GRAI Licensing: Ireland's Gambling Regulator

Everything you need to know about GRAI — Ireland's Gambling Regulatory Authority established by the 2024 Act. Covers what it regulates, the licensing process, the National Exclusion Register, and what it means for Irish players.

What Is GRAI?

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) is Ireland's independent statutory body for gambling regulation. It was established by the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, which received presidential assent in October 2024 and began its phased implementation from that point. GRAI replaces the previous arrangement where the Revenue Commissioners issued betting licences under the Betting Act 1931 and the Department of Justice oversaw gaming under the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 — two separate Acts covering a fragmented regime that had not been substantially updated for decades.

GRAI is the first dedicated gambling regulator in Ireland. It is modelled on comparable bodies in other jurisdictions (the UK Gambling Commission and Sweden's Spelinspektionen being cited influences) and operates at arm's length from government.

What GRAI Regulates

GRAI's remit covers all gambling activities in Ireland:

• Online gambling — betting, casino games, poker, bingo offered via the internet to Irish consumers
• Retail betting — licensed betting shops (currently licensed under the Betting Act 1931; transitioning to GRAI)
• Arcades and amusement machines — previously under the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956
• Lotteries — charitable and commercial lotteries not run by the National Lottery
• Advertising — gambling advertising standards, restrictions on broadcast watersheds, sponsorship rules

The National Lottery retains its own regulator (the National Lottery Regulator) and is not under GRAI's jurisdiction.

Licence Categories Under the 2024 Act

The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 introduced a new unified licence structure replacing the old Betting Act and Gaming/Lotteries Act arrangements:

• Business Licence — required for all gambling operators offering services in Ireland. Issued for a fixed term with renewal requirements.
• Individual Licence — required for key personnel at licensed gambling businesses (directors, senior managers).
• Technical Licence — for software providers, platform operators, and technical service providers to licensed gambling businesses.

Online-only operators must hold a Business Licence to lawfully offer gambling services to persons located in Ireland. Unlicensed operators targeting Irish consumers will be subject to the enforcement and blocking provisions of the Act.

The Social Impact Fund

A distinctive feature of the 2024 Act is the mandatory Social Impact Fund. Licensed operators must contribute to the fund, which finances gambling harm prevention, treatment, and research. The fund is administered by GRAI and disbursed to approved programmes including addiction treatment services, the National Gambling Exclusion Register, and public awareness campaigns.

Contribution rates are set by regulation and reviewed periodically. The fund addresses a long-standing gap in Irish gambling regulation — previously there was no dedicated funding mechanism for gambling harm services.

The National Gambling Exclusion Register

GRAI operates Ireland's National Gambling Exclusion Register (NGER) — a cross-operator self-exclusion system. Players can register for exclusion and all GRAI-licensed operators are legally required to check the register and block registered persons from gambling on their platforms.

This replaces the previous operator-by-operator exclusion system, where a player who self-excluded from one operator had to separately contact every other operator. A single NGER registration blocks access across all licensed Irish gambling operators simultaneously.

Exclusion periods and management procedures are governed by GRAI's published codes. Guidance on the registration process is available through GRAI's official website.

Advertising and Sponsorship Rules

The 2024 Act introduced significant restrictions on gambling advertising:

• Broadcast advertising watershed — gambling advertising restricted before 21:00 on television and radio
• Ban on advertising that appeals to minors, including use of cartoon characters or celebrities popular with under-18 audiences
• Mandatory responsible gambling messages on all advertising
• Restrictions on sponsorship of sports teams and events, with a transition period for existing arrangements
• Social media advertising restrictions targeting under-18 audiences

These rules are among the most comprehensive gambling advertising restrictions in Europe and will significantly change the Irish gambling advertising landscape once fully in force.

Transition from the Old Regime

The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 does not immediately supersede all existing licences. The Act contains transitional provisions: existing Betting Act licensees can continue operating under their current licence while GRAI's new licensing system is stood up. Full transition is expected to take several years as GRAI builds capacity and the new licensing infrastructure is deployed.

During the transition period, Irish players should check whether an operator holds either a legacy Betting Act licence or a new GRAI licence. Legacy licensees operating during the transition period are not unlicensed — they operate under the transitional provisions of the Act.

What This Means for Players

For Irish players, GRAI's establishment represents the most significant gambling regulation reform in Ireland's history. Once fully operational:

• A single national self-exclusion register covers all licensed operators
• All online casino games offered to Irish consumers must come from GRAI-licensed operators
• Problem gambling treatment is funded through mandatory industry contributions
• Advertising restrictions reduce the volume and targeting of gambling promotions