Ireland’s new gambling licensing regime will open for applications today, Thursday, after Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan signed commencement orders giving the new regulator powers to issue licences and impose heavy fines on operators who breach the law.
O’Callaghan this week activated key provisions of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, allowing the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) to begin licensing gambling businesses and exercising criminal enforcement powers, the Irish Examiner reported. “This marks another important step towards replacing Ireland’s outdated gambling laws with a streamlined and simplified licensing framework,” he said.
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, while B2B licences will permit holders to sell or supply gambling products or gambling-related services. Lastly, licences may also be issued for charitable or philanthropic purposes, such as pool betting at an event or a lottery.
Under the new system, the regulator will also carry out “boots-on-the-ground” inspections of gambling premises as part of the application process, including assessments of a venue’s proximity to schools and ATMs, and consultations with local authorities.
Advocates have long called for legislation to regulate the gambling sector, citing the social and financial harms linked to problem gambling. Since beginning its work, the GRAI has commissioned studies into the prevalence of problem gambling in Ireland, suggesting that thousands of people may be affected.
Research published last week found that people who gambled as children, including through scratch cards and lotteries, were almost twice as likely to develop gambling problems in adulthood.
The commencement order formally grants the authority wide-ranging powers and imposes new obligations on licensed operators, particularly around consumer protection. These include a ban on the use of credit cards for gambling, strict prohibitions on under-18s gambling, requirements for online customers to set spending limits, and rules governing account closures and refunds.
The regulator will be able to impose fines of up to €20 million (US$23.5 million) or 10% of an operator’s annual turnover — whichever is higher — where breaches of the Act are proven. Companies operating without a licence may be subject to court orders requiring them to cease trading.
In a briefing to the industry, the regulator said betting firms operating in person must register this year, while licensing requirements for charitable or philanthropic gambling activities are not expected to take effect until 2027 or 2028.
Applicants will be subject to “fit and proper” checks, with designated account officers potentially held personally liable for offences. “Therefore, all account officers must be of fit and proper standing, and fully appreciate the serious nature of the role they are undertaking,” the regulator said.
The authority said on-site inspections and engagement with local authorities will be central to the licensing process.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/02/05/117460-irelands-new-gambling-licensing-regime-now-open-for-applications
