Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, this week signed off on an order granting additional powers to the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), allowing it to begin issuing betting licences.
The order related to the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, which established the GRAI as the country’s new regulator. The act passed in October 2024 and the GRAI became the official regulator in March 2025.
As per the order, the GRAI can begin accepting and processing applications for licences from on Thursday. This includes both remote and in-person betting licences.
Three core licences for Irish operators
Three different licence types will be available to operators, covering B2C, B2B and charity gambling activities.
B2C licences cover in-person betting or remote betting, in addition to remote betting intermediary licences. In-person licences cover wagering at a physical venue, while remote permits relate to online activity, including pool betting. Remote betting intermediary licences enable players to engage in betting with others, remotely.
Meanwhile, B2B licences will permit holders to sell or supply gambling product or gambling-related services. Finally, licences can be issued for charitable or philanthropic purposes such as pool betting at an event or a lottery.
With this approval, O’Callaghan said the GRAI can issue licences for new entrants as “soon as is feasible”. Remote operators can be licensed from 1 July and in-person operators from 1 December, when their existing licences expire.
“Today marks another important step towards replacing Ireland’s outdated gambling laws with a streamlined and simplified licensing framework,” O’Callaghan said of the development. “This reflects the nature of modern gambling and takes into account the harms associated with problem gambling, by providing safeguards to protect people from those harms, especially children.”
GRAI cleared to issue fines up to €20 million
Aside from licensing, the GRAI will carry out enforcement action to ensure licensees are complying with new restrictions set out under the act.
Among the measures is a ban on using credit cards as a means of payment for gambling and a requirement that operators allow players to set limits on how much they spend. There will also be a ban on placing ATM machines in gambling premises.
The act will also prohibit inducement measures commonly taken by operators such as VIP treatment, free bets, free credit and free hospitality. Meanwhile a national self-exclusion register will launch under the GRAI’s authority.
New rules will also be put in place on advertising. These include adults needing to opt in to receive marketing communications and a ban on gambling advertising across TV and radio between 5.30am and 9pm.
With this, the GRAI will receive new investigative powers and the ability to issue fines to those that breach regulations. Fines can reach up to €20 million ($23.6 million), or 10% of a licensee’s turnover, whichever is higher.
In addition, the GRAI can apply for an order directing illegal operators to cease operations.
“The act provides the GRAI with the necessary enforcement powers to take appropriate and focused action where licensees fail to comply with licensing terms, conditions and regulations, and to deal with unlicensed operators, those operating without the correct licence, or those in contravention of the terms of a licence issued by the authority,” O’Callaghan said.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/gaming/gaming-regulation/irish-approves-licensing-regulatory-powers-grai/
