{"id":15110,"date":"2026-02-06T09:15:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T14:15:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/?post_type=europe&#038;p=15110"},"modified":"2026-02-06T09:15:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T14:15:21","slug":"irelands-gambling-regulator-starts-licensing-rollout-with-enforcement-powers-now-in-force","status":"publish","type":"europe","link":"https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/europe\/irelands-gambling-regulator-starts-licensing-rollout-with-enforcement-powers-now-in-force\/","title":{"rendered":"Ireland\u2019s gambling regulator starts licensing rollout with enforcement powers now in force"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ireland\u2019s new gambling regulator, the <strong>Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI)<\/strong>, has moved from set-up to active regulation after <strong>Minister Jim O\u2019Callaghan TD<\/strong> signed a <strong>Commencement Order<\/strong> bringing key parts of the <strong>Gambling Regulation Act 2024<\/strong> into effect on <strong>Thursday, 5 February 2026<\/strong>. The order activates the legal basis for licensing, oversight, complaints handling and enforcement, while also commencing provisions that amend and repeal parts of Ireland\u2019s legacy framework, including the <strong>Totalisator Act 1929<\/strong> and the <strong>Betting Act 1931<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The GRAI confirmed it will begin accepting applications for <strong>in-person betting<\/strong>, <strong>remote betting<\/strong>, and <strong>remote betting intermediary<\/strong> licences from <strong>Monday, 9 February 2026<\/strong>, with operators directed to use its <strong>Operator Portal<\/strong> to register and start the application process. The regulator said applications will be assessed through a centralised system, with suitability checks and vetting before any licence is granted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/mve-ads\/?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/mundo-video-ads-to-attend-g2e-las-vegas-2025-to-strengthen-partnerships-and-boost-brand-visibility-in-the-gaming-industry3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14037\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/mundo-video-ads-to-attend-g2e-las-vegas-2025-to-strengthen-partnerships-and-boost-brand-visibility-in-the-gaming-industry3.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/mundo-video-ads-to-attend-g2e-las-vegas-2025-to-strengthen-partnerships-and-boost-brand-visibility-in-the-gaming-industry3-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/10\/mundo-video-ads-to-attend-g2e-las-vegas-2025-to-strengthen-partnerships-and-boost-brand-visibility-in-the-gaming-industry3-768x442.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For operators already active in Ireland, the government\u2019s timeline is explicit: the Minister stated the Authority can issue licences for <strong>new entrants as soon as feasible<\/strong>, will <strong>license remote operators from 1 July 2026<\/strong>, and will <strong>license in-person operators from 1 December 2026<\/strong>, aligning with the expiry of certain existing licences issued by the <strong>Office of the Revenue Commissioners<\/strong>. The GRAI has also advised current licensees to continue renewing under the existing Revenue regime while transition arrangements are finalised, with further phasing detail to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/europe\/shaking-hands-across-the-irish-sea-ireland-amp-uk-unite-on-gambling-reform\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shaking Hands Across the Irish Sea: Ireland &amp; UK Unite on Gambling Reform<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Commencement Order also equips the GRAI with a meaningful enforcement toolkit from day one. The government confirmed the Authority now has robust investigative powers and can impose administrative sanctions of up to <strong>\u20ac20 million<\/strong> or <strong>10% of a licensee\u2019s turnover<\/strong> (whichever is greater). It can also pursue court orders directing illegal operators to cease, and the Act provides for licence suspension\/revocation and criminal prosecution in serious cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"362\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/europe-Ireland02.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15112\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/europe-Ireland02.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mundovideo.com.co\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/europe-Ireland02-300x141.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Operationally, the same commencement package signals what operators should be building into compliance roadmaps ahead of licensing decisions: a prohibition on the use of <strong>credit cards<\/strong> for gambling, customer tools to set <strong>monetary limits<\/strong> for remote play, duties to notify the regulator of <strong>suspicious gambling activity<\/strong>, and strengthened requirements to protect <strong>children<\/strong> online and in premises. The GRAI notes obligations will apply to licence holders <strong>on a phased basis<\/strong> as they become licensed, and it is also establishing independent adjudication and appeals mechanisms around sanctions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ireland gambling licensing 2026, GRAI operator portal Feb 9 2026, Gambling Regulation Act 2024 commencement order, remote betting licence July 2026, in-person betting licence December 2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15111,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3184,3250,354,947],"class_list":["post-15110","europe","type-europe","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","tag-europe","tag-ireland","tag-responsible-gambling","tag-responsible-gaming","entry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.6 - 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