Dermot Ahern, Ireland's minister for justice, intends to update the state's gambling laws by legalizing casinos and creating a new regulatory authority for all forms of gaming, using a study by his predecessor as the groundwork.
Mr. Ahern, however, said no changes would be made until cross-party agreement was reached and the public was consulted on the issue.
Mr. Ahern, who took office on May 7, 2008, promised to publish in the near future the report of the inter-departmental Casino Regulatory Committee established by his predecessor, Michael McDowell.
According to The Irish Times, the report makes several recommendations, such as legalizing medium-size casinos subject to strict regulatory controls and awarding casino licenses according to criteria set by a regulatory body.
The age limit for gaming should be set at 18, and possibly at 21 for casinos. Government policies across different departments should be reviewed for consistency and more research should be carried out into the effects of problem gambling.
However, the report advises against allowing fixed odds betting terminals on bookmakers' premises or in pubs, but is ambivalent about allowing them on licensed gaming premises, the newspaper said.