GRAI Chief Executive Anne Marie Caulfield Outlines Enforcement Powers Against Non-Compliant Global Operators as European Regulatory Pressure Mounts
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has issued a formal warning that it is prepared to initiate High Court proceedings to secure blocking orders against major global prediction market platforms operating without a license.
Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week program, GRAI Chief Executive Anne Marie Caulfield confirmed that the regulator is actively targeting “one of the largest prediction market operators in the world” that has been serving Irish consumers without local statutory authorization. While Caulfield refrained from naming the specific platform, the disclosure follows a recent inquiry into Polymarket triggered by unusual trading patterns tied to Dublin’s by-election.
High Court Injunctions and Licensing Overhaul
The GRAI officially assumed direct regulatory oversight this month, taking over licensing and compliance responsibilities previously held by Revenue. Caulfield emphasized that while most global operators have voluntarily withdrawn or geoblocked their services upon receiving regulatory intervention, judicial action remains available for recalcitrant platforms.
“For the vast majority of cases where we’ve intervened, they [global prediction market companies] have withdrawn their sites,” Caulfield stated. “But in the instance where they don’t do so, we can go to the High Court and get a blocking order for them, a blocking order for access to the site and also in relation to the funding involved.”
The regulator’s compliance regime covers remote gambling in 2026 before expanding to land-based and gaming platforms in 2027. Operators seeking authorization must undergo comprehensive vetting for financial stability, data protection standards, and consumer protection protocols, including mandatory player-set deposit limits and a strict prohibition on credit card wagering.
GRAI Statutory Enforcement Powers
The table below outlines the primary regulatory mechanisms and penalties available to the GRAI under its updated statutory framework:
| Regulatory Instrument | Operational Scope | Statutory Authority / Maximum Penalty |
| High Court Injunctions | Domain blocking and asset/fund freezing orders. | Judicial blocking order via Irish High Court. |
| Administrative Fines | Severe breaches of statutory licensing conditions. | Up to €20 million or 10% of annual turnover. |
| Licensing Sanctions | Non-compliance with consumer protection or data rules. | Partial suspension or full license revocation. |
| Coimisiún na Meán Partnership | Removal of illegal digital content and domain listings. | “Trusted flagger status” for expedited domain removal. |
Pan-European Regulatory Actions Against Prediction Platforms
Ireland’s regulatory scrutiny reflects a wider European effort to enforce gambling laws on prediction market operators that offer political and event wagering without proper licensing. Platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi have faced increasing legal restrictions across EU member states:
- France & Czechia: Regulators ordered internet service providers (ISPs) to block Polymarket domains due to unlicensed gambling operations.
- The Netherlands: Dutch gambling authorities rejected an official appeal from Polymarket, upholding its classification as an unlicensed gambling operator.
- Spain: Spanish regulators ordered a complete halt to operations for both Polymarket and Kalshi over licensing deficiencies.
- Italy: Polymarket’s sponsorship deal with football club S.S. Lazio triggered parliamentary inquiries by Democratic Party lawmakers regarding compliance with national gambling advertising bans.
To strengthen its digital enforcement, the GRAI is working with media regulator Coimisiún na Meán to secure “trusted flagger status,” allowing the authority to directly request the removal of illicit wagering domains.
