Ireland is considering increasing the current 2% Betting Duty on amounts wagered as part of Budget 2027, while operators and industry associations warn that another increase could accelerate betting shop closures and push activity toward unregulated platforms.
The debate is in the hands of Finance Minister and Tánaiste Simon Harris, whose budget will be presented in October. Revenue estimates that each one-percentage-point increase in Betting Duty could generate around €55 million in additional annual revenue; a 0.5-point increase would raise €28 million, a two-point increase €110 million, and a three-point increase €165 million.
Sharon Byrne
The current rate is 2% for retail and remote bookmakers, while remote betting intermediaries pay 25% on commissions. Revenue continues to collect the tax, although since February 2026 responsibility for issuing new licenses has moved to the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI). The Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA), chaired by Sharon Byrne, opposes another increase. The organization says that since the tax doubled from 1% to 2% in 2019, 222 betting shops have closed and around 1,000 jobs have disappeared, leaving approximately 643 active outlets, compared with 1,385 in 2008.
Jim O'Callaghan
Businessman Anthony Kaminskas, founder of AK BETS, has also warned that a higher turnover-based tax could force operators to reduce products, worsen odds or pass the cost on to customers. Taking the opposite position, Stewart Kenny, co-founder and former CEO of Paddy Power, has proposed a 40% tax on Gross Gambling Yield from online casinos and gaming, a structure separate from the Betting Duty applied to sports wagering.
The tax debate coincides with the rollout of Ireland’s new regulator. GRAI, established under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, is chaired by Paul Quinn and led by Anne Marie Caulfield. Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan signed the commencement order on February 4, 2026, allowing applications for remote and land-based licenses to open on February 9.
