Ireland’s gambling market will enter a new regulatory era in 2026 as the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) begins enforcing licences under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.
Ending legislation that has governed the sector since 1931, the reform establishes a single national regulator with enforcement powers, replacing what has long been described as a fragmented and outdated system.
For operators, the change brings formal licensing requirements, compliance costs and tighter supervision across betting and gaming verticals.
The transition was discussed on the iGaming Daily, where host Charlie Horner was joined by SBC News’s Editor, Ted Orme-Claye, and Alan Heuston, Partner at McCann FitzGerald and member of the IMGL group of gaming lawyers.
Heuston said the previous framework was widely acknowledged as not fit for purpose, adding that the new structure moves Ireland from limited oversight to a modern regulatory model with defined compliance standards.
Under the phased rollout, betting licences covering both remote and retail activity are scheduled to take effect from 1 July 2026. Applications for B2C remote gaming licences are expected to open in Q4 2026.
While the staggered approach is intended to manage application volumes, it creates operational pressure for businesses aligning systems, staffing and compliance processes to fixed deadlines.
The Act introduces tighter advertising controls, particularly on social media. Operators will only be permitted to advertise to users who actively follow their accounts, a measure aimed at reducing exposure to minors and non-gamblers.
All licensed operators will also be required to contribute a percentage of turnover to a mandatory Social Responsibility Fund supporting research, education and treatment services.
Player protection obligations include the creation of a national self-exclusion register and mandatory spending limit functionality for customers. However, detailed technical standards have not yet been published.
Licences will be conditional on meeting these future requirements, creating uncertainty for platform development and capital planning.
