Page Contents
Key contacts
Related areas
The first Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) licences will issue on 1 July 2026 and the window for submitting applications is closing fast. In particular, legal notices must be published by 3 June 2026 to meet the 1 July 2026 deadline.
Online betting operators
From 1 July 2026, Ireland’s new gambling regulator, the GRAI will begin issuing its first licences. All online betting operators, whether existing licensees or new entrants to the Irish market, will require a remote betting licence from the GRAI in order to operate in the Irish market from that date. This will fully replace the previous regime operated by Revenue, the Irish tax authority.
The GRAI has been actively encouraging operators to submit their applications early to ensure that there’s enough time to process any queries or requests for additional information. The first step for all operators who haven’t done so already is to publish a ‘notice of intent’ to apply for a betting licence. This must appear in both the print and online edition of a national newspaper at least 28 days prior to submitting their application. A copy of the notice must also be sent to the GRAI at the time of publication. Because the notice must be published at least 28 days before the application is submitted, operators who have not published by 3 June 2026 will be unable to complete their licence application by 1 July 2026.
Operators who have yet to begin the process should publish their legal notice immediately and begin preparing the licence application and all supporting documentation so that the application can be progressed during the 28-day notice period. The GRAI have published detailed guidance on the requirements for legal notices and the licence application process.
On 1 July 2026, the GRAI’s enforcement powers will kick in. It will have broad powers to investigate non-compliant betting operators and following adjudication, may impose administrative sanctions (which are subject to court approval) such as suspension or revocation of a licence or to direct the payment of significant fines. It will also be able to seek court orders directing unlicensed operators to cease activity, internet service providers to block internet access, financial institutions to freeze bank accounts, and directing unlicensed operators to refund stakes to consumers.
In-person betting operators
While remote betting operators are the immediate priority, in-person betting operators should also be aware that the GRAI will begin to issue in-person licences from 1 December 2026.
In-person operators should make themselves aware of the new requirements and begin to collect the necessary documents well in advance. In particular, the GRAI must carry out a premises suitability assessment under section 99 of the Act, which considers factors including the size and layout of the premises, security measures (including CCTV), the proximity of the premises to schools, and whether the premises communicates internally with other non-gambling premises. Operators will need to provide detailed maps, plans, and supporting documentation. Early engagement with the process is recommended to ensure no gap in compliance. The GRAI Guidance for applicants intending to apply for an in-premises licence can be found here.
Gaming and lotteries
The most recent indication from the GRAI suggests that the next phase of licences to be rolled out will be in-person and remote gaming licences, sometime in 2027.
If you have any gambling-related queries or require support in relation to a licence application to the GRAI, please contact Katie O'Connor, partner, Denise Daly Byrne, partner, Laura Quinn, senior associate or David O’Reilly, solicitor or any member from our Betting, Gaming & Licensing Group.
Date published: 20 May 2026
