The ROI (Republic of Ireland) is about to undergo major changes within its gambling landscape. Specifically, the GRAI (Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland) has given residents a peek into the future with the recent release of the Statement of Strategy 2025-2027. Paired with the new Gambling Regulation Act 2024, this signals a significant shift in how things will operate, especially with the addition of technological innovations. Think of the Statement of Strategy as a roadmap for the tightened regulations to help boost Ireland into a regulated, safety-first European market.
The Paradox: Protection vs. Player Choice
The introduction of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 is meant to positively push gambling forward in the region. A good example of this is how such a framework will see the emergence of more and more licensed, accountable casino/sports betting operators. One requirement these operators will need to follow includes the new bank card self-exclusion initiative, which aligns with the National Gambling Exclusion Register (BetStop). Simply put, punters will be able to block their bank cards from gambling sites (courtesy of the GRAI's partnership with the IBCB, PTSB, and Bank of Ireland).
While these measures are put into place with player safety in mind, there are still many punters who might seek out trusted sites not on BetStop. This stems from a need for more flexibility in terms of access and perks. Beyond fewer restrictions, such platforms offer players better odds, fast withdrawals, and higher payment limits. Bigger bonuses, secure payment options, and a wider variety of pokies present a unique experience that current Irish operators may not be able to offer. These are also promotions that may not be present under the GRAI regime, but are still a good way for players to remain safe.
Deep Dive: The GRAI’s Strategic Roadmap
GRAI's roadmap is built on prevention, protection, and evidence-based regulation, from which six key areas stand out. This includes licensing, monitoring, enforcement, consumer protection, people/governance, and a digital-first approach, all of which align with the initial Gambling Act. The goal of this is:
Licensing & Accountability
In July 2025, GRAI published its licensing requirements ahead of the system's launch, with the intent of giving operators a heads-up. The recent Statement of Strategy 2025-2027 further breaks this down, providing a timeline of three years for these changes. B2C operators will be allowed to submit their applications for licenses first (think of this as the first wave). B2B (or philanthropic/charity) models will be handled at a later date. As B2C applications are only expected to open in late 2025 (a date yet to be announced), it can be safe to assume B2B and remote operators will only get preference in early 2026.
Consumer Protection & Awareness (The Heart of the Strategy)
At the strategy's core is a focus on gambling's social impact, wherein GRAI is prioritising player safety. For one, the Social Impact Fund was established as a means of using industry levies to give back to punters in the region. The goal is to address any gaps in the current strategy when it comes to treatment, recovery support, and preventative action. Such a change showcases that operators are not just randomly being charged with excessive licensing fees. Rather, these funds will support research and other educational initiatives to combat potential harm.
Enforcement and Digital-First
There is much talk of how GRAI will essentially become Ireland's own gambling watchdog. One way this will be done is through the implementation of data-driven monitoring and compliance systems. Already, these are in development and being created to detect any potential breaches early, before any damage is done. To further ensure compliance with strict AML (Anti-Money Laundering) and CTF regulations, heavy sanctions will be issued if these requirements are violated. Dedicated investigation and enforcement units will be established to showcase real authority and ensure that any non-compliance is correctly handled.
The Northern Ireland Contrast
While there have been great strides made in ROI, this is a stark contrast to how NI (Northern Ireland) is performing. Of course, this region follows a completely different gambling framework from the ROI, a 1985 law that bans the operation of casinos across NI. However, efforts have been made to break away from this outdated regulatory framework and lean into a newer regime. The lack of regulation has not only led to concerns regarding player safety (as many need to turn to offshore sites) but also to the economic impact.
By keeping such a large sector unregulated, the government loses out on a large revenue stream that could be dedicated to bettering cities and communities. As such, the Northern Ireland Assembly has moved forward with aligning gambling rules with Great Britain's standards. While this is still an ongoing process, there have been discussions to oversee physical casinos with a land-based levy system. Additionally, age restrictions will be put in place, and a betting limit (a cap) will be placed on some gambling machines across the nation.