Ireland has replaced a patchwork of gambling laws, some dating back to the 1930s, with a single modern system. The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 created the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, which now licenses and supervises gambling, including online casinos. This guide explains the new rules, how licensing is being phased in, how to check whether a site is licensed, what protections you are entitled to, how winnings are taxed and where to get help.
Is online gambling legal in Ireland?
Yes, when it is offered by a licensed operator. Under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, anyone providing gambling to people in Ireland, online or in person, needs a licence from the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI). Providing gambling without a licence is a criminal offence, punishable by a fine and up to eight years in prison.
Before the Act, online betting was licensed through the Revenue Commissioners under the Betting Acts, while online casino games had no specific Irish licensing regime. That left many Irish players using sites licensed in Malta, Gibraltar or elsewhere, with no Irish authority overseeing them.
The law is aimed at operators, not players. You will not be prosecuted for placing a bet, but your rights as a customer depend on the operator being licensed in Ireland.
Who regulates gambling in Ireland?
The GRAI was formally established in March 2025 as an independent statutory body. It is responsible for licensing, supervision and enforcement across betting, gaming and lotteries, and for consumer protection measures such as the planned National Gambling Exclusion Register and a Social Impact Fund that pays for research, education and treatment.
Licensing is being introduced in phases. Betting licences came first, and it has been illegal to offer remote betting in Ireland without a GRAI licence since that phase began. Licences for online casino and other gaming are part of a later phase. Until those licences are issued, check the GRAI website for the current position before assuming any online casino is authorised in Ireland.
How do you check whether a gambling site is licensed in Ireland?
The GRAI publishes a register of licence holders on its website. A licence from another country, even another EU member state, does not on its own allow an operator to offer gambling in Ireland under the new Act.
- Find the operator's full company name and licence details in the site footer or terms.
- Search for the operator on the GRAI register of licence holders at grai.ie.
- Check that the licence type covers the games offered, since betting and gaming are licensed separately.
- Confirm the web address you are using is listed for that licence holder.
- Look for Irish safer gambling tools and the national helpline number on the site.
What protections does the new law give players?
The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 puts a range of consumer protections on licensed operators. These apply only to licensed sites, which is why the licence check matters.
- No credit cards: licensed operators may not accept credit card payments or offer credit to customers
- No free bets or inducements designed to keep players gambling or to win back those who have stopped
- No VIP schemes that reward heavy gambling
- Advertising limits, including a ban on gambling ads on TV, radio and on-demand services between 5:30am and 9pm
- Tools to set deposit and time limits
- A National Gambling Exclusion Register, being built by the GRAI, to let you self-exclude from all licensed online operators at once
- Strict age checks, with gambling limited to adults aged 18 and over
What are the risks of unlicensed online casinos?
An unlicensed operator is not bound by Irish rules on limits, inducements, advertising or self-exclusion, and the GRAI cannot resolve a complaint against it. If a withdrawal is refused or an account is closed, you have to rely on whatever process the foreign regulator offers, if there is one.
The Act gives the GRAI powers to act against unlicensed providers. It can apply to the courts to block their websites, their advertising and their payment processing in Ireland. A site that is blocked or whose payments fail is a warning sign, not a technical issue to work around.
Once the National Gambling Exclusion Register is running, it will only cover licensed operators. Unlicensed sites will not be connected to it.
Do you pay tax on gambling winnings in Ireland?
No, not as a recreational player. Gambling winnings in Ireland are not subject to income tax, USC, PRSI or capital gains tax. Instead, betting duty is charged to licensed bookmakers and betting intermediaries, who may pass the cost on through their pricing.
Different rules can apply if gambling is your trade or main source of income. Interest or investment returns on winnings after you bank them are taxed in the usual way. Revenue's website and a tax adviser can help if your situation is unusual.
Where can you get help with gambling in Ireland?
Gambling should be something you choose to pay for as entertainment. Set a budget and a time limit before you start, and stop when you reach either one.
The national gambling helpline run by GamblingCare is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, on 1800 936 725. The HSE Drug and Alcohol Helpline on 1800 459 459 also gives information and referrals for gambling problems. Gamblers Anonymous Ireland runs free peer support meetings in person and online, and Extern Problem Gambling offers counselling and support for families.
If gambling has left you in debt, the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) gives free, confidential help on 0818 07 2000. Your GP can also refer you to local treatment services.
Myths vs facts
- Myth: An EU licence is enough to offer gambling in Ireland.
- Fact: Under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, operators need a licence from the GRAI to offer gambling to people in Ireland.
- Myth: Players can be prosecuted for using an unlicensed site.
- Fact: The offence of providing gambling without a licence applies to operators. The risk for players is losing the protections that only licensed sites must give.
- Myth: You pay tax on a big win in Ireland.
- Fact: Recreational gambling winnings are not taxed. Betting duty is paid by operators, not players.
- Myth: Self-exclusion at one site blocks you everywhere.
- Fact: Self-exclusion with one operator only covers that operator. The National Gambling Exclusion Register is being built to cover all licensed online operators at once.
Before you claim
- Operator found on the GRAI register at grai.ie
- Licence type covers the games offered
- No credit card payments accepted
- Deposit and time limits available
- Budget and time limit set before playing
- National helpline number saved: 1800 936 725