We have recently witnessed some changes to the regulations of online gambling in Ireland.
There could be more to come which could have an impact on both players and operators in the country.
Continue below as we assess the new regulations and what they could mean for online gambling in Ireland.
Original Regulations
The original online gambling regulations in Ireland were confusing for many players. There were different bodies overseeing the various sectors of online gambling, with casino and sports betting a good example. There were separate bodies overseeing casinos and sports betting in Ireland, meaning if players wanted to check the license of a gambling operator, it could be issued by a different body.
Furthermore, when it came to online casinos, distinct types of games were overseen by different bodies, with bingo being a good example. This led to a lot of confusion for players, but crypto casinos often operate without the need of a license because the nature of the transactions means they are safe and recorded on the blockchain.
2024 Irish Gambling Regulation Act
The 2024 Irish Gambling Regulation Act came into force in October with the aim of bringing all forms of online gambling in Ireland under one governing body. This not only led to changes in terms of the way online gambling operators were governed but also to other important aspects of the industry, such as advertising. If players were hoping to see advertisements with potential promotions and free bet offers for sporting events throughout the day, they were about to be disappointed as the watershed was set between 5:30 am and 9 pm. That is when most live sporting events are being shown in Ireland.
Targeted bonuses are also a thing of the past in Ireland, thanks to the 2024 Irish Gambling Regulation Act. That does not mean a complete end to all bonuses, it means bonuses targeting new players or high rollers specifically are not acceptable. For players, it means there will be no advertising of welcome bonuses targeting new players, but it does not mean they are not available, just the advertising of them in a targeted way is banned.
What Else Can We Expect in Ireland?
While some online gambling bonuses are still available in Ireland, free bets are being removed in addition to VIP treatment. Free credit and hospitality have also disappeared in Ireland. Looking forward and we could see the regulatory body follow the UK example and introduce deposit and stake limits on casino games, with slots being a good example. In the UK, the maximum stake on one spin of the reels is set at £5, which is something that could come into force in Ireland. That means anyone who likes to bet big on the slots will see the amount they can gamble restricted. We could also see deposit limits set soon, making it compulsory in Ireland for players to set a deposit limit when creating a new account. This could be an issue for players who can afford to bet more now than when creating their account.
2025 is proving to be a big year for online gambling regulation in Ireland, and we expect the changes to continue into 2026.
