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Michael Healy-Rae with bingo protesters at the Dail on Tuesday

'Hands off our balls': Bingo players protest Dail over changes to winnings

Around 50 bingo players were bussed to the Dáil this morning to protest a bill that they say could see their winnings cut in half.

AROUND 50 BINGO players were bussed to the Dáil this morning to protest a bill that they say could see their winnings cut in half.

Tomorrow, the Minister of State David Stanton will propose an amendment of the Gaming and Lotteries Bill that will see 25% of bingo proceeds go to charity, 25% go to bingo operators and 50% to prize-winners. The minister claims “agents were allowed by law to take up to 40% of the proceeds and charities frequently ended up with very little.”

However, the Save Our Bingo Facebook campaign group, that organised the protest which included a live game of bingo, said the move will result in the “closure of every bingo hall in Ireland”.

“If the legislation comes in there will be no bingo tomorrow, no one will play,” Jean, who plays in Cabra, told TheJournal.ie at the demonstration. “We buy the books out of our money that we have already been taxed on and now they want to tax us again.”

Connie, who plays in Whitehall, added: “This will affect jobs and rural Ireland – the people who maybe only get out once a week. I think it’s disgraceful of the government to even consider.”

Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae feels like it is a low blow move by the government.

“How more innocent or harmless a thing can you have than bingo?” he said. “The minister will have to wake up and realise that amendments will have to be made because halving [the jackpot] is wrong and a bad decision.”

Unlucky for some

However, Minister Stanton is standing firm, insisting that he would not be making any changes in a statement issued around the time of the protest.

“This is a modest proposal. It will simply ensure that the charities receive a fair share from the bingo operators who act as their agent; that is a minimum of 25% of the proceeds of the bingo,” he said.

“I don’t accept that bingo halls would be forced to close as a result,” he added. “Given its social appeal, people do not play bingo based solely on the prize level, if they did, they would likely gamble elsewhere.”

Responding to the minister, Naomi Reilly, a spokesperson for the Bingo Players Association group, accused him of “blistering incompetence and a total lack of understanding of the game of bingo and the fallout he has caused.”

She added: “The bingo players in his constituency will not forget or forgive the absolute mess he has created … The Minister has gone out of his way to deliberately not understand that we won’t play a game where we lose half of our money before we even start.

“He also doesn’t understand that when every bingo hall is closed by him there are thousands of charities around the country that will lose out on much-needed donations by his total incompetence.”

With reporting by Ronán Duffy

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    Mute Honeybee
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 3:10 PM

    Why should bingo players be forced to pay 25%to charity,I don’t see the same rules applied to the GAA,Rugby,Horse racing, Dogs etc. This is their sport, hands off Minister, FFG must have a deathwish.

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    Mute Everyone'sgonecrazy
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 3:16 PM

    @Honeybee: well said. Although I doubt this will be the death of FFG unfortunately. If people dying on the streets, dying waiting for hospital apt, dying even after getting a hospital apt and tests (cervical smear scandal) , bribery, massive overspend and unaccountability isn’t enough to get the Irish moving and ousting our government then I fear nothing will

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    Mute Vote4Pedro
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 3:39 PM

    @Everyone’sgonecrazy: I dunno, i wouldnt get in d way of an old lady and her coppers

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    Mute Marian O Donnell
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 5:17 PM

    @Everyone’sgonecrazy: Older citizens this is there only time out to meet there bingo friends and have some company and a bit of craic The same government asking us to look out for older people if there is one person missing from a usual night night of bingo somebody will notice and go and check the welfare of the person Leave Bingo Alone please

    46
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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 5:44 PM

    @Honeybee: Because charities these days aren’t charities as they are businesses, the amount paid to the CEO’s is crazy and some have lobbyists as well as donate to political parties as well. Unless they want people to support the Canadian teachers more in the National lottery, funny how our national lottery are supporting the pension fund for Canadian teachers, explain that??? Kettle and pot comes to mind?

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    Mute Everyone'sgonecrazy
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 5:55 PM

    @Vote4Pedro haha very true! @Marian O Donnell: oh 100%, they’ve fought for our country, worked and raised the next generation, they should be rewarded rather than constantly neglected. The Gov like to tax the enjoyment out of everything.

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    Mute Michael Keegan
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 4:14 PM

    This is a recreational activity in the mainly poorer areas, the majority of attendees are elderly, for many it’s their only social engagement. Fine Geal have completely lost all credibility

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    Mute Bernard Sweeney
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 3:09 PM

    Danny Healy-Rae will be in the Dail next week saying people should be allowed to have 2 games of bingo tax free and drive home.

    169
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    Mute Fozz
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 3:42 PM

    @Bernard Sweeney: and his brother will be on saying the balls are controlled by the Almighty, and not the laws of physics.

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    Mute Chris Linehan
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 4:00 PM

    @Fozz: and then the Healy-Rae sons will come in to bate the snot out of anyone just because they’re Healy-Raes.

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    Mute Eileen O' Connor
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 6:06 PM

    @Chris Linehan: And look for Compensation

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    Mute Manbackonboard
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 6:27 PM

    @Fozz: I bet you don’t believe in Santa either?

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    Mute Higginbotham Sean
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 3:37 PM

    Why dont they give 25%,of their wages they winning all the time. Wake up people

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    Mute Anne Marie Devlin
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 3:49 PM

    So, they’re OK increasing the maximum stake on slot machines – I.e. they are encouraging people to gamble more in an uncontrollable environment, but they are going after bingo. Makes sense – I’m just not sure to who though

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    Mute David Geoghegan
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 3:58 PM

    Big mistake, messing with the bingo mafia

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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 5:58 PM

    @David Geoghegan: They have knitting needles in their bags you know lol.

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    Mute Eric Davies
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 5:16 PM

    so ffg decides to toughen up gambling law by going after BINGO ! while at the same time allowing gaming machines and on line betting sites to increase jackpots ,funny how there is NO MENTION of BOOKIES having to give 25% of their takings over to charities though ! and this from the same shower who sold off the NATIONAL lottery to a ‘canadian teacher pension fund ‘ !! and allowed then to hike up their prices and increase the number of balls in the draw thereby DECREASING the chances of winning ! how many of these jokers are getting a ‘christmas bonus’ from paddy power and his ilk ?

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    Mute Jacqueline Langley-Evans
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 4:43 PM

    Is this Waterford Whispers? We must be the laughing stock of Europe

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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 5:32 PM

    Is it April again .I can’t believe this .I heard on the radio about a homeless man in court for robbing two bars of chocolate worth 3 euro or something and then comparing it to a eu minister stepping of a plane and signing for his 55 thousand euro expenses I think it was father Mc ferry that mentioned it .I think this country has lost the plot

    57
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    Mute John O Reilly
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 3:10 PM

    If only prince Andrew had the same slogan

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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 5:56 PM

    @John O Reilly: I own this town and this chippy???

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    Mute Paul Maguire
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 3:27 PM

    The Gov making another Balls of things.

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    Mute Maura Needham
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 4:32 PM

    Bunch of clowns what will they come up with next?

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    Mute Caroline Otoole
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 7:16 PM

    Leave Bingo alone, it’s good clean fun.

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    Mute Shirley Hollingsworth
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 4:18 PM

    Its geting harder every day to try to understand what the hell these fools are doing..they have so much more to be thinking about..leave the bingo alone..people look forward to it..its not cheap.and a bit of a meet up..what charity do they think they should give to.its so not fair..i agree dont go if it goes through .keep your money..if you have a charity bingo thats different or fundrasing night.but not the ordinary bingo night..

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    Mute Carol Cunningham
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 10:02 PM

    We really have become a nanny state: they leave all the betting shops alone even though they can bring so much misery to many families and individuals and they go after bingo halls where older people get comfort and company in their old age. Just unbelievable . Who was so stupid to think of this ? This nanny state is trying to take the joy out of living for many especially those living in the country who now due to our just awful Minister for Transport, cannot even enjoy a drink out for the evening . And we just lie down and keep taking it. Unbelievable.

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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 5:46 PM

    Are the Healy Rae’s not toxic now after the recent court case???

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    Mute Carol Cunningham
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 10:05 PM

    Alway voted FFG but between the Minister of Transport and his drink driving policy and now this move, I will not vote for them again.

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    Mute Paul Lanigan
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 11:20 PM

    Zzzzzzzz

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    Mute BatMon
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    Dec 3rd 2019, 10:06 PM

    25% to Bingo operators
    60% to prizemoney
    15% to Old folks

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    Mute Michael Maher
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    Dec 4th 2019, 8:41 AM

    FFG on the same level handbag snatchers

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