Basic laws: Betting Act 1931, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956, reforms 2013 and 2022

1) Base Stones: Betting Act 1931 and Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956

Betting Act 1931 - the historical foundation of betting: introduces a licensing regime for bookmakers, prohibits activities without a license and sets the basic definitions and responsibilities (including accounting and supervision) for sports betting and betting products. The act became the backbone of offline bookmaking for decades.

Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 - a separate line for "games" and "lotteries": defines what gaming/lottery is, the scope of permission, the exclusion of "small" entertainment and the procedure for issuing permits. Today it is applied in a consolidated (revised) version, taking into account subsequent amendments.

2) "Reform 2013": a digital U-turn that became law in 2015

In 2013, the government introduced Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013 to "grab" the online segment. After undergoing additional work, it was adopted as Betting (Amendment) Act 2015. The main innovation is the full licensing of remote bookmakers and betting intermediaries/exchanges, as well as the register of licenses from the tax service and the procedure for issuing/depriving them. In fact, this leveled the rules for online and offline. Part of the norms entered into April-August 2015.

• foreign online operators received a legal path to a license in Ireland;
• fiscal and compliance requirements intensified;
• the market for remote bets has left the "gray zone" to transparent rules.

3) Modernization 2019/2020: "tighten" 1956 to reality

• unification of the minimum age of 18 years for all forms of betting/games;
• standardized betting and prize limits in "small" lotteries/draws;
• simplified modes permits (via Garda) and licences (via court) for local games and charity lotteries;
• clarification of authority to control advertising of "small" lotteries.
• The point is to update household/social formats without "big" redrawing the entire system.

4) "Reform 2022": a comprehensive restructuring brought to Act 2024 and the GRAI regulator (2025)

• establishes the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) - a single independent regulator;
• introduces the National Register of Self-Exclusion, strengthened advertising rules (including daytime restrictions), a social fund;
• lays down a new licensing system for B2C and B2B and powerful enforcement powers.
• From March 2025, by order of the minister, the phased introduction of the regime and the launch of GRAI (appointment of members, strategy 2025-2027) began.

What it means for the industry: Moving to "one window" and modern oversight instead of a fragmentary mosaic; emphasis on consumer protection, prohibition of credit cards/credit practices for betting, strict standards of advertising and liability.

5) How layers of law stack up today

Betting: The historic 1931 framework operates in a revised form through Act 2015, covering offline and online bookmakers/exchanges.

Games and lotteries (gaming/lotteries): 1956 "skeleton" in the updated version 2019/2020 for "small" formats and charity lotteries.

New add-on: Act 2024 gradually "overlaps" the old regimes with a single license, advertising restrictions, a register of self-exclusion and centralized supervision of GRAI.

6) Timeline of key milestones

1931 - Betting Act: bookmakers' licences, basic bans and duties.

1956 - Gaming and Lotteries Act: definitions, frames for games/lotteries.

2013 → 2015 - from the bill 2013 is born Betting (Amendment) Act 2015: licensing of remote operators and exchanges.

2019 → 2020 - Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Act 2019 comes into force: single 18 +, prize/bet limits, simplified permits/licences.

2022 → 2024 → 2025 - "big reform": from Bill-2022 to Gambling Regulation Act 2024 and the launch of GRAI (March 2025).

7) What to prepare for market participants

A single regulator and "digital" supervision: more reporting, but less legal uncertainty.

Advertising under tight control and enhanced mechanisms for protecting players (self-exclusion, restrictions on incentives).

Summary licenses and verified compliance for B2C/B2B instead of motley procedures of different eras.

Bottom line: The Irish system went from spot "historical" acts 1931/1956 to modernising online (2015) and local games (2019/2020), and then to comprehensive reform 2022-2024 with the launch of GRAI. This is a shift to a single, predictable and consumer-oriented model, where old laws are not repealed at once, but are "embedded" in the new regulatory architecture.