Future regulation of the online market

1) New architecture: "one window" and digital surveillance

Ireland is moving from piecemeal rules to a single model under the umbrella of new regulator GRAI. For online, this means:

A single ladder of licenses for B2C operators (bets, games, lottery products) and separate B2B licenses for platforms, content providers, payment and KYC providers.
Digital-first supervision: regular uploads of events and incidents, electronic registries, remote audits, standardized telemetry for UX restrictions and RG.

2) Move to fully legalize online gaming

The historical "offshore" mode for casinos/slots will be replaced by national licenses. Key elements:

RNG/RTP certification and clear requirements for releases, updates and logging.
Live content under supervision: delays, studio monitoring, anti-colluding, SLA per stream.
Transparent jackpots: formation/payout rules, trigger frequency, public disclaimers.

3) Payments & Finance Default Security

The new frame will fix "no credit cards" and increase transparency:

Banning credit cards and any indirect lending schemes.
Open banking/A2A in priority: fast deposits and T + 0/T + 1 outputs with visible ETA.
SoF/AML by risk: sources of funds, anomaly monitoring, sanctions/PEP checks; uniform reporting formats for operators and wallets.
Return and chargeback standards: clear deadlines, logging decisions, protection against "catching up" behavior.

4) Advertising and promotion: "quieter, more targeted, more honest"

Tightening is expected in four areas:

Time windows and prohibition of untargeted advertising for minors/vulnerable groups.
Honest T & Cs: conditions of promo "in one scroll," prohibition of hidden barriers, mandatory RG messages.
Responsibility of affiliates: solidarity - for creativity, targeting and landing pages.
Influencers and sports: strict rules for tonality, audience age and sponsorship marking.

5) Consumer protection and "responsible design"

Online UX must support safe play out of the box:

National Register of Self-Exclusion with Cross-Operator Action; offline integration - as the next step.
One-click tools: deposit/loss/time limits, timeouts, self-exclusion; reminders of the duration of the session.
Publishing chances and RTP in the game card, prohibiting manipulative animation and "false control."
Soft stop signals: notifications for signs of overheating (quick deposits, protracted sessions, "dogon").

6) Data, algorithms and "explainable" AI

The regulator will require controllability and transparency of data:

Real-time events (deposits, bets, bonuses, RG actions) → showcases for compliance, fraud, marketing.
Explainable AI in critical solutions (limits, SoF/affordability, anti-fraud): model passport, offset control, version audit.
Storage and access: data minimization policies, encryption, incident control and user notifications.

7) Enforcement: from warnings to lockdowns

The toolkit will strengthen and become faster:

Prescriptions, fines, suspension/revocation of the license, personal responsibility of the management for systemic violations.
Traffic and payments: interaction with ISPs/payment providers to limit unlicensed activities.
Cross-border collaboration with EC/UK regulators to share information and stop offenders "moving."

8) Transition: how migration will happen

Grandfathering: acting. ie operators and suppliers will be reissued according to the schedule.

Gap analysis: operators will compare their processes with new codes (payments, advertising, RG, reporting).

Pilots and sandboxes: limited experiments for innovation (for example, new live/AR formats), but under tight reporting.

9) Market Impact: Fewer Gray Areas, Higher Entry Barriers

Consolidation: an increase in the cost of compliance will push to enlargement and partnerships.

Growing Trust: National Casino Vertical License + Fast Payouts = Above NPS and Retention.

Professionalization of affiliation: a "white" performance with verifiable traffic sources and transparent tracking will survive.

10) What to expect for the player

More transparency: clear chances, bonus rules, payout statuses with ETA.

More control: fast limits, self-exclusion, time and expense notifications.

More protection: ad filters, verification guarantees and secure payments.

11) Operator's checklist for 12-18 months ahead

1. Licensing: prepare a package of B2C/B2B, conduct a vendor audit (games, PSP, KYC).

2. Payments: remove credit cards, introduce open banking, show ETA and statuses; configure SoF triggers.

3. RG-UX: "self-control panel" on the first screen of the account; session timer, reminders, simple pauses.

4. Data: real-time event streaming, compliance/fraud/RG showcases; AI model version journal.

5. Advertising/affiliates: uniform guides, automatic checks of creatives, contracts with KPIs and sanctions for violations.

6. Processes: case management of incidents, response plans, regular reports for the regulator, staff training.

Bottom line: The future of online regulation in Ireland is uniform licences, digital oversight and default liability. For players, this means a safer and more transparent experience, for conscientious operators - predictable rules and a long investment horizon. Those who are already building a compliance-by-design product will benefit: fast and honest payments, explainable AI, strong RG-UX and impeccable data handling.