Minister Jim O’Callaghan signs order to allow the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland to begin issuing licences
- Foilsithe:
- An t-eolas is déanaí:
Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan has signed an order to commence key aspects of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 to allow the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) to begin issuing remote and in-person betting licences.
The signing of the commencement order, which comes into effect on Thursday, 5 February 2026, enables the Authority to start accepting and processing applications, and issuing licenses for remote and in-person betting operators. It also commences the necessary enforcement and oversight and complaints mechanisms that underpin the new licensing framework. In addition, the order commences those sections of the Act that amend and repeal existing legislation on the statute book. In particular, it will repeal the Totalisator Act 1929 and the Betting Act 1931.
Minister O’Callaghan said:
“Today marks another important step towards replacing Ireland’s outdated gambling laws with a streamlined and simplified licensing framework. This reflects the nature of modern gambling and takes into account the harms associated with problem gambling, by providing safeguards to protect people from those harms, especially children.
“The Authority can issue licences for new entrants as soon as is feasible, licence remote operators from 1 July 2026 and in-person operators from 1 December 2026, when their existing licences, issued by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, expire.
“The Act provides the Authority with the necessary enforcement powers to take appropriate and focused action where licensees fail to comply with licensing terms, conditions and regulations, and to deal with unlicensed operators, those operating without the correct licence, or those in contravention of the terms of a licence issued by the Authority.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors
The Commencement Order confers robust investigative powers to the GRAI and allows for administrative sanctions of fines of up to €20 million or 10% of a licensee’s turnover, whichever is the greater, to be imposed on licensees, where they are found to be in contravention of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.
A number of criminal enforcement powers will be commenced, as will provisions which will allow the GRAI to apply to the Court for an order directing illegal operators to cease operations.
The order also provides for the commencement of several other key measures including:
- Prohibiting the use of credit cards as a means of payment for gambling;
- prohibitions on allowing a child to gamble or to be employed by licensees;
- enabling customers to set monetary limits on how much they can gamble on-line or remotely;
- obligations on licensees to notify the Authority of suspicious gambling activity;
- obligations on remote gambling providers to protect children online;
- regulating the operation of online gambling accounts;
- safeguards for account holders such as the ability of the Authority to limit the amount of money that may be lodged with a licensee; and
- obligations concerning the closure of accounts and refunds of monies.