My experience in the gambling industry has allowed me to watch and observe how one regulation can either build player trust or completely undermine it. Ireland has long had a reputation for a laid-back approach to gambling, but that’s changed dramatically over the past couple of years.

The country has finally begun to make some adjustments to its gambling laws to catch up with the online era, and 2024 was the year it all started to come together.

In this article, I’m going to walk you through the current regulations on gambling in Ireland, how we got here and what it means for players, operators, and just about everyone in between.

Initial Gambling Laws in Ireland.

For decades, Irish gambling law was a tangled mix of outdated acts, some of which were written before the Internet was even a concept. The main laws included

• The Betting Act of 1931, which was mostly focused on bookmaking and on-course betting.
• The Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956, which prohibited most gaming machines and casinos but left plenty of grey areas.
• Various amendments from the 2000s and 2010s, trying (and failing) to regulate the rise of online casinos and sportsbooks.

The result of this legislation allowed operators to technically offer services in Ireland. But there was no centralised authority truly overseeing them. Players had almost no protection beyond basic consumer law. And the gambling industry was growing fast, especially online.

A New Era: The Gambling Regulation Act 2024

In 2024, the Irish Government finally passed the Gambling Regulation Act, which had been years in the making. This was a complete game-changer—the most comprehensive reform of Irish gambling law in history.

I’ve read the legislation and followed its implementation closely and, let me tell you, this isn’t just a “cosmetic” update. It creates a brand-new regulatory framework that affects every aspect of gambling in Ireland, which includes everything from online poker platforms and slot apps to brick-and-mortar bingo halls and charity raffles.

Ireland’s New Gambling Regulator

One of the most important changes introduced by the Act is the creation of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI). This is the new sheriff in town and focuses on improving the online gambling practices in Ireland.

The GRAI is a fully independent authority tasked with

• Licensing and regulating gambling operators (both online and land-based).
• Enforcing compliance with Irish gambling laws.
• Protecting vulnerable users, including children and those with gambling problems.
• Monitoring advertising and sponsorships.
• Supporting harm-reduction initiatives and funding research.

For the first time, all gambling activity in Ireland is governed by one single body with real enforcement power. And make no mistake about their practices, they mean business.

The New Licensing Structure

If you’re an operator and you want to legally offer gambling in Ireland today, you need a licence from the GRAI. There’s no longer any “grey area” when it comes to online platforms or offshore bookmakers targeting Irish players.

The GRAI issues three main types of licences.

1.     B2C (Business-to-Consumer) Licences

These are for operators offering gambling directly to players in Ireland. That includes

• Online casinos and sportsbooks.
• Betting shops and bookmakers.
• Arcades and bingo halls.
• Lottery providers.

Whether you’re Paddy Power or a niche poker site, you need one of these to legally operate.

2.     B2B (Business-to-Business) Licences

These are for companies supplying gambling software or services to operators. For example, live dealer providers, RNG game developers, or payment processors with gambling clients.

3.     Charitable and Philanthropic Licences

This covers any gambling activity that’s being used to raise money for good causes, we’re talking about raffles, sweepstakes, lotteries, etc. Even small local fundraising events must now comply with certain rules.

All of these licence holders are subject to strict due diligence, regular audits, and financial oversight.

Tighter Rules Around Advertising

Gambling advertising in Ireland has exploded in the past decade, and with it, concerns about overexposure, especially for younger audiences.

The new regulations take a firm stance on this. Here’s what’s changed

• Watershed Hours

Operators are now prohibited from advertising on TV and radio between 5:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.—a move that protects minors from seeing gambling promotions during peak hours.

• No “Glamorization” of Gambling

Ads can’t imply that gambling leads to success, confidence, or social status. No flashy cars or “get-rich-quick” vibes. If it glamorises gambling in any way, it’s not allowed.

• Sponsorship Restrictions

Sports sponsorships by gambling companies are under review. While not banned outright, sponsorship of youth teams and events aimed primarily at under-18s is forbidden.

Payment Methods and Player Protection

One of the more practical parts of the regulation has to do with how you fund your account. The Act now bans credit cards for gambling purposes. So, if you’re used to swiping your Visa to place a bet, that’s no longer legal in Ireland.

It’s a good move, in my opinion. Gambling on borrowed money is a recipe for disaster.

Other protective measures include

• National Self-exclusion Register: a centralised system where players can voluntarily ban themselves from all licensed gambling sites and venues.
• Account-based Controls: operators must offer tools like deposit limits, time-outs, and reality checks.
• Data Transparency: players now have the right to request all gambling-related data held by an operator, including betting history, time spent on games, and account activity.

Enforcement and Penalties

The GRAI isn’t just symbolic; it also has teeth to bite against any encroachment. This is essentially to ensure that, as much as online gambling practices are allowed, there’s also structure, enforcement, and genuine accountability backing it up.

Operators who break the rules can face

• Fines of up to €20 million or 10% of global annual turnover (whichever is higher).
• Suspension or revocation of their licence.
• Criminal prosecution for serious violations.

There’s even a whistleblower mechanism built into the Act, so employees can report non-compliance confidentially.

As someone who’s been tracking this industry for a while, I can tell you, this level of enforcement is rare. Ireland’s really going all in on regulation this time.

What About Unlicensed Sites?

Here’s where things get interesting.

Under the old regime (if you would), it wasn’t technically illegal for offshore sites to accept Irish players, as long as they didn’t base operations in Ireland.

That loophole is now closed.

If a gambling site accepts Irish players and doesn’t hold a GRAI licence, it is in violation of Irish law. And such a platform won’t just get a slap on the wrist either. The GRAI has a toolkit that would make any non-compliant operator very uncomfortable.

Here’s what they can do

• Order ISPs to block access to illegal gambling websites.
• Instruct payment providers (like banks or e-wallets) to stop processing transactions linked to unlicensed platforms.
• Work with international regulators to apply cross-border pressure where needed.

So no, unlicensed operators are no longer flying under the radar, and Irish players are being strongly nudged to stick with legal, regulated sites. That’s a win for consumer protection and transparency across the board.

What About Players Like You and Me?

If you’re a casual player wondering how this all affects you, there’s an honest lowdown for that.

You Now Have More Protection Than Ever Before

Operators must comply with strict standards around fairness, data privacy and customer safety. There are actual rules in place now, not just vague promises.

You Must Only Gamble With Licensed Sites

If you don’t, and something goes wrong—whether it’s a payment issue, a bonus not honoured, or outright fraud—you won’t have the GRAI on your side. You’d essentially be on your own.

You’ll Notice Fewer Ads, More Responsible Messaging, and Better Tools

Things like deposit limits, timeout features, and “play history” dashboards are becoming standard across all Irish-licensed sites. That makes it easier to stay in control of your gambling.

Self-exclusion is Now Unified

You can voluntarily block yourself from every licensed gambling provider in Ireland using the national register. That’s a big step forward compared to the old system, where you had to opt out platform by platform.

What About Smaller Operators and Charities?

Here’s something that doesn’t always get talked about—the new law doesn’t just impact major casinos or bookmakers. It also affects community bingo nights, local raffles, and charity lotteries.

Any organisation running gambling activities to raise money, even if it’s for a good cause, must apply for a licence under the Charitable or Philanthropic Gambling category.

They’ll need to

• Submit details of the event and the expected fundraising amount.
• Prove the funds are going to a legitimate cause.
• Follow the rules around advertising and prize distribution.
• Report outcomes to the GRAI after the event.

While this might sound like a bureaucratic burden, it actually helps maintain public trust. Irish residents can now donate or participate in charity lotteries with the assurance that everything is above board.

Is Ireland Getting it Right?

From my perspective? Yes, and overwhelmingly so.

The Gambling Regulation Act is ambitious, long overdue, and surprisingly well thought out. It closes dangerous loopholes, introduces modern standards and creates a system where players and operators both know where they stand.

It’s still early days, and the GRAI only started issuing licences and rolling out enforcement in late 2024. But from what I’ve seen, the shift is real. Ireland has gone from being one of the loosest-regulated markets in Europe to one of the most structured and protective.

Cameron Murphy (He/Him)

An online casino expert of 12 years, Cameron Murphy knows the ins and outs of Irish online casinos. Cameron specialises in online casino reviews, gambling regulations, and providing quality content on online casino games.