Ireland is preparing to overhaul its gambling industry as the country’s first dedicated regulator, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), begins to take shape. The authority, created under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, is expected to introduce strict licensing conditions, advertising rules and new consumer protections for the country.
But as Ireland moves toward modern oversight, offshore casino brands are accelerating their expansion into the country, exploiting a regulatory gap before the new system becomes fully operational.
A modern regulator arrives after decades of delay
Ireland’s gambling laws have long lagged behind the digital market they were supposed to govern. Most regulations date back to the 1930s and 1950s, long before online betting or mobile casino apps existed.
The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 finally replaced those outdated statutes and established the GRAI as Ireland’s central regulator. According to the Department of Justice, the government designated 5 March 2025 as the official establishment date through a commencement order that brought the authority into legal operation and confirmed the appointment of its first board members.
For the first time, one body will oversee betting, casino gaming, lotteries, compliance inspections, enforcement and consumer safeguards. Only the National Lottery remains outside its limits. The Department of Justice describes the reform as a “once-in-a-generation modernization” of Ireland’s gambling laws and confirms that GRAI now holds statutory investigative and enforcement powers.
GRAI sets out a three-year strategy focused on safety and accountability
To guide its launch, GRAI published its 2025-2027 Strategy Statement, outlining six core priorities: licensing, monitoring and compliance, enforcement, consumer protection, governance and a digital-first regulatory infrastructure.
Chair Paul Quinn and CEO Anne Marie Caulfield state that the aim is to build a modern, data-driven regulatory system. The strategy emphasizes coordinated enforcement with other Irish agencies, stronger reporting requirements for safer-gambling controls and a more transparent supervisory model for operators.
The plan also includes a national exclusion register, advertising and inducement restrictions and a statutory Social Impact Fund financed by industry levies. Consultations on the fund’s design are already under way, with GRAI highlighting the need for long-term, sustainable investment in harm-prevention, treatment and public awareness programs.
Licensing window opens as offshore brands circle
Ireland’s licensing regime is being introduced in phases. Guidance published in mid-2025 confirms that GRAI will begin accepting online applications for business-to-consumer betting licenses first, with gaming and B2B supplier licenses to follow.
Until the system goes live, operators must continue to rely on registrations under the Betting Act of 1931 and the Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1956. This transitional period has enabled offshore operators to continue serving Irish players without facing a modern licensing framework.
Brands based in Malta, Gibraltar and Curaçao have increased their activity through .com sites, affiliate marketing, and cross-border advertising. Without updated enforcement powers in place, the market remains open to operators that would face tighter restrictions under the new regime.
Once licensing begins, any operator serving Irish players will be required to apply for an Irish license or withdraw. Legal advisers warn that those who continue without authorization risk enforcement actions, including blocking orders, financial penalties and potential criminal referrals.
The coming shift: advertising bans, exclusion registers and stricter oversight
When fully implemented, the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 will reshape Ireland’s gambling landscape through measures such as:
- A national self-exclusion register covering all licensed operators
- A watershed-hour gambling advertising ban with limited exceptions
- Restrictions on bonuses, inducements and VIP schemes
- Mandatory contributions to the Social Impact Fund
- Enhanced anti-money-laundering and reporting obligations
- Technical certification requirements for safer-gambling tools
Law firms advising operators note that compliance obligations will increase significantly, particularly around data reporting and player-protection systems.
Regulator downplays black-market fears but prepares enforcement tools
Some industry stakeholders have warned that tighter rules could drive consumers toward unlicensed offshore websites. GRAI has taken a measured position, noting that Ireland does not currently face the same scale of black-market activity seen elsewhere in Europe, though it acknowledges that unlicensed operators remain a persistent risk.
In anticipation of those challenges, the authority is preparing a series of enforcement mechanisms. These include cooperation with financial institutions to block payments to unlicensed operators, requests to internet service providers to restrict access to illegal sites, formal coordination with overseas regulators and the ability to sanction B2B suppliers that support unlicensed activity.
Together, these measures are intended to shrink the space for illegal operators once the licensing system becomes fully operational.
Offshore casinos test Irish boundaries before enforcement tightens
Offshore operators continue to treat Ireland as accessible due to the absence of a modern regulatory framework until now.
Research commissioned to inform the design of the Social Impact Fund found that Ireland’s previous regulatory system was fragmented and left significant gaps in the oversight of online gambling. The study noted that widespread access to offshore casino sites, combined with inconsistent consumer protections, created conditions in which higher-risk markets could operate without any meaningful supervision. It concluded that these gaps allowed unlicensed operators to establish a strong foothold in the Irish market during years when no central regulator existed.
Many unlicensed operators currently offer higher-value promotions, accept credit-card deposits and promote live-casino games. Now these operators will face much tighter restrictions once the new regime takes effect. Industry analysts say offshore brands are using this transition period to expand visibility. Some are expected to seek Irish licenses, while others may exit once enforcement becomes more active.
What players should expect over the next year
For Irish consumers, the coming year will bring stronger protections and a more transparent gambling industry as licensing, exclusion measures and advertising rules take hold. Offshore operators will either seek approval, withdraw or face enforcement as the new regime takes full effect.
Ireland is now at a turning point. After years of fragmented oversight, the GRAI has the authority and mandate to reshape the market. The success of this transition will determine whether Ireland can move from an offshore-dominated environment to a regulated system that protects players and holds operators accountable.
Sources:
Gambling Regulation Act 2024: Irish Statute Book
https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2024/act/35/enacted/en/html
Department of Justice: Establishment of GRAI (Press Information)
https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/
GRAI Official Website (Strategy, Licensing, Updates)
https://www.grai.ie/
GRAI Strategy Statement 2025–2027
https://www.grai.ie/about/strategy/
GRAI Licensing Guidance
https://www.grai.ie/licensing/
Pobal: Social Impact Fund Consultation
https://www.pobal.ie/
Citizens Information: Overview of Irish Gambling Law
https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/civil-law/the-law-on-gambling-in-ireland/
Hayes Solicitors & Two Birds: Legal Commentaries
https://hayes-solicitors.ie/
https://www.twobirds.com/
