'There will be a big black market boom' - Willie Mullins opens up about the Gambling Regulation Bill
Willie Mullins has compared the threat of Ireland's controversial Gambling Regulation Bill to the prohibition era in America and warned that the loss of subscription racing channels would do the very opposite of what is intended by the legislation and drive more people to open betting accounts.
Speaking publicly for a first time on the subject, the most successful jumps trainer in the history of the game shares the industry's fears the introduction of a proposed watershed that prevents gambling advertising between 5.30am and 9pm would have cataclysmic consequences.
Some sources close to government have suggested Racing TV and Sky Sports Racing will not be ring-fenced from the ban, and both broadcasters have warned that an inability to show bookmakers' ads will render unviable their capacity to operate in the Irish market.
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Published on inIreland
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- Albert Bartlett steps in to back handicap hurdle series with €100,000 on offer for final at Punchestown festival
- Pat Smullen charity raceday raises €240,000 as it evolves into regular fixture in racing calendar
- Tom Gibney, Jimmy Mangan and Ger Keane among the nominees for honours at HRI awards in Dublin next month
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- 'It should not have happened and won't happen again' - IHRB chief responds to damning €80,000 investigation