UK and Irish gambling regulators improve working relationship

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI).

The agreement – which comes as UKGC CEO Andrew Rhodes visited Dublin to meet with GRAI CEO Anne Marie Caulfied this week – ‘establishes a framework for cooperation’ and sets out the principles of collaboration between the pair.

Caulfield commented: “This MoU with the UK Gambling Commission is an important step in formalising the working relationship between the two regulators and I would like to thank Andrew Rhodes, and a number of his colleagues across the various areas of the Commission for their advice and support over the past number of months.”

Open dialogue and close cooperation

Since the UK and Ireland share many of the same operators and gambling practices, putting this agreement in place will enhance the ability to share information and discharge respective regulatory responsibilities effectively.

“Open dialogue and close cooperation between both jurisdictions is paramount and I greatly look forward to continuing this close cooperation for the years to come,” continued Caulfield.

In further news, the UKGC has recently announced it will apply new rules on gambling incentives and promotional wording to ensure UK licences apply safe and fair terms for consumers.  

Measures include changes to end harmful marketing practices and improve consumer understanding of bonus offers and terms used, which the Commission previously detailed as an outstanding concern. 

Following a consultation, the Commission will apply a ban on promotional incentives that combine different types of gambling products, a cap on bonus wagering requirements, and a revision of the wording in the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) to improve clarity. 

New rules and reforms will become effective from 19 December 2025 as part of the broader programme of regulatory change aligned with the 2023 White Paper ‘High stakes: gambling reform for the digital age’.