Ireland’s gambling regulator outlines six-pillar strategy
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has unveiled the six strategic pillars that will guide its oversight of the country’s newly regulated gambling industry, with licensing, compliance and enforcement identified as the regulator’s highest priorities.
Detailed in the GRAI’s first Annual Report, the strategy outlines how the authority intends to build a modern regulatory framework through to 2027 as it assumes responsibility for implementing Ireland’s landmark Gambling Regulation Act.
At the centre of the strategy is the rollout of a phased licensing regime covering betting, gaming, lotteries and charitable gambling, alongside the creation of a comprehensive compliance framework designed to monitor operators using a risk-based approach.
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Enforcement forms the regulator’s third strategic objective, with the GRAI committing to developing a robust enforcement framework capable of addressing breaches of gambling legislation while strengthening anti-money laundering controls.
Consumer protection also features prominently, with the authority pledging to reduce gambling-related harm through research, education, public awareness campaigns and the future operation of the Social Impact Fund established under the Gambling Regulation Act.
The remaining strategic priorities focus on building the regulator itself through investment in staff, governance and organisational capability, while adopting a “digital first” approach that uses technology and data to improve regulatory oversight and compliance.
GRAI Chairperson Paul Quinn said the authority had spent its first year establishing the governance, regulatory systems and operational foundations needed to regulate the industry effectively.
“Strong governance has been central to this work. Effective structures, policies, and digital systems have been developed to support our regulatory independence, integrity and effective decision making,” Quinn said.
Chief Executive Anne Marie Caulfield said the strategy was designed to position Ireland alongside the world’s leading gambling regulators.
“We have recruited expertise from across government, regulators and industry to build the foundations that will guide us toward the future as a trusted, recognised, and effective regulator of the sector, one that puts public health at the centre of all operations,” she said.
The report notes that the authority benchmarked its approach against established gambling regulators in jurisdictions including the United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden, Germany and Malta while also engaging with international standard-setting bodies as it developed its regulatory model.
Launched in late 2024, the GRAI is responsible for regulating and licensing gambling services in Ireland under the Gambling Regulation Act, replacing the country’s previous fragmented regulatory framework.
