Online gambling regulation in Ireland

Prohibited. Gambling Regulation Act 2024 – offence structure for unlicensed gambling and obligations on licensees regarding advertising, inducements and sponsorship; likely includes offences related to promoting unlicensed gambling.

Operating a gambling business without a GRAI licence is a criminal offence; secondary commentary states advertising unlicensed services to Irish consumers is also a criminal offence, but exact section not confirmed.

Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, GRAI) — www.grai.ie

Gambling Regulation Act 2024 (Act No. 35 of 2024)

Online casino: Licensed. Online sports betting: Licensed.

The regulator publishes a register of licensed operators. GRAI must establish and maintain a public register of persons who hold gambling licences; register available free of charge on its website.

https://www.grai.ie/register

• Administrative fines and sanctions against licensees
• Criminal offences for operating without a GRAI licence
• Power to regulate and restrict gambling websites and apps (including access measures)
• Orders and directions to licensees to ensure compliance

• Obligations on licensees relating to advertising, inducements and sponsorship to safeguard participants
• Ban on gambling advertising on TV and radio between 5:30 and 21:00
• Restrictions on offering inducements to gamble, as set by the Act and GRAI standards
• GRAI empowered to regulate gambling advertising content and placement across media

• Gambling Regulation Act 2024 enacted on 23 October 2024, creating GRAI and a new licensing and enforcement framework
• GRAI formally established in March 2025 and began operationalising the new regime
• Order signed in February 2026 allowing GRAI to begin issuing remote and in‑person betting licences

• Exact section numbers for offences of operating or advertising without a licence (Irish Statute Book text is long and not fully parsed here)
• Precise wording and scope of any statutory prohibition on advertising unlicensed/illegal gambling, including extraterritorial reach
• Detailed list of all specific permitted/required advertising practices (beyond high‑level obligations on advertising, inducements and sponsorship)
• Whether payment‑blocking or specific ISP/domain‑blocking procedures are explicitly mandated in the Act text vs left to GRAI directions
• Whether online casino is currently licensed or merely awaiting the gaming-licence phase under GRAI
• Whether sweepstakes/social casinos are treated as gambling, promotions, or consumer products in Ireland
• Whether prediction markets are regulated as gambling, financial derivatives, or prohibited in Ireland
• Whether mystery/loot boxes are treated as gambling or consumer products in Ireland

1. gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/publications/gambling-regulatory-authority-of-ireland/
2. grai.ie/
3. cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/cms-expert-guide-to-online-gambling-regulation-in-europe/ireland
4. revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/2024/act/35/front/revised/en/html
5. gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/press-releases/minister-ocallaghan-establishes-grai-approves-appointment-of-members-as-new-licencing-regulatory-framework-for-gambling-begins/
6. thecashindex.com/ie/grai-licence-register
7. grai.ie/news
8. citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/civil-law/gambling-regulatory-authority/
9. betinireland.ie/irish-gambling-regulations/
10. pokerfuse.com/online-poker/ireland/
11. riverodds.app/poker-in-ireland/
12. poker-in.com/ie
13. pokerlistings.com/online-poker-ireland
14. legalgamblingireland.com/laws/
15. gamblingmaps.org/map/regulations/ireland
16. irishexaminer.com/news/courtandcrime/arid-41883400.html
17. bettorsinsider.com/news/2026/07/22/polymarket-geoblocks-ireland-after-gambling-watchdogs-court-threat/
18. sccgmanagement.com/sccg-articles/2026/07/22/ireland-grai-licensing-ultimatum-polymarket-kalshi/
19. lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/2026/august/prediction-markets-difficult-to-pin-down/
20. gambling.com/news/prediction-markets-face-a-global-squeeze-as-ireland-and-india-push-polymarket-and-kalshi-out
21. betterchecked.com/review/earnlab-test-review
22. csgobettings.com/mystery-box/
23. tech-insider.org/ie/pegi-loot-box-age-rating-2026/
24. casinorankr.com/mystery-boxes
25. track360.io/blog/mystery-box-gambling-or-shopping-operator-compliance-guide

Researched 2026-09-21 from public sources and summarised by the Brandfense team. Not legal advice — confirm with the regulator or your counsel before acting.