The enactment of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 signified a major development in Ireland’s approach to gambling legislation. Replacing nearly a century’s worth of fragmented, piecemeal legislation, the Act introduces a streamlined framework aimed at protecting consumers against gambling harm, consolidating compliance standards, and bringing the necessary clarity to Ireland’s gambling landscape.
Signed into law on 23 October 2024 after two years of legislative development, the Act repeals prior statutes, such as the Totalisator Act 1929 and the Betting Act 1931. It facilitates a modern regime governed by the newly established Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI). Operational since March 2025, the GRAI serves as the sole licensing and regulatory body for all gambling activities across Ireland, both online and offline.
A Streamlined Licensing Regime
The Act introduced three distinct licence categories:
1. Business-to-Consumer (B2C) licences are required for any operator offering gambling services directly to Irish customers. This includes betting, lotteries and gaming, both in-person and remote.
2. Business-to-Business (B2B) licences are mandatory for suppliers offering gambling-related services or products, including software providers, hosting platforms and those providing odds.
3. Charitable and philanthropic licences are tailored to non-profit organisations conducting gambling activities for fundraising purposes. Such licences benefit from exemptions to advertising restrictions and stake limits.
The Act provides strict limitations on stakes and winnings. For example, casino games are subject to a €10 maximum stake and a €3,000 winnings cap, with separate thresholds for lotteries.
Transitional provisions under Part 10 of the Act allow existing licence holders to continue operating until their current licences expire, at which point they must reapply under the new regime. Remote operators with no physical presence in Ireland will also be required to obtain Irish licences if they are targeting Irish consumers.
Advertising & Social Responsibility
One of the Act’s most notable reforms lies in its regulation of gambling advertising. A broadcast watershed prohibits gambling advertisements between 05:30 – 21:00, and advertisements must not target children or mislead consumers with promises of financial gain. Restrictions extend to digital marketing and sponsorship as well as individual consent and opt-out mechanisms now required for electronic marketing communications. The Act also bans targeted inducements based on demographics or interests (e.g. VIP schemes aimed at sports fans), though broad promotional incentives are still permitted.
Another significant development was the establishment of a National Gambling Exclusion Register, which permits users to voluntarily self-exclude from gambling platforms, with operators required to check the register in real time or else suspend services.
Financial Duties & Enforcement
Currently, licence fees start at €10,000 and, depending on turnover, renewals can reach up to €200,000. However, the GRAI are set to prescribe these rates definitively as part of their new regulations. Licensees are also required to contribute annually to a Social Impact Fund, which finances education, training and research related to problem gambling. Eventually, the GRAI will be funded by regulated licensee fees after an initial three-year period of government funding.
Crucially, the GRAI has been granted extensive enforcement powers. Non-compliance may result in administrative fines of up to €20 million or 10% of a licensee’s annual turnover, whichever is greater, as well as the risk of criminal sanctions (including up to eight years’ imprisonment) for serious breaches such as unlawful gambling operations or allowing child participation.
Looking Ahead
As Ireland remains in the midst of reforming its gambling legislation on a phased basis under the executive powers of the GRAI, we can expect the role of this authority to evolve as it facilitates an efficient transition from the current licensing regime to new processes. The GRAI currently intends to gradually implement the guidelines for licence applications, starting with betting licences in December 2025 and progressing to gaming licences in 2026.
Whilst such regulatory details are still developing, it is clear that Ireland is committed to building a more transparent and socially responsible gambling environment. Legal professionals and stakeholders should closely monitor upcoming GRAI consultations and regulation changes to remain compliant and proactive under the new regime.