In a landmark move for Ireland’s betting landscape, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan of Ireland has signed a commencement order allowing the nation’s new gambling regulator to begin operations tomorrow, 5 February 2026.
The order activates key provisions of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, empowering the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) to start issuing remote and in-person betting licences.
A Modern Framework for a Digital Age
The signing marks the culmination of a multi-year effort to replace Ireland’s century-old laws, including the Totalisator Act 1929 and the Betting Act 1931, with a streamlined framework suited for the modern era.
Minister O’Callaghan highlighted the reform’s focus on public safety, stating:
“Today marks another important step towards replacing Ireland’s outdated gambling laws with a streamlined and simplified licensing framework.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”.
Phased Rollout and Strict Enforcement
While the GRAI can begin processing applications for new entrants immediately, existing operators will transition as current permits expire. Remote operators are eligible for new licences from 1 July 2026, followed by in-person operators on 1 December 2026.
The new gambling regulator of Ireland is equipped with significant “boots-on-the-ground” oversight and punitive powers. Licensees found in breach of terms face administrative fines of up to €20 million or 10% of annual turnover, whichever is greater.
Enhanced Consumer Protections
To combat problem gambling, the Act introduces several strict responsible gambling (RG) measures:
- Credit Card Ban: Prohibiting credit cards as a payment method for all gambling activities.
- Monetary Limits: Mandatory tools allowing users to set limits on their spending.
- Child Safeguards: Prohibiting under-18s from betting or being employed by licensees.
Minister O’Callaghan emphasized that the Act provides the Authority with “necessary enforcement powers to take appropriate and focused action” against both non-compliant licensees and unlicensed operators.
