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Bookie Ledger

Every row has a date and a source.

  1. Bookie Ledger
  2. Is this betting site licensed in Ireland? Start here
  3. Online betting in Ireland: what is legal, who regulates it and how to tell

Answer

Online betting in Ireland: what is legal, who regulates it and how to tell

Online betting in Ireland is legal only with a licence from the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI). Providing betting without one is an offence under section 67(1) of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. The first GRAI remote betting licences began on 1 July 2026. A site's claim to be licensed is checked on the GRAI register. This is not legal advice.

Bookie Ledger editorial team · checked

Who decides who may take bets?

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) was established on 5 March 2025 under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 (No. 35 of 2024, signed on 23 October 2024). It keeps a public licence register.

Betting licences come in three kinds: remote betting (RB), remote betting intermediary (RBI) and in-person betting (IPB). The licence types page explains them.

Bottom line: the GRAI licenses betting and publishes who holds a licence.

What does the law say on betting without a licence?

Providing betting without a licence is an offence under section 67(1) of the Act. Section 3(1)(d) treats “provide” as including causing another person to provide it. On conviction on indictment the penalty can reach 8 years (section 67(1) and (4)).

The offence is aimed at providers. Our sources do not address what applies to customers, so this page says nothing on that point.

Bottom line: licensed betting is the only lawful betting; the offence is described for providers.

What changed in 2026?

The dates below come from the Statute Book and from GRAI. The register figures were recorded in our research on 6 November 2026 and are to be rechecked on publication day.

Timeline of Irish betting regulation. Sources: Irish Statute Book and GRAI · checked 7 November 2026
Date Change Source
5 February 2026 S.I. 31/2026 in force: licensing and supervision begin, credit cards barred, children barred from taking part, players able to set money limits (section 164). The Betting Act 1931 and the Totalisator Act 1929 are repealed. S.I. 31/2026
9 February 2026 Applications open for remote betting, remote betting intermediary and in-person licences. GRAI news
1 July 2026 First GRAI remote betting licences begin. GRAI news
20 October 2026 Register note date. As recorded on 6 November 2026: 40 business-to-consumer licensees holding 42 licences (37 RB, 4 RBI, 1 IPB), each licence running for 3 years. GRAI register
Not in force on 21 October 2026 Advertising rules (sections 143 to 151), inducements (section 157), sponsorship (section 159) and the national exclusion register (sections 44 to 49). Statute Book commencement table

Bottom line: since 5 February 2026 licensing is in force, and the first GRAI betting licences began on 1 July 2026.

How can you tell whether a site is licensed?

Find the licence number on the site, open the GRAI register, filter by Business to Consumer, and match the number, the type and the trading name. If nothing matches, do not deposit.

The register does not list domain names, so the licence number shown on the site is the link between the two. The full steps are in the register guide. For look-alike domains see the .ie domain page.

Bottom line: the register and the number on the site decide, not the claim on the homepage.

What does this page not cover?

  • Online casino games: no licensing regime exists yet, and applications are expected from 2027. This site covers betting only.
  • Tax on winnings: not covered, and nothing here should be read as a statement on it.
  • What the law means for your own case.

This page describes the rules as they stand in our sources. It is not legal advice; ask a solicitor for advice on your own position.

Bottom line: three topics are outside this page, including tax and casino games.

Safer gambling and help

18+ only. Gambling can be addictive – play responsibly.

A licence does not remove the risk of losing money. Set a deposit limit before you start.

Free 24/7 support: Gambling Awareness Trust 1800 936 725 · gamblingcare.ie. Tools and other helplines are on the responsible gambling page.

Bottom line: set limits, take breaks, and call the free line if betting stops being a choice.

Sources and what changed

First version, written on 7 November 2026. The wider explanation is on the Act explained page; the foreign-licence question is on its own page.

Bottom line: every figure on this page needs a source link and a check date before it is filled.

Where to go next