SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has made the decision to create a closer working relationship with the Kansspelcommissie, the Belgian Gaming Commission (BGC).
In signing a new Memorandum of Understanding, the pair seek to arrange information sharing agreements with other regulatory bodies. The move was made between CEO of GRAI Anne Marie Caulfield and Magali Clavie of the Kansspelcommissie.
Caulfield commented: “This Memorandum of Understanding with the Belgian Gaming Commission is a significant step in formalising the working relationship between Irish and Belgian gambling regulators.”
The GRAI became operational on 5 March, but will not take on its full duties as the regulator of gambling in the Republic of Ireland until next year. The authority was created by the Gambling Regulation Act, the main piece of legislation governing Irish gambling replacing the newly-century old Betting Act of 1931.
IN 2022, ahead of the authority’s creation as part of a legislative overhaul, the Irish government confirmed the appointment of Caulfield as the GRAI’s very first Chief Executive. She was previously the Director of the Residential Tenancies Board, which oversees standards for Irish home rents and disputes between landlords, tenants and third parties.
Crafting closer communication in Europe
As mentioned above, the formation of the GRAI was a statute of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, as sanctioned by the Houses of the Oireachtas in October 2024.
Although it has not fully connected regulatory duties, taking on its full remit next year, the GRAI seems to be making preparations for this by working closely with more well established regulators.
The new deal with Belgium’s regulator is a step towards broader cooperation across the EU and supports the development of effective regulatory practices. It is also the second of a series of MOUs which GRAI intends to put in place with other Gambling Regulators across the EU in the months ahead.
The pair also look to promote a safe gambling environment, focusing on key areas of cooperation, including information exchange, creation of working groups on best practices and conducting joint discussions and strategic planning.
Another shared aim of the new agreement will focus on the ability to discharge their respective duties and functions.
In a similar move, GRAI also signed a MoU with the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) back in April. However, unlike Belgium, Ireland and the UK share a significant number of the same operators and gambling practices.
