The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) is requesting those interested in obtaining a gambling license to register, as it aims to open the licensing portal by the end of this year.
Under the Gambling Regulation Act of 2024, the mission of the Irish Gambling Regulatory Authority is to issue licenses to all forms of gambling operators within Ireland, except for the national lottery.
GRAI began this process yesterday (March 27), asking potential licensees to register their interest in the gambling licenses they seek. GRAI aims to gauge the level of each license applicant to better understand the market size and scope.
It also aims to establish a contact list of potential licensees to update them once the system is launched.
Operators and suppliers can register their licensing interest by participating in the GRAI survey here.
GRAI CEO Anne-Marie Caulfield earlier this month told iGB in an interview that the regulator will prioritize the licensing process over other parts of the regulatory framework, as the "vast majority of obligations" it will enforce are related to the licensing structure.
"We expect to open applications for online and offline gambling licenses by the end of this year. Then, we will enter the online gambling sector at the beginning of 2026 and complete other stages of license issuance by 2027," Caulfield told iGB.
The Irish gambling regulatory authority was established last year under the Gambling Regulation Act of 2024. Once licenses are issued, the authority will implement new restrictions on operators according to the regulatory framework, including advertising time restrictions and promotional limits.
Types of Licenses Offered by Irish GRAI
The regulatory authority will issue three types of gambling licenses: B2C, B2B, and charitable licenses.
B2C operators can register to apply for remote gambling, live gambling, or remote gambling intermediary licenses. Additionally, remote gambling and lottery licenses are available for application.
Gambling service licenses cover online hosting, risk management, software or equipment maintenance, and providing odds and transaction services to licensees.
B2B licenses will cover gaming machines and physical hardware that can be authorized to operators.
Finally, the authority can issue licenses for charitable or charitable purposes. This will include activities such as pool betting or lotteries during events.
However, GRAI notes that it does not expect to open applications for charitable licenses this year. Charitable organizations can still apply for licenses under the current licensing system.
Caulfield told iGB that the upcoming license structure revolves around three main pillars. As part of the regulatory due diligence process, each operator must undergo a company check, financial check, and technical check.
Caulfield said: "We will implement a fairly thorough review system for operators, which is our top priority."
