Gambling Licence in Ireland

Overview

Ireland has historically regulated betting and gaming through a fragmented patchwork of older statutes, including the Betting Acts and the Gaming and Lotteries Acts, administered by different bodies such as the Revenue Commissioners and District Courts. The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 replaces that framework with a single, modern, risk-based licensing system overseen by a new statutory body: the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), formally established in 2025. The GRAI is responsible for licensing and supervising gambling activities across the State, including online and in-person betting and gaming and business-to-business (B2B) supply, as well as enforcing consumer-protection, advertising and anti-money-laundering standards and operating the National Gambling Exclusion Register and a Social Impact Fund. The regime is being rolled out in phases, so the precise sequence in which different licence categories open is still evolving. Legarithm tracks these developments and positions each client to apply as the relevant category becomes available.

Who it suits

An Irish gambling licence appeals to operators who want a reputable EU-based authorisation in an English-speaking, common-law jurisdiction. It suits online betting and gaming operators targeting or already serving Irish consumers, retail bookmakers and amusement/gaming venues, and B2B suppliers of gambling software, platforms, odds and related services. Because EU membership and a 12.5% trading tax rate sit alongside a transparent statutory regulator, Ireland is attractive to groups that value substance, banking access and reputation over the lightest-touch offshore options, and to operators preparing for the day when serving the Irish market without a GRAI licence is no longer lawful.

Eligibility and requirements

The GRAI framework is built around fitness, probity and consumer protection. While detailed regulations and guidance continue to be published, applicants should generally expect to demonstrate: a suitable corporate structure with clearly identified beneficial owners; fit-and-proper status of directors, key persons and controllers, including background and integrity checks; sound financial standing, segregation of player funds and credible funding sources; robust anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing controls; technical and operational systems capable of meeting Irish standards; and player-protection measures aligned with the Act’s safer-gambling rules, advertising and sponsorship restrictions, and mandatory participation in the National Gambling Exclusion Register. Separate licence types apply to B2C betting, B2C gaming and B2B activities, and the obligations attached to each differ.

Process and timeline

The pathway typically begins with an eligibility and strategy assessment to confirm the correct licence category and structure. We then assist with company arrangements where needed, compile the application dossier (corporate documents, ownership charts, source-of-funds and source-of-wealth evidence, AML and safer-gambling policies, and key-person information), and submit to the GRAI through the channels it specifies. Because the authority and its processes are newly established and being implemented in stages, statutory timelines are not yet fixed and should be treated as indicative; current expectations for your category are available on request. Legarithm manages correspondence with the regulator and helps you respond promptly to information requests and clarifications, which is often where avoidable delay arises.

Costs

Fees under the new regime are set by regulation and are still being finalised across licence categories; some are expected to scale with operator turnover, and licensees will also contribute to the Social Impact Fund. Engagement costs therefore combine official GRAI fees and levies with professional advisory fees. We provide a transparent, written estimate tailored to your activity and scale, with current figures confirmed on request rather than fixed numbers that may quickly date as the secondary legislation is published.

Comparison and context

Compared with offshore hubs such as Curaçao or Anjouan, Ireland offers full EU standing, English-language administration and a strong reputational profile that eases relationships with banks and payment providers, at the cost of more rigorous compliance. Relative to Malta, a long-established EU igaming hub, Ireland is a newer regulatory destination whose framework is still maturing, which can mean both first-mover opportunity and near-term uncertainty for early applicants. Legarithm helps you weigh Ireland against these alternatives and select the licence that fits your commercial goals and risk appetite.