Ireland’s Gambling Laws and Regulations

Over the last 10 years, gambling laws and regulations in Ireland have been changing constantly to ensure consumer protection, fairness, and industry integrity. On this page, you will find out the most important updates regarding these laws and how they affect you and your online gambling journey.

Understanding Gambling Laws in Ireland

Ireland’s gambling regulation only took shape six years after independence, with the 1931 Betting Act. This regulation did not extend to casino gambling, which was only legalised with the 2013 Gambling Control Bill.

The Legal Structure of Gambling in Ireland

Four major acts and bills govern the legal structure of gambling in Ireland. Here is an overview of them:

• The Betting Acts 1931 to 2015: Popularly known as the ‘Betting Acts,’ they govern betting and provide licences to bookmakers, and remote betting intermediaries.
• Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956: The Act regulates all lotteries except the National Lottery. All of them require a permit or a licence.
• National Lottery Act 2013: This Act regulates the National Lottery and its licence. Premier Lotteries Ireland DAC, the sole operator, provides these licences.
• Gambling Regulation Act 2024: This is the most recent Act, and it established the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland. This body will regulate all types of gambling and some lotteries as defined by Irish law, except the National Lottery.

What is Classified as Gambling in Ireland?

The Irish law primarily distinguishes between three major types of gambling: betting, gaming, and lotteries. Here’s a deeper look at them:

• Betting: Irish law does not define the word bet. According to the Betting Acts, “the word bet includes wager.” Betting, therefore, covers a bookmaker setting fixed odds, accepting bets, and paying out winnings for a future event.
• Gaming: According to the Gaming and Lotteries Acts, gaming is “playing a game (whether of skill or partly of skill and partly of chance) for stakes hazarded by the players.”
• Lotteries: Lotteries can be classified into the National Lottery and other lotteries. According to the Gaming and Lotteries Acts, lottery “includes all competitions for money or money’s worth involving guesses or estimates of future events or of past events, the results of which are not yet ascertained or not yet generally known.”

Online Gambling Laws in Ireland

In 2024, the Gambling Regulation Act was passed after a twenty-month passage through the Oireachtas. This Act repeals all existing laws to consolidate the regulation of gambling in Ireland. In addition, it establishes the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRAI), the new authority that will regulate gambling in the territory.

Is Online Gambling Permitted in Ireland?

Online gambling is not illegal in Ireland. In 2003, internet gambling was legalised, and the first online gambling site was launched the following year. From then on, some forms of gambling, like betting, were provided with licences. In addition, no law forbade players from playing on licensed offshore gambling platforms.

In 2024, the Gambling Regulation Act was passed. This act established the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland. It became fully operational on March 5, 2025, and has the following functions:

• License and regulate gambling services in Ireland.
• Establish a National Gambling Exclusion Register.
• Establish a Social Impact Fund.
• Restrict gambling-related advertisement and sponsorship.
• Barr children from participating in gambling and any related activities.
• Support and protect people with gambling addictions.

Online Casino Licensing in Ireland

When the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 is fully implemented and the Regulatory of Authority Gambling in Ireland fully established, gambling platforms will need licences to operate in Ireland.

The GRAI has not yet published the requirements for B2B licences. However, it states that all existing licences will continue to operate under the Revenue Commissioners to ensure a smooth transition.

Key Rules for Online Casinos in Ireland

Operators must comply with the GRAI’s rules to provide gambling services in Ireland. The focus of these rules is ensuring player protection and access to responsible gambling tools. Find an overview of these rules below:

• Fair gaming practices: Operators must provide players with fair gambling services and protect them from fraudulent or harmful practices.
• Data protection: Operators must ensure that player data is safeguarded by securely protecting their personal information and handling financial transactions.
• Responsible gambling measures: Players must be able to access responsible gambling tools on operator sites. Some of them include deposit and loss limits, time-outs, and self-exclusion.
• Anti-money laundering laws: Operators must follow the Regulation for Anti-Money Laundering by reporting suspicious transactions, keeping a record of registered users, and enforcing customer due diligence, among other things.

Player Rights and Protections

Now more than ever, player rights and protections are the focus of gambling regulation in Ireland. This section will break down how the GRAI will maintain a balance between player entertainment and protection.

Consumer Protection Measures in Irish Gambling

Many of the Gambling Regulation Act’s Measures focus on player protection and protection of vulnerable people. Here’s how:

• Self-exclusion programmes: All operators must have self-exclusion programmes. In addition, the GRAI will implement a nationwide self-exclusion register that will allow these players to bar themselves from several sites at once.
• Gambling addiction resources: The Social Impact Fund will be established by the GRAI. This fund will finance research, training, and education on gambling addiction.
• Secure payment options: The Gambling Act defines acceptable payment methods. Operators will not be allowed to accept payments through credit cards or extend credit to players. This prohibition also applies to transactions through electronic or digital wallets funded by credit cards.

Promoting Responsible Gambling in Ireland

The GRAI will partner with GamblingCare.ie and other like-minded organizations to promote responsible gambling in Ireland. To do this, they will run gambling awareness campaigns to promote public awareness and provide information to the general public regarding online gambling regulation.

For a broader focus on safe and responsible gambling, the GRAI will develop safeguards to protect players from problem gambling. It will also ensure that children and other vulnerable groups cannot access gambling content.

Seeking Help for Gambling Issues in Ireland

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) of Ireland estimates that 1-in-30 adults suffer from problem gambling. However, Extern, an Irish-based charity, estimates that an additional 6 to 10 could be impacted by gambling harms. Players who are part of this demographic can seek help through the following resources:

• GambleAware: This service offers free advice, tools, and support that helps people stay safe from the harms of problem gambling. The helpline is not available in Ireland. However, Irish players can use the gambling harms assessment, gambling spend calculator, and other tools.
• Gamblers Anonymous Ireland: This is a fellowship of men and women who share their experiences and lend strength to each other. The aim is to solve their common gambling problem. You can find a meeting in your area on the website.
• GamblingCare.ie: This resource organises campaigns to broaden awareness about the harms of problem gambling. It also provides help to players affected by problem gambling and ensures that they get support. The national helpline is 1800 936 725, available every day from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm.
• Extern Problem Gambling: Extern Problem Gambling provides support to anyone affected by problem gambling harms. This includes, but is not limited to, free counseling services and self-help material. The helpline is available Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm through 0892415401.

Choosing a Licensed and Secure Online Casino in Ireland

As much as the GRAI plays a part in regulating gambling, players staying safe while they gamble online starts with their choice of casino . For better-informed decisions, players can use the following factors.

Verifying Gambling Site Licensing and Regulation

All casinos must be licensed and regulated to provide safe gambling services to their players. As of March 2025, the GRAI will be in charge of providing licences to operators. In the meantime, players can still gamble legally at licensed offshore operators, ensuring safety and fairness. Some offshore regulators and licensors include:

• United Kingdom Gambling Commission
• Malta Gaming Authority
• Curacao Gaming Control Board
• Alderney Gambling Control Commission

Fair Play and Random Number Generator (RNG) Audits

Random Number Generators (RNGs) are sophisticated algorithms necessary to ensure that the outcomes of casino games are completely unbiased and unpredictable. This tool ensures that all games are fair to players and that they are not being cheated. External auditors like eCOGRA, iTechLabs, and QUINEL test the reliability of RNGs at casinos. After auditing, they issue certificates, which can be found in the footer of the casino’s page.

Secure Payment Methods for Online Gambling

It is crucial for players to choose online payment methods with a track record of security. This ensures that their financial data is kept safe from unauthorised third parties. Some secure payment methods are VISA, MasterCard, bank transfers, Bitcoin, Neteller, and Revolut.

Frequently Asked Questions