An order has been officially signed in Ireland by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, decreeing the issuance of remote and in-person betting licenses established by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI).
It is a major step for the legal gambling industry in Ireland, which has previously been loosely regulated by the government, allowing for black market online casinos and sports betting sites to flourish.
Enforcement, oversight and complaints mechanisms begin as part of process
The order means gambling regulators will be responsible for issuing licenses and collecting money for the fund from February 5, which is when it will come into effect.
O’Callaghan believes the order is the beginning of a new chapter for the gambling industry in Ireland. He said: “Today marks another important step towards replacing Ireland’s outdated gambling laws with a streamlined and simplified licensing framework,
“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.”
Entities found in violation of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 in Ireland could face some significant consequences, including administrative sanctions of fines of up to €20 million or 10% of a licensee’s turnover, whichever is the greater.
Licenses to be granted from 1 July 2026
Remote operators in Ireland will be able to conduct business within the licensing framework from summertime this year, while in-person businesses will be live from 1 December 2026.
O’Callaghan added: “The Act provides the Authority 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.”
While numbers vary, it is believed there are 66 remote online betting operators licensed by Irish authorities and 233 licensed bookmaker entities at the time of writing.
Ireland’s betting duty, which is a turnover tax on bets, along with betting intermediary duty generated roughly €141.2 million in revenue for the Exchequer in 2025, with a large increase attributed to online betting duty receipts.
New licenses established under GRAI
GRAI was created under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, a landmark legislation designed to modernize Ireland’s fragmented and largely outdated gambling laws.
The Act replaced a patchwork of statutes dating back decades and established a single independent regulator responsible for overseeing all gambling activity in the state, both online and in-person.
The authority was formally established in March 2025 following a commencement order signed by the minister for justice, with a chair and board appointed to begin building the new regulatory framework.
The GRAI’s remit includes licensing gambling operators, enforcing compliance, regulating advertising, and addressing gambling-related harm as a public health issue. It is also tasked with operating a national gambling exclusion register and administering a social impact fund to support education, research, and treatment services.
After a preparatory phase that included appointing a chief executive and staff, the authority began issuing licences in early 2026, marking a major step toward full implementation of Ireland’s new gambling regulatory regime.
Irish political party calls for full ban on gambling advertising
While authorities aim to quickly establish an extensive regulated gambling framework, politicians are pouring extra scrutiny on the industry.
Earlier this month, the leader of the Irish Labour Party, Ivana Bacik, called for the abolition of gambling advertisements in the country.
She said earlier this month: “In recognition of the harm caused by advertising to those at risk of gambling addiction, other countries have introduced bans on all gambling ads,
“Ireland should follow suit. We know that gambling companies prey on the vulnerabilities of problem gamblers, and it is deeply concerning to see companies targeting people with addiction issues.”
As Ireland moves toward a fully licensed and centrally regulated gambling market, the coming months will test how effectively the new authority balances industry oversight with public health protections.
With licensing timelines now set and enforcement powers in place, attention is likely to turn to advertising restrictions and harm-reduction measures, areas where political pressure is mounting as lawmakers debate the appropriate limits of gambling’s role in Irish society.
