Sunday betting rules 'relaxed'

Legislation will bring Northern Ireland more in line with rest of UK

Fresh legislation to permit on-course Sunday betting in Northern Ireland is to come before Parliament early in the New Year, the government has said.

NIO minister John Spellar said on Friday that the law would provide a number of "modest relaxations" of other betting controls.

Mr Spellar said the Betting and Gaming (NI) Order 2004 would bring the law in the province more closely in line with the rest of the UK.

"When the law is changed, people will be able to choose whether or not they wish to go to a racetrack and bet on a Sunday," he said.

However, the ban on betting in bookmakers on Sundays will remain unchanged.

Present restrictions on the operation of bookmaking offices, bookmaking on racetracks and retailing of football pools competitions are to be relaxed.

Legislation governing the operation of gaming machines, registration of clubs and the advertising of bingo will also be eased.

Racing on Sundays is already permitted in Northern Ireland.

The Democratic Unionist Party's Nigel Dodds had delayed a decision on relaxing the rules when he was Minister for Social Development.