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Gambling watchdog can begin issuing licences

The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has signed an order that will allow the gambling regulator to begin issuing remote and in-person betting licences.

The order, which comes into effect on 5 February, commences key parts of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.

It enables the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) to start accepting and processing applications from betting operators and issuing licenses.

The order also brings into force the necessary enforcement and oversight and complaints mechanisms that underpin the new licensing framework.

‘Simplified framework’

It also commences sections of the 2024 act that amend and repeal existing legislation on the statute book – including the Totalisator Act 1929 and the Betting Act 1931.

Minister Jim O’Callaghan described the move as “another important step towards replacing Ireland’s outdated gambling laws with a streamlined and simplified licensing framework”.

Under the order, the GRAI can issue licences for new entrants to the market as soon as is feasible, licence remote operators from 1 July, and in-person operators from 1 December, when their existing licences expire.

Enforcement powers

The minister added that the act provided the GRAI with the necessary enforcement powers to take action where licensees failed to comply with licensing terms, conditions, and regulations, and to deal with unlicensed operators, those operating without the correct licence, or those in contravention of the terms of a licence issued by the authority.

The order allows the watchdog to issue fines of up to €20 million or 10% of a licensee’s turnover, whichever is the greater, where they are found to be in contravention of the 2024 legislation.

It also allows the GRAI to apply to the court for an order directing illegal operators to cease operations.

The order also provides for the commencement of several other key measures:

• Prohibiting the use of credit cards as a means of payment for gambling,
• Prohibitions on allowing a child to gamble or to be employed by licensees,
• Enabling customers to set monetary limits on how much they can gamble online or remotely,
• Obligations on licensees to notify the GRAI of suspicious gambling activity,
• Obligations on remote gambling providers to protect children online,
• Regulating the operation of online gambling accounts,
• Safeguards for account holders, such as the ability of the GRAI to limit the amount of money that can be lodged with a licensee, and
• Obligations concerning the closure of accounts and refunds of money.