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News and Publications
From Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland
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From Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland
Published on
Last updated on
All GRAI documentation and publications are available on our searchable publications page here
When established, the GRAI will begin the roll out of a new Licensing Application process. To assist in our preparations and in ensuring a scalable, efficient and effective roll out we are requesting all interested parties to register their interest for a licence in the Irish market. The objective of this survey is:
- To estimate the number of potential applicants for each licence type
- To generate a mailing list which will inform potential applicants of any developments in the licencing process.
New roles will be linked here and all roles will be advertised on Public Jobs
The Programme for Government commits to establishing ‘a gambling regulator focused on public safety and well-being, covering gambling online and in-person, and the powers to regulate advertising, gambling websites and apps’.
A Social Impact Fund will be funded by mandatory contributions by Licensees. Contributions will not be levied on charitable/philanthropic licensees. The purpose of the Fund is to finance research and related initiatives to reduce and eliminate compulsive and excessive gambling, to support awareness–raising and educational measures and to support problem gambling treatment activities. The fund will be administered by the Authority and will operate a comprehensive grants management system for the purpose of awarding grants via the fund.
The bill also provides for the establishment and operation of the ‘National Gambling Exclusion Register’. The Register will allow persons to register with the Authority to exclude themselves from gambling online with licensees. The Register will be software based and remote licensees must comply with the terms of the Register, ensure their IT systems and software are compatible and can interact with the Authority’s systems as a requirement of holding a licence
On 19 October 2021, the Government approved the publication of the General Scheme of the Gambling Regulation Bill and for the legislation to proceed for drafting by the Office of the Attorney General.
The purpose of the legislation is to provide for an improved and modern approach to the licensing and regulation of gambling in Ireland today – one that reflects the reality of the various gambling activities available in the State and recognises the impact of technology on the conduct of such activities.
The legislation sets out the framework and legislative basis for the establishment of a new independent, statutory body – the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (“the Authority”) – and for a robust regulatory and licensing regime for the gambling sector. The General Scheme and related documents can be accessed at the links below:
The Joint Committee on Justice has published its Report on Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Gambling Regulation Bill:
As part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process, Oireachtas hearings took place 8 March and 22 March, 2022 and the transcript of both can be accessed below:
Both sessions are also recorded and available to play back on the Oireachtas website
The Bill was approved for publication in November 2022, completed Second Stage in Dáil Éireann in December 2022 and Committee Stage in Dáil Éireann on 11 July 2023.
The Bill reached Report Stage in the Dáil on the 24th April 2024, with amendments taken and the Bill passed Dáil Éireann on the 1st May 2024. Currently the Bill has moved on to Seanad Éireann
Problem Gambling: A Narrative Review of Important Policy-Relevant Issues
'Problem Gambling Literature Review' is the first in a series of studies that the ESRI has been commissioned to undertake over the coming months. This review was commissioned through the Department of Justice and the Implementation Team supporting the establishment of Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI).
Research is a vital element of policy development and, in particular, it helps to ensure that the measures introduced as a result will be appropriately targeted in terms of protecting children and individuals who are vulnerable to the harms associated with excessive gambling.
Education, awareness-raising and research with regard to gambling and, in particular with the associated risks, will be a key function of the GRAI when it is established.
Therefore, this is a significant milestone for the GRAI Implementation Team, as it continues the preparatory work, in tandem with the envisaged passage of the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022, to ensure that the GRAI will be in a position to commence its work once the legislation is commenced and the members of the Authority are appointed.
Measures of problem gambling, gambling behaviours and perceptions of gambling in Ireland
The main aim of the Problem Gambling ESRI Study on Problem Gambling , undertaken by the Economic and Social Research Institute, is to measure the prevalence of Problem Gambling in Ireland. Secondary aims of the research include providing measures of gambling activity and perceptions of gambling among the general population.
To meet the threshold for Problem Gambling, individuals must report multiple negative behaviours or experiences associated with their gambling (e.g., borrowing in order to fund their gambling). Based on the sample, this report estimates that 3.3% of the adult population are people with Problem Gambling (with a 95% confidence interval of 2.5–4.0%). This estimate is more than ten times higher than previous estimates of Problem Gambling in Ireland, when measured in person in 2019 as part of the National Drug and Alcohol Survey (NDAS) (0.3%). The report discusses multiple possible reasons for the difference, including increased anonymity associated with online surveys and sample selection issues.
The figure of 3.3% equates to 1 in 30 adults, or 130,000 people, with Problem Gambling in Ireland. In addition, the report records a further 7.1% (95% confidence interval: 6.0–8.2%) of the adult population who report multiple problematic behaviours and experiences but fall short of the threshold for Problem Gambling (i.e., they show moderate evidence of PG). This equates to 279,000 people with moderate evidence of PG. The report record another 15% (confidence interval: 13.4–16.5%) of adults (590,000) who report at least one negative experience or behaviour.