Ireland activates GRAI gambling licensing powers
Regulation2 min read
Ireland’s justice minister signed an order allowing the GRAI to accept and process in-person and remote gambling licence applications from 5 February 2026. The order activates supervision, enforcement and complaints powers under the 2024 Act, with remote licences available from 1 July and in-person licences from 1 December. GRAI can impose administrative fines of up to €20m or 10% of turnover, whichever is higher.
Ireland’s justice, home affairs and migration minister Jim O’Callaghan signed an order enabling the GRAI to begin issuing gambling licences. The order takes effect on 5 February 2026, allowing the regulator to accept and process applications for in-person and remote betting licences and activating supervision, enforcement and complaints powers under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.
O’Callaghan said remote gambling licences would be available from 1 July 2026 and in-person licences from 1 December 2026, when existing authorisations issued by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners expire.
The GRAI’s investigative and enforcement powers include administrative fines of up to €20m or 10% of an operator’s turnover, whichever is higher. Criminal powers are activated, and the regulator can seek court orders requiring illegal operators to stop their activities. O’Callaghan said the authority could act against licensees that breach their conditions or regulations, as well as unlicensed operators and those operating in breach of a GRAI licence.
The measures taking effect include a ban on using credit cards for gambling, restrictions on participation by minors and a requirement to set online spending limits. They include a duty to report suspicious activity, protections for children online, rules for online gambling accounts and safeguards on account closures and the return of funds.
The order ends legislation including the Totalisator Act 1929 and the Betting Act 1931. O’Callaghan said the new framework takes account of gambling-related harm and provides safeguards, particularly for children.