Online casino law in Ireland
Casino guides · Ireland 
Ireland rewrote its gambling law in 2024 and is switching it on in stages. Betting is already under the new regulator. Online casino games are next, but not yet. That gap is the single most important fact for an Irish player choosing a casino today, and this guide sets it out from the statute, the commencement order and the regulator's own statements.
This is a summary of public sources, not legal advice.
The Act and the regulator
The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 (No. 35 of 2024) replaces a patchwork of older betting and gaming laws with one licensing system. It created the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), which was formally established on 5 March 2025.
The Act sets out three licence families: betting, gaming (which covers online casino games) and lotteries. Each can be remote (online) or in person. Before the GRAI, online bookmakers held remote bookmaker licences from the Revenue Commissioners, and those licences ran out at the end of June 2026 when the GRAI's own betting licences took over.
What is in force today
A commencement order, S.I. No. 31 of 2026, brought most of the Act into force on 5 February 2026. Large parts were left out on purpose, because the licences they depend on do not exist yet.
| Provision | What it does | Status |
|---|---|---|
| s.67(1) | Offence of providing betting without a licence | In force |
| s.67(2) | Offence of providing a game without a gaming licence | Not in force |
| s.142(1) | No children employed in gambling | In force |
| s.143-151 | Advertising rules, including the broadcast watershed | Not in force |
| s.157 | Ban on targeted inducements | Not in force |
| s.164 | Player-set deposit limits at licensees | In force |
| s.165 | No credit cards or credit at licensees | In force |
| Parts 7-9 | Complaints, enforcement, appeals | In force |
Two things follow. First, an online casino that takes Irish players is not committing the s.67(2) offence today, because that section has not started. Second, the player protections in force bind GRAI licensees. A casino licensed in Malta or Curacao is not a GRAI licensee, so the credit-card ban and the Irish deposit-limit rules do not reach it directly. Its own regulator's rules apply instead.
Licensing timeline
| Date | Step |
|---|---|
| 5 March 2025 | GRAI established |
| 5 February 2026 | Commencement order; GRAI may accept betting licence applications |
| 1 July 2026 | GRAI remote betting licences start; Revenue remote licences end |
| 1 December 2026 | In-person betting licences start |
| Early 2027 | Gaming licences expected, per the Minister on 13 October 2026 |
| 2027-2028 | Further licence types, including lotteries and B2B, open in stages |
The dates for 2027 onwards are the government's stated plan, not fixed in law. We will update this page when the GRAI publishes its gaming licence process.
Bonuses under the Act
Section 157 is the inducement rule. Read carefully, it does two different things:
- A licensee "may not offer a person or specific group of persons an inducement". That catches targeted offers.
- Offers to the general public stay possible, but the Minister may set conditions on them or ban whole classes of inducement by regulation.
Section 157 was not in force in November 2026, and no regulations under it had been made. Public welcome offers, free spins and wager-free deals are therefore lawful to show. Because the targeted-offer ban is coming, our Irish pages list only offers the operator makes to all new players, never offers framed for one audience.
What this means for you
Every online casino open to you today holds a foreign licence. That is not a reason to avoid them, but it changes who protects you. Complaints go to the operator's own regulator, such as the Malta Gaming Authority or the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner, and the quality of that regulator matters. Our casino licences guide compares them, and each Irish casino fact sheet shows the licence we read on the register.
Big brands may hold two licences. Several operators hold GRAI betting licences for their sportsbooks while their casino product runs under a Maltese or Gibraltar licence. A GRAI betting licence on the sportsbook does not cover the casino side.
Irish safeguards still to come. The National Gambling Exclusion Register is provided for in the Act but was not operating by November 2026. Until it is, self-exclusion works site by site, using each operator's own tools.
Payments. Credit cards are banned at GRAI licensees, not at foreign-licensed casinos. Debit cards, Apple Pay and prepaid vouchers are the usual routes; see our Paysafecard casino guide for the voucher option and its limits.
Tax. Irish law does not treat betting and gaming winnings as chargeable gains, and recreational winnings are not normally taxed. Our guide to casino winnings tax in Ireland gives the detail, including where operator duties sit.
Checks. Expect KYC checks before your first withdrawal at any regulated operator. That is a condition of most licences, not a sign of trouble.
What we do and do not say on Irish pages
- We never describe a casino as holding a licence from Ireland until the GRAI actually issues gaming licences and the brand appears on its register.
- We name each site's real licence and regulator.
- We do not frame offers as reserved for our readers or any other group.
- We do not explain how to get around any restriction, block or check.
Getting help
The GRAI's support page lists free services. The National Gambling Helpline, run by GamblingCare.ie, answers on 1800 936 725. MABS, the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, gives free advice on debt and budgeting, and the Samaritans answer on 116 123 at any hour. More options are on our responsible gambling page. Set a deposit limit before you play.
Sources
- irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2024/act/35/enacted/en/print
- irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2026/si/31/made/en/print
- irishstatutebook.ie/2025/en/si/0057.html
- grai.ie/news/commencement-of-gambling-regulatory-authority-of-ireland-remote-betting-licences
- grai.ie/gambling-safety/get-support/get-help
- drugsandalcohol.ie/47032
- revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/2024/act/35/section/157/revised/en/html
Questions players ask
Who regulates gambling in Ireland?
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), set up on 5 March 2025 under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. It has issued remote betting licences since 1 July 2026.
Can an online casino hold a GRAI licence today?
Not yet. Gaming licences, which cover online casino games, were expected to open in early 2027 according to the Minister in October 2026. Online casinos open to Irish players today hold licences from other regulators such as Malta, Gibraltar or Curacao.
Are casino bonuses banned in Ireland?
No. Section 157 of the Act bans licensees from offering inducements to a person or a specific group, but it was not in force by November 2026. Offers to the general public stay allowed, subject to any rules the Minister makes later.
What is the minimum age?
18. The Act defines a child as a person under 18 and bars licensees from letting a child gamble.
Where can I get help in Ireland?
The National Gambling Helpline run by GamblingCare.ie on 1800 936 725, listed on the GRAI's own support page, plus the other services on our responsible gambling page.