Is this the real betting site? Ten checks for look-alike and unlicensed sites

A look-alike site copies a licensed brand's name or design without holding the licence. Ten checks help you spot one: licence number, register match, trading name, domain, company details, payment methods, age label, advert details, claims of approval, and where to report. Impersonating a licensee is an offence under section 111(2).

Bookie Ledger editorial team · checked 7 November 2026

What is a look-alike site?

A look-alike site copies the name or look of a licensed brand without holding its licence. Presenting yourself as a licensee is an offence under section 111(2) of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, in force.

We name no specific sites, and nothing here says that any site is a look-alike.

Bottom line: a look-alike borrows a licensed brand's identity.

What are the ten checks?

Ten checks for look-alike and unlicensed sites · Source · Checked 7 November 2026
No.	Check	Pass if	Source
1	Number and licensee	Both are shown on the site	Section 110(1)(a)(ii)
2	Register match	Number, activity RB and dates match the card	GRAI licence register
3	Trading name	The brand is listed among the card's trading names	Register card
4	Domain	The address matches the one in the licensee's terms; the register's domain field is empty	Register card
5	Company details	Name and address agree across footer and terms	Operator terms
6	Payment methods	Credit cards are not accepted	Section 165
7	Age label	18+ is stated	Sections 158 and 169
8	Advert details	An advert that brought you here shows a number you can match	Section 110(1)(b)
9	Claims	No claim of approval by the regulator is made	Register entry only
10	Reporting	You know where to report a suspect site	GRAI Enforcement page

Check 8 uses section 110(1)(b), which requires a licensee to state its registration number in its advertising. Whether that is identical to the register's Licence Number is not confirmed, so match the number as shown.

Bottom line: a match on number, trading name and domain is the strongest signal.

What if a check fails?

If three or more checks fail, do not deposit. Report a suspect site to GRAI through its Enforcement page. Advertising complaints can go to the ASA.

Run the full register check before you act.

Bottom line: stop at one failure on the licence, and report what you find.

Sources

Irish Statute Book, sections 110, 111, 158, 165 and 169.
GRAI licence register, read 7 November 2026, and GRAI Enforcement.

Bottom line: the Act and GRAI pages support each check.

Where to go next

Read can unlicensed sites operate legally.
Follow the licence number on operator sites.
Run the checklist before you deposit.

Bottom line: each link stays inside this site.

What changed?

No changes recorded since first publication on 7 November 2026.

Bottom line: this is the first version of the page.