Ireland Gambling Rules Explained: GRAI Licences, the 1 December 2026 Deadline and What Changes for Bettors
Since 1 July 2026, an online bookmaker taking bets from people in Ireland needs a licence from the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI). Betting shops have until 1 December 2026 to make the same switch. The licences Revenue used to issue are on their way out, a public register now shows who is licensed, and the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 brings new rules on payments, limits and complaints. Some of the rules people have read about, such as the daytime advertising ban and the national self-exclusion register, are not in operation yet.
This guide sets out the dates, what is already in force and what is not, how to check a bookmaker on the register, and what to do with your account if an operator leaves the market. It is based on the GRAI, Revenue and the commencement orders. No operators, no bonuses, no tips.
Status at 3 November 2026
- Online betting: GRAI licence required since 1 July 2026. Check any site on the register at grai.ie/register.
- Betting shops: 1 December 2026 is the deadline to move to a GRAI in-person betting licence. If your local shop's operator announces a closure, cash in open dockets before it shuts.
- Credit cards cannot be used to gamble with a licensed operator.
- Not yet live: the National Gambling Exclusion Register, the 5.30am to 9pm broadcast advertising ban and the inducement rules. We will update this box when they start.
The timeline: from Revenue licences to the GRAI
For almost a century Irish betting ran on the Betting Act 1931, and a bookmaker's licence was an excise licence from Revenue. The 2024 Act moved licensing to a dedicated regulator, in stages. Betting came first; online casino and lottery licences come later.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| October 2024 | Gambling Regulation Act 2024 signed into law. It replaces the Betting Act 1931 and creates the GRAI. |
| 5 February 2026 | Commencement order (S.I. No. 31/2026): the GRAI becomes the licensing authority for betting, with its compliance and enforcement powers. Revenue stops issuing betting licences. |
| 9 February 2026 | GRAI opens applications for remote betting, remote betting intermediary and in-person betting licences. |
| 24 April 2026 | Gambling (Complaints Procedures) Regulations 2026 (S.I. No. 170/2026) published: licensed operators must run a complaints procedure. |
| 1 July 2026 | Revenue licences of remote (online and phone) operators expire. Online betting in Ireland now needs a GRAI licence. |
| 1 December 2026 | Deadline for in-person bookmakers (betting shops) to move to a GRAI in-person betting licence. |
GRAI licences last three years rather than running indefinitely, and the regulator can fine an operator up to €20 million or 10% of turnover, whichever is higher. Operators still pay Betting Duty to Revenue: the change is who licenses them, not who taxes them.
What is in force and what is not yet
The Act was switched on part by part through commencement orders, which is why many articles describe rules that have not started. This is the position for a bettor at the date of this guide.
| Rule | Status |
|---|---|
| GRAI licence needed for online betting | In force since 1 July 2026 |
| GRAI licence needed for betting shops | Deadline 1 December 2026 |
| Ban on credit cards for gambling | In force with the customer-protection part of the Act (substantially commenced by August 2026) |
| Deposit limits, account rules, prompt payment of winnings, age checks | In force with the same part of the Act |
| Operator complaints procedures | Regulations published 24 April 2026 |
| National Gambling Exclusion Register | Provided for in the Act; not yet operational |
| Daytime ban on TV, radio and on-demand gambling ads (5.30am to 9pm) | In the Act; commencement not announced at the time of writing |
| Ban on targeted inducements and bonuses to keep you betting | In the Act; not yet commenced |
| Gaming (online casino) and lottery licences | Parts not yet commenced; betting licences came first |
How to check a bookmaker on the GRAI register
- Find the company behind the brand. The footer or the terms and conditions name the legal entity that runs the site. The register lists that company, not the trading name on the advertising.
- Search the register. The GRAI publishes the full register of licence holders at grai.ie/register, with filters and a download. Look for a remote betting licence (online bookmaker) or a remote betting intermediary licence (exchanges and similar platforms).
- Match the details. The company name on the register should be the one in the site's terms. A UK, Malta or Gibraltar licence on the same page does not replace a GRAI licence for bets placed from Ireland.
- Check the rest of the site. Licensing is the first test, not the only one. Margins, withdrawal times and bonus terms still separate a good bookmaker from a poor one: our ten checks for choosing a betting site cover them.
Why it matters in practice: with a licensed operator you have the complaints procedure required by the 2024 regulations, the payment and limit rules, and a regulator that can sanction the operator. On an unlicensed site you have none of that, and unlicensed gambling is an offence under the Act.
If your bookmaker leaves the Irish market
The switch has already produced closures. Before the 1 July 2026 deadline Betfred told Irish customers it was taking a temporary pause from 30 June, asked them to withdraw their balances and not to place bets settling after 29 June, and said ante-post World Cup bets would be honoured. The same pattern is possible for betting shops around 1 December.
- Withdraw your balance before the closure date. Do not leave money in an account you will not be able to open.
- Avoid new bets that settle after the closure date unless the operator has said in writing how they will be settled.
- Keep the operator's emails about open and ante-post bets. If something goes wrong, the written notice is your evidence.
- Shop customers: cash in winning dockets and ask what happens to open ante-post dockets before the last trading day.
Payments, limits and self-exclusion
The customer-protection rules in the Act are the part most bettors will notice. Credit cards are banned as a way to pay for gambling. Online operators must let you set monetary limits on your account, verify your age, pay out winnings and close your account when you ask. Licensed operators must also run a complaints procedure, so a dispute starts with the operator and its written reply.
Self-exclusion is still operator by operator, because the National Gambling Exclusion Register is not yet running. Until it is, a gambling block from your bank and blocking software are the only ways to cover every site in one step. Our responsible gambling guide explains the tools, and the UK gambling rule changes for 2026 show how the same issues are handled across the border, which matters if you hold accounts in Northern Ireland.
Frequently asked questions
Who regulates gambling in Ireland?
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), set up under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. Since 5 February 2026 it has been the licensing authority for all betting licences, a job the Revenue Commissioners used to do. Revenue still collects Betting Duty from operators.
Do online bookmakers need a GRAI licence to take bets in Ireland?
Yes. The Revenue licences held by remote operators expired on 1 July 2026, so since then an online bookmaker taking bets from people in Ireland needs a GRAI remote betting licence, and a betting exchange or similar platform needs a remote betting intermediary licence. Operators that were not ready paused their Irish service: Betfred, for example, closed Irish accounts from 30 June 2026 and asked customers to withdraw their balances first.
What happens to betting shops on 1 December 2026?
1 December 2026 is the deadline for in-person bookmakers to move from their Revenue licence to a GRAI in-person betting licence. A shop that has not made the switch cannot lawfully keep taking bets after that date. For customers, the practical step is the same as online: check the operator on the GRAI register, and settle or cash in open bets and dockets with any operator that announces it is closing.
How do I check if a betting site is licensed in Ireland?
Use the public register of licence holders at grai.ie/register. Search for the operator's company name rather than the brand, because the register lists the legal entity, then compare it with the company named in the site's footer and terms. If the company is not on the register, the site is not licensed by the GRAI to take bets in Ireland.
Can I use a credit card to bet in Ireland?
No, not with a licensed operator. The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 bans credit cards as a payment method for gambling, and the customer-protection part of the Act that contains it was substantially in force by August 2026. Debit cards, bank transfers and other non-credit methods are still allowed.
Is there a national self-exclusion scheme in Ireland?
Not yet in operation. The Act provides for a National Gambling Exclusion Register, and the GRAI said in September 2025 that it was being designed and would follow the start of licensing, but at the time of writing we could not find an announcement that it is live. Until it is, self-exclusion is set up operator by operator, so a bank gambling block or blocking software is the way to cover every site at once.
Are gambling winnings taxed in Ireland?
No. Irish law does not tax an individual's gambling winnings. The tax on betting is Betting Duty, which the operator pays to Revenue on its turnover; the new licensing regime did not change that.
Sources
- Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, register of licence holders — grai.ie
- GRAI, applications for licensing now open (9 February 2026) — grai.ie
- GRAI news, including the National Gambling Exclusion Register update (19 September 2025) — grai.ie
- Revenue, Remote Bookmaker's Licence (licensing moved to the GRAI from 5 February 2026) — revenue.ie
- Matheson, Irish gambling regulatory regime: implementation update (11 August 2026), on S.I. Nos. 21/2026, 31/2026, 170/2026 and 304/2026 — matheson.com
- Racing Post, Betfred taking a temporary pause in Ireland from the end of June — racingpost.com
18+ in Ireland. Bet only with licensed operators and only with money you can afford to lose. If gambling is causing problems for you or someone close to you, free and confidential support is available in Ireland through the HSE and specialist gambling services. Limits, time-outs and more support options are on our responsible gambling page.