SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Irish betting and gaming companies, from bookmakers to tech developers, have been requested to register their interest in a gambling licence under its new framework.
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has shared the request across social media channels, stating that it wants to make the licensing process as seamless as possible.
“To assist in our preparations for the roll out of the new Licensing regime and ensuring a scalable, efficient and effective roll out we are requesting all interested parties to register their interest for a licence in the Irish market,” a GRAI LinkedIn statement read.
All companies providing betting, gaming or lottery services in Ireland will have to apply for a licence under the new framework, governed by the Gambling Act 2024 – the culmination of a two year legislative process.
The Gambling Act was introduced to the Irish legislature, the Oireachtas, in 2022 with the purpose of updating Ireland’s gambling regulations. The country last regulated gambling in the 1930s, and policymakers felt the framework was in urgent need of an upgrade to meet the condition of a modern, digital-heavy marketplace.
New licences for a new era
Ireland’s online gambling marketplace is expected to generate total revenue of €1.2bn by the end of 2025, with the overall industry figure increasing even more when retail betting, casinos and lotteries are factored in.
The country is home to some notable domestic firms which have found international success – Flutter Entertainment‘s Paddy Power; BoyleSports, the largest independent bookmaker in the UK and Ireland; and AK Bets, which embarked on international expansion this month in the UK.
Overseas firms too have set up shop in Ireland. Sky Bet, which like Paddy Power is also owned by Flutter Entertainment, alongside the likes of bet365 and William Hill, are notable Irish market incumbents.
Meanwhile, Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI) was the subject of an acquisition by France’s Française des Jeux (FDJ), now FDJ United, in 2023. Interest also extends to the B2B space, with companies like US giant DraftKings viewing Ireland as a useful hub for technology expertise.
As in other markets, such as the neighbouring UK, the growth of Ireland’s gaming market has led to extensive concerns about the societal impact, including gambling related harm. The relationship between gambling and sports has also come under pressure as a result of this.
This contributed to the need for the Gambling Act 2024, which established the GRAI and a social impact fund, whereby contributions from gambling revenue will support societal efforts.
Recognising the breadth of Ireland’s gambling industry, the GRAI will issue three types of licences – B2C ones for operators and lotteries, B2B ones for tech firms and other suppliers, and charitable and philanthropic licences, which will likely be for gambling harm prevention and treatment organisations.
Under legislative plans, Ireland’s Revenue Commission will oversee the transition from the old licence system to the new one. The GRAi is encouraging current licence holders, and prospective ones, to register interest in order to make this transition as smooth as possible.
“Upon commencement of the relevant sections of the Act, if your business is providing betting, gaming or lottery services to customers or organisations based in Ireland you will need a licence to operate,” the GRAI continued.
The GRAI is set to take full regulatory control of Ireland’s betting and gaming sector in 2026, although it began performing some duties in January this year under the leadership of its CEO, Anne Marie Caulfield.
