Ireland's gambling regime underwent its most significant structural change in nearly a century. The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 was commenced on 5 February 2026 (S.I. No. 31/2026), repealing the Betting Act 1931 and the Totalisator Act 1929. The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), established 5 March 2025, is now the unified regulator across licensing and enforcement, replacing the previous fragmented approach. GRAI began accepting and processing applications and issuing licences for remote and in-person betting operators, though gaming, casino and lottery licensing remain outside the current process. The regime is best read as under active construction: substantive operator obligations (payment-method restrictions, advertising watershed, no-credit rule) are already in force, while enforcement capability, the exclusion register, and the Social Impact Fund levy rate are still being built out.
Ireland · Question 01 of 11
Overview: What kind of market is this?
Favourable · Confirmed · Not reviewed · 1 post-review update · Not reviewed · Back to full Ireland report →
Key section parameters
| Jurisdiction | Ireland (IE) |
|---|---|
| Regulator | Recorded in register |
| Favourability | Favourable |
| Confidence | Confirmed |
| Review status | Not reviewed · 1 post-review update · Not reviewed |
| Last collected | 20 Oct 2026 |
Summary answer
Ireland's gambling regime underwent its most significant structural change in nearly a century. The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 was commenced on 5 February 2026 (S.I. No. 31/2026), repealing the Betting Act 1931 and the Totalisator Act 1929. The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), esta…
Key headwinds & conditions
- strict advertising watershed
- celebrity/sports endorsement restrictions
- credit-card gambling ban
- uncertain online casino tax rate
- phased licensing creating timing uncertainty
Ireland's gambling regime underwent its most significant structural change in nearly a century this cycle. The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 was commenced on 5 February 2026 (S.I. No. 31/2026), repealing the Betting Act 1931 and the Totalisator Act 1929. The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), established 5 March 2025, is now the unified regulator across licensing and enforcement, replacing the previous fragmented approach. GRAI began accepting and processing applications and issuing licences for remote and in-person betting operators this cycle, though gaming, casino and lottery licensing remain outside the current process. The regime is best read as under active construction: substantive operator obligations (payment-method restrictions, advertising watershed, no-credit rule) are already in force, while enforcement capability, the exclusion register, and the Social Impact Fund levy rate are still being built out.