What’s next for gambling regulation in Ireland?

Explore the future of Gambling Regulation in Ireland, including what the current legal status is and what will change in the next few years for Irish players.

Multiple European countries have gambling laws in place. Over recent years, many have updated their laws. Often behind that is a need to consider online access and to implement a more robust regulatory framework. There’s no European consensus or overarching regulatory body for gambling in the EU, but each member state has something to learn from the others.

Ireland is one of the most recent countries to adapt its laws and to take a new approach. That has now put them in a position to explore what online and in-person gambling should look like in the country. The fresh look at regulation is an opportunity to lead the way when it comes to safe, fair and responsible play.

The current status in Ireland

Gambling and online gambling are legal in Ireland. At the moment, players can find a licensed online casino in Ireland and play just like they did before. The main change is that a new regulatory authority has been established. They only became operational in 2025, which means they’re still finding their feet when it comes to frameworks, systems and processes.

It’s expected that a core part of the regulatory body’s work will be to launch a new licensing platform. However, that is not open for applications yet, though it’s expected to implement it in phases in 2026. That means that casinos can continue to operate under their current licences for the time being.

The bigger picture

Overall, Europe’s gambling sector is highly regulated. Most sites operate in multiple European countries and apply for and receive several licenses to do so. That’s a progression from the picture in the past, which often involved countries with no regulation or those with a strict monopoly.

In fact, 27 out of 31 European countries have now adopted multi-licensing. This format allows each country to maintain its own licensing and regulatory framework, but also allows for a better choice of licensed online gambling sites for players. The challenges and costs are passed on to the operator, but it’s a small price to pay for the balance of compliance and market access.

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) came about due to the country reshaping its gambling laws through the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. The act set out the legislative bases for the independent regulator. After being established on a statutory basis in March 2025, GRAI launched its strategy statement in October of the same year.

The strategy sets out GRAI’s priorities for the next three years. It helps to explore the two key mandates of the body, which are public protection and licensing and regulation for gambling, gaming, betting and some lottery operators. The powers of the authority will come into force as the licensing platform is rolled out.

Strategy and planning

The strategy breaks down GRAI’s plans into six key areas, with licensing being number one on the agenda. That goes alongside monitoring and compliance as well as enforcement. The regulatory framework will form the backbone of that work. However, the authority sees its role as more than regulation, which means there’s a significant focus on educating the public.

The final three points in the plan are consumer protection and awareness, a digital-first approach and people, organisation and governance. There’s a clear aim to tackle problem gambling, but also to look at awareness as a prevention method to ensure responsible play.

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