Irish poker pro Fintan Gavin is concerned about new Irish gambling regulation. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Fintan Gavin is a legend of Irish poker, both as a player and tournament organizer. Equally adept at running small events as major ones, such as hosting the first ever UK and Ireland Poker Tour in his home country, Gavin has ensured that tournament poker continues to go from strength to strength on the Emerald Isle.

A Gambling Regulation Bill is near completion in Ireland

That could all change though. A Gambling Regulation Bill is near completion in Ireland, and Gavin is concerned it could cause problems for poker. Chief among his worries is a €10 max stake and €3,000 max payout limit, both of which are included in the Bill. So far, these only apply to blackjack, roulette, and gaming machines, but there is a lack of clarity regarding poker.

As the man behind the Monster Poker Festival, Irish Poker Championship, and the Irish Poker Tour, Gavin is understandably on edge. VegasSlotsOnline News spoke with the man himself to get his insight into the situation.

What is your main concern with this new Bill?

The main point for me is that the regulators need to understand exactly what poker tournaments are. My concern is that they will paint poker players with the same brush as slots players, which are two very different types of gamblers.

Poker tournaments are played by people who believe they are playing a game of skill and take a lot of pride in taking part. Tournaments can go on for days and weeks. It’s a very special pastime for those involved.

Slots are a complete gamble and entirely different to tournament poker”

Meanwhile, putting a tenner in a slot machine takes just seconds. Slots are a complete gamble and entirely different to tournament poker.

What other impact might poker limits have?

There is a huge social side to live poker that is also super important, not to mention the tourism. Poker players visit Ireland every year for the festivals. I’m hopeful that the regulators will recognize this, and I really believe they will.

Have you heard any news from the regulator?

To be honest, no one seems to know what’s going on, but I have been told that the regulator isn’t really concerned with poker festivals. They’re comfortable enough with poker, and the main things they want to regulate are slots, underage gambling, and iGaming. So, I’m hopeful that they understand the differences.