SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Ireland’s new gambling regulator has moved to address industry concerns about proposed licence fees and durations after concluding its first public consultation under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has published its response this week, analysing 27 formal submissions received from operators, consultants, public bodies, and civil society organisations.
The feedback focused on three key areas: application fees, licence durations, and additional licence conditions. According to the Authority, most of the feedback was constructive.
“The majority of submissions, particularly from industry operators, expressed either supportive or pragmatic views on the proposals, including constructive suggestions for enhancement, rather than fundamental objections,” the GRAI said.
Fee model questioned
The most contentious issue was the application fee structure, particularly the use of the term “turnover” as the basis for calculating costs. Industry respondents flagged the risk of unfairly penalising low-margin businesses and said the methodology lacked clarity.
GRAI acknowledged the confusion: “Where concerns were raised… these often stemmed from misunderstandings or divergent interpretations of terms within the Act, such as ‘turnover’,” it said. The regulator confirmed it would issue “guidance documents” to clarify how turnover should be interpreted under the law.
On the €1,200 premises fee, several stakeholders argued that it was too blunt and disproportionately impacted smaller land-based operators. GRAI responded that it would ensure the regulations “clarify the position in relation to premises fees, as these apply to all premises applying for a betting or gaming licence.”
The Authority also dismissed direct comparisons to the UK licensing regime, explaining that its responsibilities were broader:
“Many of the regulatory obligations that will be part of the GRAI’s responsibilities are not part of the Gambling Commission’s remit in Great Britain and instead are part of the functions of local councils,” the statement read.
The regulator further pointed out that fees are designed to reflect the cost of overseeing a self-funded, modern licensing regime.
“It is important to ensure that the fees payable for that licence reflect the related regulatory costs… taking into account the size and complexity of an operator’s business in terms of the risks to the licensing objectives,” the GRAI said.
Licences length under consideration
Under current proposals, licence terms would be set at three years. While this won support from a small number of respondents, most operators urged the GRAI to consider longer terms in line with other EU markets, such as five years in Germany and France.
GRAI acknowledged the feedback but maintained that three years is an appropriate launch point. “The GRAI acknowledges the theme of the responses in relation to the consideration of an extension of the licence term… but are satisfied that three-years duration is an appropriate starting point,” it said.
Nonetheless, the regulator added: “The GRAI will commit to keeping the licence term under review as the licensing regulatory framework is established.”
Stakeholders also pressed for greater transparency on renewal fees and administrative requirements. GRAI accepted the need for clarity and promised to “communicate relevant fee structures in a timely and constructive manner.”
EC applications
The next formal step will see the GRAI notify the European Commission of its proposed licensing framework via the TRIS procedure, required under Directive (EU) 2015/1535 to ensure harmonised technical regulation across the bloc.
“The GRAI intends to proceed with the formal notification of the regulations… under the Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS),” it stated.
Looking ahead, the Authority reaffirmed its commitment to stakeholder dialogue. “The GRAI will continue to engage with stakeholders as we implement the licensing framework and where necessary, provide further guidance,” it said, adding: “Constructive dialogue remains central to our approach.”
In closing, GRAI positioned its regulatory efforts as transparent, evidence-based and proportionate. The framework, it said, is designed to “foster a well-regulated, transparent, and socially responsible gambling environment in Ireland.”
