GRAI Wants 2025 Opening for Licensing Portal
Ireland could be ready to launch its new licensing portal for the gambling industry by the end of the year.
The regulation rollout for Ireland’s gambling industry is gathering pace. © MrWashingt0n, Pixabay
Key Facts:
- GRAI wants those companies that are interested in obtaining a gambling licence to register their interest
- New Gambling Regulation Act 2024 is being rolled out now
- Three types of gambling licences are being made available
- Regulator will be handing out B2C, B2B and charity licences
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), which was created as part of the rollout of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, will be awarding three different types of licenses.
Companies can apply for a B2C, a B2B or a charity licence from the regulator. GRAI is now asking those iGaming businesses and other organisations that are considering applying for a licence to register their interest in doing so now.
The regulator aims to open the licensing portal in the coming months, but there remains a significant amount of work to do if it is to meet that target.
GRAI wants to assess the level of interest at this early stage before moving to the next step.
Steady Progress
GRAI continues to move forward with its plans to provide new regulation of the online gambling industry in Ireland.
Earlier in March, the justice minister Jim O’Callaghan T.D. signed the order to commence parts of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 that then enabled the Authority to become operational.
He also appointed seven new members to the GRAI, including Celine Craig, Rita Purcell and David Hickson. The rest of the panel is made up of Michael McGrath and Colin O’Driscoll.
CEO Anne Marie Caulfield has been put in charge of the GRAI and intends to set up an industry consultant panel.
The aim of asking gambling companies to register their interest is to create a contact list of potential licences.
GRAI will then be able to update all of the companies interested in applying for a gambling license with the next steps once the system is ready to be rolled out.
Licensing Structure Prioritised
GRAI chief executive, Anne-Marie Caulfield, previously said in an interview that the licence process is being made a priority over other parts of the regulatory framework.
She explained in an interview that “the vast majority of the obligations” that the regulator will enforce are related to the licensing structure.
She said: “We anticipate that we’ll be able to open for betting licence [applications] both online and on-site [land-based] before the end of the year. And then we’re moving on to online gaming early in 2026 and then working our way through the other phases of licensing out to 2027.”
The regulatory framework being put in place in Ireland includes new measures for the gambling industry, such as a watershed on advertising hours and restrictions on promotions.
