Ireland finally has a gambling regulator with teeth, and most of the new law is switched on. The part casino players care about, though, is still in the queue: the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) licenses betting today, and casino licences are not expected before 2027. Here is what the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 says, which sections are in force on 3 November 2026, and what it means when you sign up at an online casino from Ireland. It’s information, not legal advice.
The short answer
- The law: the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 (No. 35 of 2024), with the GRAI as regulator since 5 March 2025.
- Betting: licensed by the GRAI since 1 July 2026. Running a betting site without that licence is a criminal offence.
- Casino: no gaming licences yet. The Minister expects them in early 2027; the GRAI talks about licence types opening “throughout 2027 and 2028”.
- Bonuses: the inducement section (s.157) is not in force. No statutory rule limits casino bonus advertising to Irish residents today.
- What that means for you: every online casino on our Irish pages holds a licence from Malta, Gibraltar, the UK, Curaçao, Kahnawake or another regulator. We show that licence on every card, and none of them carries a GRAI casino licence, because none exists.
The Act and the regulator
The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 replaced a patchwork of old laws with one licensing system and one regulator. The GRAI was set up on 5 March 2025 under S.I. 57/2025. Before it, remote bookmakers held licences from the Revenue Commissioners under the Betting Acts 1931-2015, and Revenue still publishes that register: its list at 30 June 2026 carries names Irish punters know from the high street, from BoyleSports and Paddy Power to bet365, William Hill, BetVictor, LiveScore Bet, NetBet and TonyBet.
Those were, and the new GRAI licences are, betting licences. When a bookmaker-led brand runs a casino tab next to its sportsbook, the casino side sits under a Maltese, Gibraltar or other licence. That split matters when you read a footer: an Irish betting licence on the sportsbook does not cover the slots.
What switched on in February 2026
The Commencement Order, S.I. 31/2026, was signed on 3 February 2026 and brought most of the Act into force on 5 February 2026. “Most” is the key word.
| Part of the Act | Status from 5 Feb 2026 |
|---|---|
| Prohibitions (Part 4 Ch. 1) | In force, except s.67(2), the offence of providing a game without a gaming licence, and a few related subsections |
| Advertising (s.141-151) | Only s.142(1), no children employed in gambling. The rest, including the 05:30-21:00 broadcast watershed, is not in force |
| Player protection (s.154-159) | In force, except s.157 (inducements) and s.159 (sponsorship) |
| Payments and limits | s.164 (player-set deposit limits) and s.165 (no credit cards or credit) in force |
| Remote account rules | In force |
| Complaints, enforcement, appeals (Parts 7-9) | In force |
The Minister’s written answer of 13 October 2026 confirms the order also commenced lodgement limits, administrative fines of up to €20 million or 10% of turnover, and criminal enforcement powers. On advertising it says the provisions “have not been commenced as yet”, with work ongoing with the Office of the Attorney General.
The licensing timeline
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 5 Mar 2025 | GRAI established |
| 5 Feb 2026 | GRAI may accept betting licence applications |
| 30 Jun 2026 | Revenue remote bookmaker licences expire |
| 1 Jul 2026 | GRAI remote betting licences start |
| 1 Dec 2026 | In-person (shop) betting licences start |
| Early 2027 | Gaming licences, remote and in-person, expected (Minister) |
| 2027-2028 | Further licence types open in stages (GRAI) |
On 1 July 2026 the GRAI’s chief executive said it is a criminal offence to operate without a betting licence and that work identifying unlicensed operators had begun. Note the word: betting. The matching offence for casino games, s.67(2), only makes sense once gaming licences exist, and it is not in force yet.
What it means for casinos today
Put the pieces together and the picture is simple, if unusual. There is no GRAI casino licence to hold, so no online casino can show one. Casinos serving Irish players hold foreign licences, and the Irish market splits into two groups:
- Bookmaker-led brands with an Irish betting licence on the sportsbook and a Malta, Gibraltar or UK licence on the casino. They tend to offer PayPal and debit cards, smaller or wager-free offers, and no crypto. On our list that’s the likes of LiveScore Vegas and Lottoland, BetVictor, NetBet and 888.
- Offshore brands with a Curaçao, Kahnawake or Anjouan licence: big multi-deposit packages, crypto cashiers and no PayPal. See our crypto casinos for Ireland and the welcome bonus list.
One open question we flag rather than answer: whether the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 still applies to online casino in the interim. S.I. 31/2026 commenced a set of amending and repealing provisions that our research did not check one by one. If that matters to you, it’s a question for a solicitor.
Commentary from September 2026 also makes a point worth repeating: players at foreign-licensed casinos don’t get the Irish protections that come with a GRAI licence, such as the National Gambling Exclusion Register once it exists. Your protection is the casino’s own regulator plus the tools the casino offers.
🧮 Bonuses and section 157
Section 157, “Offering inducement to gamble”, is the rule every bonus page in Ireland will eventually live under. Here is what the text says:
- A licensee may not offer an inducement except in line with the section.
- A licensee may not offer a person or specific group of persons an inducement.
- Offers to the general public must follow any regulations the Minister makes.
- After consulting the GRAI, the Minister may set conditions on inducements, and may prohibit an inducement or a whole class of them.
- In doing so, the Minister must weigh whether the offer would encourage excessive or compulsive gambling.
Breaching it is an offence, with up to five years on indictment. “Inducement” covers any benefit meant to encourage gambling, so a deposit match, free spins and cashback all qualify.
The Bill once carried a much wider ban on things like free bets. The enacted text narrowed it to targeted offers; a 2024 newspaper report that free bets “are all banned” does not match the final wording, and the statute wins.
Status on 3 November 2026: s.157 is not in force, no regulations under it have been found, and no start date has been announced. It also binds licensees only, so it would not reach an offshore casino directly.
What that means on the page: a public welcome offer such as the 888 Casino match, 100% up to €500 at 40x on the bonus, is lawful to show today and would stay lawful under s.157(3) unless the class gets banned. Offers aimed at a defined group are the kind s.157(2) catches. That’s why our Irish pages show the same current offers to everyone and run every one through the same maths: a €100 bonus at 40x means €4,000 in bets, which at a 96% RTP slot costs about €160 on average. Check any offer in the wagering calculator.
Advertising rules still on hold
Sections 143-151 set out the advertising code, and almost none of it is in force. Section 148 is the one to know: nothing that appeals to children, nothing that condones excessive gambling, nothing that misleads about the social or financial advantages of gambling. Once commenced, those duties bind licensees and anyone advertising on their behalf, which covers affiliates promoting a GRAI-licensed brand. The broadcast watershed in s.149 covers TV, radio and on-demand services, not websites.
We already write to the s.148 standard: bonus funds are called bonus funds, no promises of a win, and the wagering sits next to every headline.
Credit cards, limits and exclusion
- Credit cards (s.165): in force since 5 February 2026 for GRAI licensees, so in practice since 1 July 2026. It does not bind offshore casinos. Pages claiming Ireland banned credit cards “in 2021” are describing the UK rule.
- Deposit limits (s.164): licensees must let you set your own limits. Offshore casinos offer their own versions; set one before your first deposit.
- National Gambling Exclusion Register: in the Act, not running yet.
- Age: 18, with s.158 in force.
How to check a casino’s licence
- Scroll to the casino footer and note the regulator and licence number.
- Check it on the regulator’s own register, such as the Malta Gaming Authority or the Curaçao Gaming Control Board.
- Match the company name on the register to the one in the casino’s terms.
- Read how we rate casinos for the checks we run, and the Slotrave review for an example where our sources disagree on the licence.
Where to get help
The GRAI’s own help page lists the national helpline run by the Gambling Awareness Trust: GamblingCare.ie, free on 1800 936 725. The GRAI describes it as 24 hours, 365 days a year; a GamblingCare page elsewhere gives 09:00-23:00, so check the hours on the site. Families can reach the Family Addiction Support Network on 042 935 5251, money worries go to MABS on 0818 07 2000, and Samaritans Ireland answers 116 123 around the clock. Our responsible gambling page covers limits and self-exclusion tools.
What to watch next
Two dates will change this page: the commencement order for s.157 and the advertising chapter, and the opening of gaming licences. We review our Irish pages when either lands. Meanwhile, the money question has a simpler answer, covered in are casino winnings taxed in Ireland, and the Irish casino list shows every casino’s licence on its card.
FAQ
Does the GRAI license online casinos yet?
No. The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland has issued remote betting licences since 1 July 2026. Gaming licences, which cover online casino, are expected to open in early 2027 according to the Minister, while the GRAI says further licence types will open throughout 2027 and 2028. Until then, every online casino an Irish player can use holds a licence from another regulator.
Are casino bonuses banned in Ireland?
Not on 3 November 2026. Section 157 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, which deals with inducements, is law but has not been commenced. When it starts, it bans offers aimed at a person or a specific group, not offers made to the general public, unless the Minister later bans a whole class of offer by regulation.
What is the minimum age for gambling in Ireland?
18. The Act defines a child as a person under 18, and section 158, which is in force, bars licensees from letting a child take part. Every casino on our Irish pages also runs its own age and ID checks before a first withdrawal.
Can I use a credit card at an online casino in Ireland?
Not at a GRAI licensee. Section 165 bans licensees from facilitating credit or accepting credit cards, and it has applied in practice since betting licences began on 1 July 2026. Offshore casinos are not bound by it and some still take credit cards. Paying with a debit card or Revolut keeps you spending your own money.
Can I self-exclude from every Irish gambling site at once?
Not yet. The Act provides for a National Gambling Exclusion Register, but it is not operational; the Minister's answer of 13 October 2026 says it will exist once commenced. For now, use each casino's own self-exclusion and deposit-limit tools, and talk to GamblingCare.ie on 1800 936 725 if you want support.
Where do I complain about an online casino?
The GRAI handles complaints about its own licensees, which today means betting operators. A casino licensed in Malta, Gibraltar, Curaçao or elsewhere answers to that regulator, so its complaints route runs through the casino first and then the regulator named in its footer.
