New law bans Kildare's youngsters betting with Tote

Co Kildare youngsters won't be able to place bets with the Tote at racecourses and dog tracks from this week.

A new law came into force on October 1 (Sunday) banning the sale of Tote bets to customers under 18.

Up to now, children could always place a bet with Tote vendors at the Curragh, Punchestown or Naas tracks or at Newbridge Greyhound Stadium on Friday nights.

But they were forbidden to place a bet with a bookie or in a bookmaker shop.

The Tote has always managed to escape the regulations as its bet were seen as investments rather than gambling.

The Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 banned bookies from serving customers under 18.

However the Courts and Civil Liberties Bill will now outlaw the Tote selling bets to under 18s.

Tote Ireland Ltd has instructed its local staff in Co Kildare in recent days that they can no longer provide a betting service to minors under the new legislation.

Tote Ireland, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Horse Racing Ireland, is similar to a lottery in that all the stakes on a race are pooled with a deduction to cover costs and a contribution to racing.

The remainder of the pool is divided by the number of winning units to give a return.