventually take the form of an assembly bill.

There will be consultation with interested parties when the draft legislation is published, he said.

New legislation is set to be introduced to protect the rights of betting workers who do not want to work on Sundays.

Difficulties are not only encountered by the individual trapped by gambling - it affects the entire family Reverend David McIlveen

His announcement on Friday also confirmed easement of the present restrictions on the operation of bookmaking offices, bookmaking on racetracks and retailing of football pools competitions.

Legislation governing the operation of gaming machines, registration of clubs and the advertising of bingo will also be eased.

The proposals will also:

• Provide employment protection rights for betting workers on tracks
• Allow initial applications for bookmaking licenses to be made to county courts rather than magistrates courts
• Relax some of the existing restrictions on bookmaking offices and allow the use of a maximum of two gaming machines, with all-cash prizes of up to �25
• Allow bookmakers on tracks to take bets on any event, sporting or otherwise
• Remove the restriction on the timing of football matches for pools competitions
• Require that gaming machines in licensed premises deliver prizes directly from the machine

However, the Reverend David McIlveen said his church was strongly opposed to the move.

"We have had to deal with alcohol and gambling, and there is a very close relationship between the two," said the Free Presbyterian minister.

"In an aged when people are struggling financially, this is a very retrograde step.

"Difficulties are not only encountered by the individual trapped by gambling - it affects the entire family."

Ian Duff, registrar of Downpatrick Race Club in County Down, said he was very pleased by the announcement.

"I hope this comes into effect within a year's time, rather than two or three years' time," he said.

"I don't think we could have had the crowds come along if they couldn't have a flutter."