Ireland to start issuing gambling licences from tomorrow

Summary

The Irish government has signed the commencement order for key elements of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, allowing the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) to begin issuing licences from 5 February 2026. The move starts the transition to a modern regulated gambling market in Ireland and enables both remote and in-person betting licences to be issued, with phased operational dates for licensees.

Author note: Punchy — this is a big regulatory shift for the Irish iGaming market and will reshape who can operate and how harm prevention is enforced.

Key Points

The commencement order signed by Minister Jim O’Callaghan allows the GRAI to start issuing licences from 5 February 2026.
Remote operators can be licensed from 1 July 2026; in-person operators from 1 December 2026, when existing Revenue Commissioners licences expire.
The Act gives the Authority enforcement powers, including fines up to €20m or 10% of turnover (whichever is greater) for breaches.
New responsible gambling measures include a credit card ban for gambling, mandatory player limit tools, and strict prohibitions on under‑18s betting.
The commencement order also activates oversight, enforcement and complaints mechanisms and repeals or amends outdated legislation.

Context and Relevance

This is the culmination of a multi‑year legislative and administrative process to replace Ireland’s outdated gambling laws with a streamlined licensing framework. For operators, affiliates and suppliers, it signals that Ireland is opening as a modern regulated market — but with tougher consumer protection and enforcement. Expect companies to review licensing strategies, compliance programmes and product offerings to meet the new rules and penalties.

For policy watchers and responsible gambling advocates, the new regime aligns with wider EU and UK trends emphasizing stronger consumer safeguards and tougher penalties for non‑compliance.

Why should I read this?

Quick and plain: if you work in iGaming, payments, compliance or affiliate marketing, this changes the Irish playbook. Licences are about to be issued, big fines are real, and new consumer protections will force operational changes — so you’ll want to know the timelines and what to do next. We’ve skimmed the legalese so you don’t have to.