A decision to be welcomed
Irish firms end betting on youth sports
Paddy Power and BoyleSports will no longer offer odds on under-18 sporting events in Ireland, the two firms said last week.
It is legal to offer betting on these events but the Institute of Public Health had expressed concerns about adolescents being exposed to gambling, while the Department of Justice and Equality made recommendations for a new gambling bill following studies and consultations.
A statement from Paddy Power said: "We are no longer taking bets on any under-18 or schools matches in Ireland.
"We made the decision independently as we understand that some people have concerns about betting being available on under-18 sports - we've listened and are happy to respond."