Creation of a new body: Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland

1) Where GRAI came from: the law, the start date, why it is needed

Legal framework - Gambling Regulation Act 2024: the law was adopted in the fall of 2024 and provides for the creation of a single independent gambling regulator GRAI and a single licensing system instead of the "mosaic" of old acts.

On March 4, 2025, the Minister of Justice issued the first decree on the enactment of the law (Commencement Order), the main focus is the formal establishment of GRAI; March 5, 2025 declared the "day of establishment" and the beginning of operating activities.

2) Who leads and how the body works

In March 2025, the composition of the council was approved, Paul Quinn was appointed chairman; previously appointed CEO Anne Marie Caulfield led the launch. The terms of the first appointments are 3-4 years.

By status, GRAI is an independent, self-funded regulator in the Justice Department's orbit, with a mandate for licensing, compliance monitoring and enforcement.

3) Mandate and functional blocks

1. licensing; 2) monitoring and compliance; 3) enforcement; 4) consumer protection and information; 5) people/management; 6) digital first. This is a roadmap for building a regime until 2027.

4) Licensing: who gets permits and how

Act 2024 introduces a comprehensive licensing system for online and offline operators (betting, gaming, certain lotteries) and for B2B providers; previous permits must be reissued in a new circuit. The strategy involves the phased launch of license types.

5) Consumer protection: self-exclusion, payment restrictions

National Register of Self-Exclusion. A single online platform will allow the player to exclude himself from all licensed online operators at once.

Banning credit cards and lending. Licensees are prohibited from accepting payment by credit cards or other electronic means "downloaded" from a credit card; credit products and ATMs at gambling outlets are also banned.

6) Advertising and marketing: "watershed" and online restrictions

The act gives GRAI the authority to tightly regulate advertising, including the "watershed": the prohibition of gambling advertising on TV/radio (and a number of streaming services) from 05:30 to 21:00, with specified exceptions (for example, charity lotteries; National Lottery outside the scope of the Act). For online sites and social networks, there are strict targeting/restriction modes. The implementation of details goes through by-laws and codes.

7) Supervision and enforcement

GRAI receives expanded powers of control and sanctions: monitoring compliance, maintaining registers of licenses, investigations, administrative measures and prosecutions in case of serious violations, priority is the protection of minors and vulnerable groups.

8) What It Changes for the Market (2025-2027)

Transition to "one window" mode: uniform rules for remote and ground operators that require updating licenses and internal policies.

Systematic launch of defense tools: national self-exclusion, advertising control, general standards of responsible play.

Operational maturity: focus on compliance processes, AML/KYC, risk management and on provable consumer protection as part of licensing responsibilities.

9) Timeline of key milestones

October 23, 2024 - Act 2024 is signed and published.

March 4, 2025 - First Commencement Order: GRAI's legal establishment.

March 5, 2025 - "day of institution," the body becomes operational.

October 15, 2025 - publication of the GRAI 2025-2027 Strategy (licensing, compliance, enforcement, consumer protection, governance, digital).

Bottom line. GRAI is Ireland's new gambling regulatory architecture: a single independent regulator, a single register and licensing, a "watershed" of advertising, a ban on credit cards, national self-exclusion and enhanced enforcement. The launch of 2025 and the roadmap to 2027 move the market from a fragmented model to a transparent and consumer-focused mode, with clear expectations for product, payments, communications and responsible play.