GRAI Ireland Gambling Licence Tracker 2026–2027

Ireland's gambling industry is undergoing its biggest regulatory change in nearly 70 years. The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has replaced the old system of Revenue Commissioner permits with a single, modern framework under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.

This page tracks every GRAI milestone in plain language — so Irish players always know which casinos are licensed, what protections apply, and how to use new tools like the National Gambling Exclusion Register. We update this page every time a milestone is reached.

GRAI licensing timeline

How the GRAI licence application works

The GRAI uses a seven-step application process for all B2C licence applicants. Understanding this process matters for players too — it tells you exactly what a casino has had to prove before it can legally hold an Irish licence, and how strictly the GRAI vets operators compared to older regulators.

The full guidance is published at grai.ie/licensing-regulation.

After these steps, the GRAI issues the licence, adds the operator to the public register, and the licensee takes on ongoing obligations — including reporting any material changes in ownership, operations, or regulatory status to the GRAI as they occur.

Licence phasing — which type opens when

The GRAI is clear that not all licence types open simultaneously. The official phasing page at grai.ie confirms the approach:

• Remote betting licences — applications open from 9 February 2026; licences issued from 1 July 2026
• In-person betting licences — licences issued from 1 December 2026
• Remote gaming licences (online casinos) — applications opening Q4 2026
• B2B licences (software suppliers, platform providers) — not among the first phases; timeline to be confirmed
• Gaming licences — GRAI is still engaging with Revenue Commissioners; existing holders should continue renewing with Revenue for now
• Lottery licences — still processed by District Courts and An Garda Síochána until new procedures are in place

What happened in February 2026

On 3 February 2026, Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan signed a commencement order under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. From 5 February, the GRAI gained full power to accept applications, process them, and issue licences for both remote and in-person betting operators.

On 9 February, the GRAI's online portal opened for B2C betting licence applications. This covers sportsbooks and betting exchanges serving Irish players online — the first wave of the new regime.

The 1 July 2026 deadline

This is the first major hard deadline for operators. Existing permissions for online betting operators issued by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners expire on 1 July 2026. From that date, operators must hold a GRAI licence to legally continue serving Irish players in the remote betting category.

Q4 2026 — the casino milestone

Remote gaming (online casino) licence applications open in Q4 2026. This is when online casinos can, for the first time, hold a formal Irish licence. Operators serving Irish players will need to have applied and be going through the seven-step process by then. We will publish the first confirmed GRAI-licensed casinos here as soon as the register shows them.

New rules — what changes for Irish players

The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 introduced a set of consumer protection measures that apply to all GRAI-licensed operators. Some of these are the most restrictive of any major regulator in Europe.

Advertising restrictions in full

The Act introduces a statutory watershed banning gambling advertising on TV, radio, and on-demand media between 5:30am and 9:00pm. Adults must actively opt in to receive any gambling marketing communications — operators cannot send promotional emails or texts unless a player has explicitly agreed to receive them.

ATMs are banned inside gambling premises. The prohibition on VIP schemes extends to any form of loyalty inducement that incentivises players to gamble more than they otherwise would.

The Social Impact Fund

Licensed operators pay into a Social Impact Fund designed to raise at least €14 million annually. The money goes to addiction treatment, public education, research, and community interventions — a first for Ireland. This fund is separate from licence fees, which the GRAI uses to self-finance its operations.

GRAI enforcement powers

The GRAI is not a light-touch regulator. Its enforcement toolkit is one of the strongest in the EU.

• Fines of up to €20 million or 10% of annual turnover, whichever is higher
• Power to suspend or revoke licences at any time
• Authority to conduct inspections and compel disclosure of operational data
• Criminal enforcement: court orders to shut down unlicensed operators serving Irish players
• Compliance notices requiring operators to fix identified issues within set timeframes

MGA and Estonian casinos in the meantime

Until GRAI casino licences launch in Q4 2026, Irish players legally access online casinos through EU single-market rules. Sites licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) or under an Estonian licence are the best options — winnings are tax-free in Ireland under EU tax principles.

The key difference between these and a future GRAI licence is jurisdiction: MGA and Estonian regulators have real enforcement power, but they enforce their own rules, not Irish rules. The Gambling Regulation Act 2024's specific protections (credit card ban, mandatory spending limits, VIP ban) only apply to GRAI-licensed operators.

How GRAI compares to other regulators

The GRAI's prohibition on VIP schemes is notably stricter than the UKGC's approach, which restricts but does not ban loyalty programmes. The single National Exclusion Register modelled on GamStop — but with non-cancellable exclusion periods — also goes further than most European equivalents.

Frequently asked questions

What is the GRAI?

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) is Ireland's national gambling regulator, established under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 and officially operational from March 2025. It licences, supervises, and enforces compliance for all gambling operators — both online and in-person — serving Irish players. It replaces a fragmented system of Revenue Commissioner permits and legislation dating back to the 1930s.

When can online casinos get a GRAI licence?

Remote casino (online gaming) licence applications open in Q4 2026. Remote betting licences became available from 1 July 2026. In-person betting licences transition from 1 December 2026, when existing Revenue Commissioner permissions expire. B2B and charitable licences follow in 2027–2028.

Are online casinos legal in Ireland right now?

Yes. Irish players can legally access online casinos licensed in the EU — primarily MGA or Estonian licences. Under EU single-market rules, these operators can serve Irish players and winnings are tax-free. The GRAI will begin issuing Irish casino licences from Q4 2026. This tracker will be updated as the first licences are granted.

Is credit card gambling banned in Ireland?

Yes. The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 bans credit cards — and e-wallets funded by credit — for gambling deposits at any GRAI-licensed operator. Debit cards, funded e-wallets, and bank transfers remain permitted. This applies only to GRAI-licensed operators; MGA casinos operate under their own payment rules until they obtain a GRAI licence.

What is the National Gambling Exclusion Register?

The National Gambling Exclusion Register is a GRAI-managed self-exclusion system. Register once and every GRAI-licensed operator must block your account and stop all marketing contact. Exclusion periods: 6 months to indefinite. Unlike most self-exclusion schemes, GRAI exclusions cannot be cancelled once activated. The register is under development and will launch alongside the full casino licensing rollout.

What are the GRAI gambling advertising rules?

A statutory watershed bans gambling ads on TV, radio, and on-demand media between 5:30am and 9:00pm. Adults must opt in to receive any gambling marketing. Operators are banned from offering VIP treatment, free bets as inducements, free credit, and free hospitality. ATMs are banned inside gambling premises.

How much can the GRAI fine operators?

The GRAI can fine operators the higher of €20 million or 10% of annual turnover. It can also suspend or revoke licences, conduct inspections, seek court orders to shut down unlicensed operators, and issue compliance notices requiring operators to fix identified problems within set timeframes.

Sources: grai.ie · Gambling Regulation Act 2024 · DLA Piper briefing, Feb 2026 · McCann FitzGerald, Feb 2026 · Citizens Information

Written by Seamus O'Connor · Reviewed by Fiona McCarthy · Gambling carries financial risk. Play responsibly, aged 18+ only. Gamblers Anonymous Ireland · GRAI gambling safety