Online Gambling Laws in Ireland: GRAI Licensing Guide
Ireland’s gambling rules are changing under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) is introducing licensing in phases. This guide summarises the regulator’s published status as checked on 5 October 2026 and links to primary sources. It is general information, not legal advice.
On this page
The law and the regulator
The relevant statute is the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. Its provisions take effect by commencement orders, and the licensing transition is phased.
GRAI says applications for in-person betting, remote betting and remote betting intermediary licences opened on 9 February 2026. This announcement describes applications opening; an application is not the same as a licence being granted.
Gaming and existing licence arrangements
GRAI’s published phasing guidance says the transition is being managed by licence category and advises existing license holders to continue engaging with the relevant existing licensing bodies while the new process is phased in. For gaming licences, check the regulator’s current guidance and the Revenue Commissioners information; do not assume an operator is authorised for a product or country just because it has a licence from another jurisdiction.
Check the legal entity and the precise licence type on official regulator information. A notice of intent or application does not prove that a licence has been granted.
What players should check
Before using a gambling service, check whether it accepts customers in your location, what entity operates it, which regulator and licence apply, and what the current account and game terms say. Also review deposit, time-out and self-exclusion options. Do not rely on an old bonus, a foreign licence, a website badge or this article alone to establish eligibility or legal status.
We do not claim that every player protection in the Act is already in force for every operator. Commencement dates and obligations vary by provision and transition stage.
Frequently asked questions
Ireland’s gambling licensing framework is established by the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 and is being implemented in phases. Requirements depend on the activity and legal entity. Check the current GRAI guidance and regulator information; an application or a licence from another jurisdiction does not by itself establish Irish authorisation. Read our sourced guide to Irish gambling regulation.
Does a GRAI application mean an operator is licensed? No. The regulator distinguishes the application process from a granted licence.
Are all online slot sites licensed by GRAI now? Do not assume so. Check the current regulator guidance and relevant register for the precise activity and legal entity.
Can a Malta or UK licence establish Irish authorisation? Not by itself. Check the Irish regulator’s current requirements for the service and your location.
Sources and updates
Checked 5 October 2026 against the Irish Statute Book and current GRAI licensing guidance. Licensing arrangements may change; this page should be rechecked against official sources before relying on it.