The last couple of years have been something of a revolution for Ireland’s gambling industry. In 2024, we saw the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland and the passing of the long-awaited Irish Gambling Regulation Act.
These changes will shape the future of Irish gambling for both players and providers. As an expert in the industry, with over 12 years of experience, I’ll be your guide for understanding this time of change in Irish gambling. Let’s get going!
The Irish Gambling Regulation Act
I’ll start with the most dramatic of changes to Irish gambling regulations we’ve seen in recent years, the Irish Gambling Regulation Act. It was finally signed into law in October 2024, after a long wait from the industry.
Changes to How Irish Gambling is Regulated
Before this change, Ireland’s gambling industry was regulated in a way that can only be described as confusing. There were separate bodies overseeing each of the different specialities in online gambling.
For example, there were separate regulatory bodies for sports betting and online casinos. Sometimes, things got even more complicated, with different games having different bodies, like bingo.
Not only did this complicate knowing which regulations applied to which provider, but it also made obtaining a licence challenging. Providers didn’t always know what category they fell under, especially when they hosted multiple games like online casinos.
The 2024 Irish Gambling Regulation Act aimed to change this. It streamlined the process of licensing and regulation by bringing all providers under the same umbrella. The Act also established a new regulatory body, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland or GRAI. More on them later!
Tightening Restrictions on Gambling Advertisements
In a similar vein to recent changes made by the UK Gambling Commission, the Act took aim at gambling advertising. It implemented a watershed on gambling ads between the hours of 5:30 am and 9 pm. This aims to reduce the exposure of underage groups and vulnerable players to gambling advertisements.
A further change I welcome is banning social media gambling ads. Users will only see a gambling ad on social media if they have already subscribed to or followed the gambling provider’s account.
It should also mean that no social media users under the age of 18 can see gambling ads as their accounts will automatically be excluded. I’m proud to see Ireland lead the way when it comes to tackling this issue. I’ve read many reports that highlight the relationship between prevalent social media gambling ads and increases in underage gambling.
One found that only 43% of young people surveyed could correctly distinguish between a gambling ad and a general gambling-related post. You don’t need me to tell you that this is a massive problem. Those who post gambling ads will naturally want to portray it in a favourable light. This can lead to misconceptions around the activity.
These can be the perceptions that only bad gamblers lose money or that gambling is a way to earn income. Ads do not accurately represent the gambling experience, but those who can’t recognise ads won’t realise this.
That’s why I’m pleased to see that Irish regulators are taking this problem seriously. They’re tackling the problem right at the root by banning ads. I’m interested to see whether there will be any cases where ads slip through the cracks to appear on users’ feeds, but for now, I’m hopeful.
Banning Targeted Bonuses
The Act also introduced some changes to the way providers can offer bonuses. They will no longer be able to target promotions towards a specific group. Don’t worry, this isn’t the end for your favourite bonuses! It just means that bonuses that target a group of people, like high rollers, will be banned.
All bonuses can still be offered to the general public, but they can’t target players who display behaviour that could be high risk. One example that was highlighted was cashback bonuses, where only players who lost over €100 a week were eligible. This reinforces the dangerous behaviour of chasing losses and overspending.
Establishing the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland
As I referenced earlier, the regulatory changes established a new governing body for Irish gambling, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland. They’re responsible for any new regulations on gambling within the country, as well as overseeing which providers get a licence.
Promoting Responsible Gambling
The group has already been busy in their first few months of existence. One of their top priorities was to establish a national gambling exclusion register. The register includes the names of all players in the country who have self-excluded from gambling providers. It means that rather than being on a provider-by-provider basis, self-exclusion is now country-wide. Their next move was to create a Social Impact Fund.
All providers who obtain a licence for commercial gambling purposes will have to pay an annual contribution towards the fund. It’s not yet clear how much this contribution will be. However, the GRAI has outlined how it will be used. The money will go towards supporting initiatives that promote responsible gambling and support problem gamblers.
Tackling Underage Gambling
As well as targeting a reduction in underage gambling through changes to advertisements, the GRAI have also introduced stricter punishments for providers. If a provider, online or land-based, is found guilty of having allowed someone under the age of 18 to gamble, they could face up to eight years in prison and a hefty fine. This even applies to allowing someone under the age of 18 on the premises.
Importantly, these changes aren’t just all talk. The GRAI has the licence to impose these regulations on providers. This means that any found to have not implemented the changes effectively could face fines, their licences being revoked, or even prison.
The punishments for providers are pretty significant, with a max fine of €20,000,000! Ads that appeal disproportionately to young people have also been banned. This refers to any ads that use football players or influencers, for example.
It’s now also illegal for commercial gambling providers to sponsor any events aimed at children or a club that has underage members. Although the extent of this ban has not yet been stated, it will likely mean that gambling providers won’t be able to sponsor sports clubs.
What Changes Could We See in the Future?
Now Ireland’s gambling regulation is finally taking shape, there could be a few more changes on the horizon. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw Irish regulations follow the path set out by those in the UK. This would be stricter regulations on stake limits and mandatory deposit limits.
As of the 21st of May 2025, the UK has set the maximum stake for a single spin on a slot to £5. There’s also a lower limit for those below the age of 25, set at £2. The new limits are intended to help players maintain control over spending.
Irish regulators will be keeping a close eye on the changes. I think we’re likely to see stricter limits on stakes imposed in the upcoming years. The reduction in UK stake limits came after substantial pressure from charities like GamCare, which highlighted the risk of repetitive slot games.
The charity found that 45% of callers to the National Gambling Helpline between 2023 and 2024 mentioned having problems with slots. That’s an 11% increase from the previous study from 2021 to 2022. The new stake limits aim to reduce this number by preventing high-risk behaviour like overspending.
Another change I could easily see making its way to the Emerald Isle is mandatory deposit limits. In the UK, from the 31st of October 2025, providers must require players to set a deposit limit when they’re creating their account. This is an amount they can’t exceed when transferring money to their account.
At the moment, these limits are opt-in and only in place for those who go to the effort of setting them. Making them mandatory means that all players will have to make use of this helpful tool for controlling spending. Depending on how the change goes in the UK, I could definitely see the Irish regulators introducing mandatory deposit limits in the next few years, or even sooner.
So, What Can We Expect From Ireland’s Gambling Regulations?
The main focus of the Irish Gambling Regulation Act and the GRAI is to improve safety and security for players. Already, they’re making important changes to reduce underage and problem gambling across the country. Rules targeting advertisements, bonuses, and self-exclusion all aim to curb concerns around addiction.
There have also been further changes to the very way that gambling providers are licensed and regulated in the country. I’m pleased to see us leading the way when it comes to things like social media and gambling. In the future, it would be great to see a focus on promoting responsible gambling tools, like deposit limits, in line with UK regulation.
Overall, new and upcoming Irish regulations focus on making gambling safer for all players and reducing the instances of underage gambling across the country.
