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Green Party Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman is once again being urged to act to stop Greyhound Racing Ireland’s shameful targeting of children.
The latest call follows a "Spooky Schools Night" at GRI's Youghal track on 30 October 2023. Children were invited to come to the gambling venue for the chance to win money for their schools.
A notice on the Greyhound Racing Ireland website encouraged youngsters to be there, stating: "All children who attend our family fun night will be given one ticket each on entry to the track when they present themselves at the designated table. They will be asked to write their name and their schools [sic] name on the ticket. The winner will receive a prize of €1,000 for their school. There is free entry to the track for all."
The "free events" organised to lure children to the gambling venue included "Halloween Fancy Dress, Balloon Magic, Face Painting, and Raffle with Spot Prizes". There was also "Free Treats for Kids".
When ICABS previously contacted Minister O’Gorman on the issue, we were told that there was “no action the Minister can take”.
In our appeal, we told him: “It is reckless for a semi-state group to lure children to gambling venues. It is completely unacceptable that, at a time when Ireland is in the midst of a gambling addiction epidemic, GRI is introducing the next generation to a gambling activity.”
“Youngsters are considered to be most at risk to the gambling industry, of which greyhound racing is a part. We implore you therefore, as Minister for Children, to act to protect them,” we stated.
GRI tracks have for years been trying to lure kids in with offers of toy vouchers, free meals and colouring competitions.
In a 5-year strategic plan, Greyhound Racing Ireland (then the Irish Greyhound Board) stressed the importance of “encouragement of the younger generation as spectators and regular attendees at greyhound race meetings”.
On a “Go Greyhound Racing” website, GRI suggested that parents introduce their children to racing, saying “going greyhound racing is something totally different, especially if your children haven’t done anything like it before. It gives them something new to look forward to and perhaps even a new hobby to embrace.” Parents have also been encouraged to choose tracks as venues for communion and confirmation parties, with the offer of “a €5 Toy Store Voucher for the Communion/Confirmation Child”, a free meal and “Communion/Confirmation child’s name in the race programme”.
Among the tracks that have presented greyhound racing as “family-friendly” is Mullingar stadium. On its webpage, it has stated: “Greyhound racing is one of those rare occasions that all the family can enjoy together. And the fact that the races take place every twelve minutes or so means that children, in particular, have plenty to keep them interested – the kids can…have a ball watching the action”.
Tracks also try to attract youngsters to racing through primary school and GAA club fundraisers.
Senator Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) has strongly condemned Greyhound Racing Ireland’s targeting of children. Speaking during a Seanad debate on the Future of Gambling Regulation (23 April 2021), Senator Boylan commented: “I would encourage the Minister to go on Greyhound Racing Ireland’s website…dog tracks are still continuing to offer communion and confirmation parties to families with at-table betting. For as little as 35 euro per table, you can bring your family along for their communion. And it was only as recent as 2019, when the gaming and lotteries legislation was passed, that the child as young as the ones who are making their communion were able to actually participate in that tote betting.” The statement was made as part of a speech in which she described Ireland as “the Wild West of gambling” and noted that “problem gambling is a huge problem” which successive governments have “done nothing to reign in” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PXkS032Cio
“We trust you will agree that, with gambling addiction an ever growing problem in Ireland, it is completely unacceptable for a semi-state body to encourage children to visit gambling venues,” we stated in our correspondence to Minister O’Gorman. “We urge you to act to stop this.”
“We also renew our appeal to you and your colleagues in government to completely stop the funding that is propping up cruel greyhound racing, an activity which causes much suffering and death to dogs and which our national tourism bodies Failte Ireland and Tourism Ireland have both stopped promoting due to fears it damages Ireland’s international image,” we added.
ACTION ALERT
Contact the Minister for Children and urge him to act to stop Greyhound Racing Ireland from targeting children through communion/confirmation party promotions, colouring competitions and school and sports club events. Tell him that gambling venues where dogs suffer and die could never be family-friendly and should be shut down.
Roderic O’Gorman TD (Green Party)
Minister for Children
Tel: 01-647 3000
Email: minister@equality.gov.ie; roderic.ogorman@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rodericogorman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RodericOG
Don’t attend races or bet on racing.
Join us in demanding an end to the government’s massive grants to greyhound racing – €328 million handed over since 2001, including €19.2 million for 2021, €17.6 million for 2022 and €18.2 million for 2023. €19 million more has been allocated in the latest budget for 2024. Contact the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Finance Minister now.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD
Telephone: +353 (0)1-704 3630 OR +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
X: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Tanaiste Micheál Martin TD
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1–618 4350 or +353 (0)21-432 0088
X: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Michael McGrath TD
Minister for Finance
Email: michael.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie; minister@per.gov.ie
http://www.facebook.com/michael.mcgrath.1614
X: http://twitter.com/mmcgrathtd
Please contact your local TDs and urge them to oppose this funding. Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details for TDs https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/33
Please sign and share the petitions
GAA: Stop club fundraisers at greyhound tracks
https://www.change.org/p/gaa-stop-club-fundraisers-at-greyhound-tracks
Tell Gain Pet Nutrition to Stop Sponsoring Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/jimtracy-glanbia-ie-tell-gain-pet-nutrition-to-stop-sponsoring-greyhound-racing
Watch RTE’s award-winning “Greyhounds Running For Their Lives” documentary
https://youtu.be/ZYTb2qBjlMM