Revenue says it is ‘odds-on’ publicans operating as bookmakers without a licence will be caught.
Two County Galway publicans have been fined €2,500 each for illegal betting in their bars, according to the latest tax defaulters list issued by Revenue.
And as the month-long European Championship soccer tournament kicked off last weekend, and with the GAA championship season in full-swing, Revenue warned Galway publicans that taking bets from customers is illegal.
Revenue says inspectors will visit pubs to ensure the law is being adhered to. Legitimate bookies, and the public, have been asked to report illegal betting.
In the latest defaulters list, a publican in Connemara and South Galway were fined for offences relating to illegal betting.
Brian Higgins of Faherty’s Bar, The Square Oughterard and Thomas O’Donnell of O’Donnell’s Bar, The Square, Gort were both fined €2,500.
Revenue declined to comment or elaborate on the details of the two cases.
However, a spokesperson confirmed ongoing monitoring of compliance with betting laws, including illegal taking of bets in Galway pubs and other unlicensed ‘betting shebeens’.
In rural parts of Galway, especially villages where there are no licenced bookmakers, the local publican often plays bookie.
The publican effectively acts as a conduit, takes bets from customers, and ‘rings them in’ to licensed bookmakers, settling up at a later date.
It is understood that the prevalence of this practice is lessening due to the availability of online betting and apps on smart devices. But Revenue, which is responsible for the issuing of bookmakers licences and collection of betting excise duties, continues to clamp down on illegal betting.
“Illegal bookmaking can arise where a bookmaker fails to renew a licence, has been removed from the register as a result of failure to pay betting duty, or never held a licence,” a spokesperson explained.
“Acceptance of bets in an unregistered premises, such as a betting office which is not registered or has been deregistered, or a pub, is illegal. In summary, it is illegal for a person to act as a bookmaker unless she or he holds a licence; and it is illegal for a person to accept a bet in any premises unless that premises is registered as a bookmaking office. In general terms, offences prosecuted commonly arise from bets being taken in unlicensed premises.”
Revenue says it relies on tip-offs from the public, as well as unannouncedinspections, to catch illegal bookmakers in pubs.
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