Irish gambling regulator consulting public on new laws
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has opened a public consultation on three key sets of regulations that will determine which casino games licensed operators can offer, the records they must keep and the player protection information they will be required to provide under the country’s new gambling regime.
The consultation, which opened on August 5, invites submissions from operators, industry stakeholders and members of the public before closing at 3pm on August 20. It marks another significant step in implementing the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, with the GRAI empowered to create detailed regulations governing the newly licensed market.
Among the most closely watched proposals are regulations under Section 86 of the Act, which will establish the official list of games that licensed gaming operators can legally provide. Once licences are issued, operators will only be permitted to offer games included on the prescribed list, with the GRAI saying the proposals have been informed by earlier industry surveys covering both remote and land-based gaming.
The regulator is also seeking feedback on regulations under Section 152, which would require licensees to maintain specified records and accounts. The proposed framework is designed to support auditing, inspections and quarterly regulatory reporting while reflecting international best practice and gambling safety requirements.
A third package of regulations under Section 173 would introduce new obligations for remote gambling operators to provide account holders with detailed information about their gambling activity. The proposals include requirements to send periodic alerts outlining winnings, losses and time spent gambling, while also ensuring customers have immediate access to their gambling history for prescribed periods. Practical implementation guidelines have also been published alongside the draft regulations.
The GRAI said all submissions received during the consultation period will be considered before the regulations are finalised.
The consultation represents the latest milestone in Ireland’s gambling reform mandate, following earlier consultations on licensing fees, licence durations and licence conditions as the regulator continues to build out the framework established under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.
