The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has today published its inaugural Annual Report for 2025.Formally established in March 2025, the GRAI’s role is to licence, supervise and control gambling activities as set out in the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.In its first year of existence, the GRAI undertook significant preparatory work as it set about building a modern, robust framework to regulate the gambling sector in Ireland.At the core of this work was the Authority’s Statement of Strategy 2025-2027, which sets out a roadmap for the first stage of regulation which focuses on building strong foundations, developing robust systems of licensing, compliance and enforcement, and engaging openly with stakeholders across society. Six pillars underpin the GRAI’s strategy for the first three years: licensing; monitoring and compliance; enforcement; consumer protection and awareness; people, organisation, and governance; and a digital-first approachThe 2025 Annual Report outlines the initial steps taken, with the GRAI developing processes for the rollout of phased licensing and laying the groundwork for compliance, enforcement, and consumer protection functions.Commenting on the publication of the GRAI’s first Annual Report Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan said:“Last year was a significant year as a new era for the regulation of gambling in Ireland commenced."The establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, together with its three-year strategy, signalled a strong commitment to replacing Ireland’s outdated gambling laws with a modernised and robust licencing framework. The legislation is built around an important mandate which balances the rights of citizens to gamble, and the rights of legitimate operators to conduct lawful business. The GRAI has taken significant steps in bringing the ambition behind the legislation to fruition.”GRAI chairperson Paul Quinn commented:“Gambling regulation is an increasingly complex task. As a newly established independent regulator, we have been entrusted with a vital public mandate. 2025 was a formative and vital one for the GRAI as we put the essential building blocks in place to ensure we are a trusted, recognised and effective regulator of the gambling sector in Ireland."The Authority is acutely aware of both the responsibilities conferred on it by the Oireachtas and the challenges inherent in regulating a dynamic and technologically enabled sector. We look forward to continuing to work with the Minister to ensure we have the capabilities and legislative measures required to successfully fulfil the strong mandate entrusted to us."The task ahead is to regulate in a manner that is robust, proportionate and responsive to risk while remaining firmly anchored in the protection of those most vulnerable to gambling-related harm.”In 2025, the GRAI focused on building the structures, systems, staff and capabilities required to implement a comprehensive gambling licencing, compliance and enforcement regime, ahead of its first invitation for applications for remote betting licences in February 2026.The GRAI launched its first major brand awareness campaign in October 2025, based on ESRI research highlighting the  extent of harmful gambling in Ireland, which is ten times higher than previously thought.The GRAI also set about designing the administrative, governance and ICT systems necessary to administer funding through the Social Impact Fund, which will be used to fund treatment, education, awareness and research into gambling harm.GRAI chief executive officer Anne Marie Caulfield stated:“The establishment of the GRAI is ongoing, but it is progressing strongly. The two central objectives of our legislation are to ensure that people are protected when they choose to gamble, and that licensees operate in a properly regulated environment. Since these protections are grounded in the legal obligations on licenced entities, the GRAI has prioritised licencing. I am confident that the foundations we laid in 2025 are strong, enabling us to continue to build an effective regulator for the gambling sector, which helps to protect an informed public from gambling harms."What we have achieved to date is the culmination of a lot of work by a very dedicated team of colleagues in the GRAI. It has also involved close collaboration with our parent Department, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, other Regulators, other State Agencies, and our wide-ranging stakeholders.  We have a common goal, that of putting consumer protection, the reduction of harmful gambling, and the safeguarding of children at the centre of how this industry is regulated.”You can read the GRAI’s Annual Report 2025: in English / as Gaeilge

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB), signalling partnership and cooperation between one of the most recently established Gambling regulators and the world’s widely recognised oldest and longest-standing dedicated gaming regulator. The MOU is the first between the GRAI and a gambling regulatory entity in the United States, marking a first step in collaboration between Irish and American gambling authorities. With the recent commencement of licensing for online and remote betting services in Ireland, both the GRAI and the NGCB recognise the need for diligence in terms of regulating and licensing online platforms where an increasing amount of gambling and betting takes place, often across borders. Anne Marie Caulfield CEO of the GRAI, said: “The knowledge and expertise that the Nevada Gaming Control Board have in terms of gambling regulation are very valuable to us in the GRAI. “We very much welcome the insight, guidance, and experience that the NGCB can provide to the GRAI as a newly established regulator, and I look forward to our continued partnership with the shared goal of consumer protection and public health and safety at the heart of operations.” “We are pleased to sign an MOU with the GRAI and look forward to sharing best practices with them and advancing our collaboration,” said NGCB Chairman Mike DreitzerPictured at the ICE 2026 event held in Barcelona earlier this year are Rebecca Coen (GRAI), Mike Dreitzer (NGCB) and Anne Marie Caulfield (GRAI).

Monday, 13th July 2026: The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) is encouraging parents and guardians to be alert to the signs of gambling among young people and to intervene early to prevent gambling harm.The signs of gambling aren’t always visible, the GRAI in partnership with the Health Service Executive Addiction Services have developed dedicated advice on www.grai.ie to equip families with the knowledge to recognise the signs, advice on how to start the conversation with their children about gambling, and where to seek help if required.To support the guidance, the GRAI has launched a national public awareness campaign across video on demand, radio, digital audio, and social media platforms, bringing this message directly to families across Ireland.