What a farce. Another year goes by, another year of heartache for staff explaining why we can't open Easter Sunday. 'But Fairyhouse is on', 'but Liverpool are playing' and 'but I can bet online and over the phone can't I?!'
The Betting Act of 1931 is the legislation that dictates the opening hours of Irish betting shops still to this day. I appreciate we are in a busy and worrying time politically with the ongoing economic crisis the country faces along with the abortion debate and many more important matters. This archaic law is something which can be remedied quite quickly however and it is ridiculous we are still in this situation in 2013.
I'm not up on exact figures so you will have to forgive me when using numbers and averages loosely as I try to get the point across. There are a few reasons on why Irish betting shops being forced to stay closed on Easter Sunday is a farce, and more importantly why it is in the governments interest to change the legislation, as soon as possible.
A Loss of Income for the State
The Irish Government takes a 1% duty on all turnover in retail betting shops. According to the Irish Bookmakers asscociation website there are currently 1248 shops in Ireland. http://www.irishbookmakersassociation.com/index.php
If you take in one of their illustrations that each shop turns over €3m a year (optimistic to say the least), that is €8,260 turnover per shop which is being missed out on. I'm allowing this optimistic average figure as Easter Sunday is one of the best days in the sporting calendar for betting. Fairyhouse, other racemeetings, premiership, golf, F1, GAA etc and a holiday weekend where most of the public are off Monday allows for a busy trading day. 8,260 x 1248 shops = €10.3 million turnover Multiply the country's turnover by the 1% duty = a possible €103,084 duty the state is missing out on.
A Loss of Possible Earnings for staff
For simplicity sake; 1248 shops x 2 staff, all open 11am-6pm (some shops will have 3 staff, less busy 1)
At €10 an hour (again very simplistic) = 1248 shops x 2 staff x 7 hrs x €10 = €174,720
That is an awful lot of money. I'm not going into tax paid etc but you get the drift. Much of this would be extra wages, seasonal staff and in these times hugely appreciated.
Illegal Betting Thrives
Betting in public houses and by other means will thrive when sport is on and people are out enjoying their holiday weekend. It doesn't need explaining, anyone with common sense realises it. Why should the government worry themselves about this, but instead get a share of the trade and allow shops open.
What difference does it make
Religion and family time is the only two defences that are put forward with this archaic law. This is outdated I reckon. Sport is on. People can go to Fairyhouse and Cork to bet. They can ring up or log online and bet. No one is dragging people into the shops, by all means go to mass or for a picnic but it's no reason to close shops. Leave the choice. And stop the black economy and unlicensed activity. People worried about problem gambling; shops take measures to help those with a problem, the unmonitored and unlicensed trade that will happen on Sunday will not.
I presume the multiples or chains haven't pursued this as it probably suits them as an annual event to move customers to open phone and online accounts and works as a great recruitment drive. There was legislation drawn up in the summer to allow open each evening and on Easter Sunday. But no sign of this going through the Dail. This is probably because of the intricacies and red tape involved in taxing online betting, the Easter Sunday issue however is simply solved.
http://www.merrionstreet.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Betting-bill.pdf See section 22. But still we wait.
Another €100,000 in duty goes a begging and €175,000 in wages.
Peter Kingston
Irish Independent Bookmaker
Please note these are my own personal views and I do not represent anyone.
PS: Kingbet will be open Thursday evening and Easter Saturday, be sure to get your bets done then while we are open, for Good Friday and Easter Sunday when we remain closed. I'm not even contesting Good Friday!
