Irish government approves licensing and regulatory powers for GRAI

Summary

Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, signed an order under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 to give the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) the additional powers needed to begin issuing gambling licences and enforcing the new law.

The GRAI can start accepting and processing licence applications from this week, covering both remote and in-person betting. Remote operators may be licensed from 1 July 2026 and in-person operators from 1 December 2026 (when existing licences expire).

Key Points

The GRAI has been authorised to accept and process licence applications under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.
Three core licence types: B2C (in-person and remote, plus remote betting intermediaries), B2B (suppliers of gambling products/services) and charitable/philanthropic licences.
Remote operators can be licensed from 1 July 2026; in-person operators from 1 December 2026.
New consumer-protection measures include bans on gambling by credit card, a requirement for player spend limits, prohibition of ATMs in gambling premises, and a national self-exclusion register.
Advertising controls: adults must opt in for marketing communications and gambling ads on TV/radio are banned between 5.30am and 9pm.
GRAI enforcement powers include investigations, orders to stop illegal operations and fines up to €20 million or 10% of turnover (whichever is higher).

Content summary

The order from Minister O’Callaghan activates further provisions of the 2024 act that set up the GRAI as Ireland’s gambling regulator. With those powers, the authority can progress licensing and enforcement work immediately. The legislation is designed to modernise Ireland’s gambling framework and to address harms associated with problem gambling, with a particular emphasis on protecting children.

Operators should prepare for tighter controls on payments, marketing and customer protections, and for the prospect of substantial financial penalties for non-compliance. The changes cover both online and land-based activity and introduce new licence categories for suppliers and charitable activity.

Context and relevance

This is a material development for any business operating in, or planning to enter, the Irish gambling market. The combination of a formal licensing regime, stricter advertising and payment rules, plus very large potential fines, means operators will need to review compliance, marketing and payments strategies now.

The move aligns Ireland with broader European regulatory trends toward stronger consumer protection and tighter advertising standards. Expect an immediate uptick in licensing applications and a period of industry adjustment as remote operators seek approval ahead of the 1 July 2026 date.

Why should I read this?

Short answer: because this changes the rules of the game. If you run, supply to, or plan to launch gambling services in Ireland, the GRAI’s new powers — and the hefty fines that come with them — will affect your operations, payments set-ups and marketing. We skimmed the legalese and pulled out what matters to your bottom line and compliance teams, so you don’t have to.