Europe's Biggest Online Bookmaker in Ireland 2026: Licence, Access & What to Know

Is It Available in Ireland?

Yes. bet365 is available to Irish players and accepts registrations from Ireland. Unlike some offshore operators that have been geo-blocked by the GRAI for operating without a licence, bet365 holds a GRAI remote betting licence, which can be verified independently at the official GRAI public licence register on grai.ie. This means Irish players can open an account and bet on sports legally under Irish regulatory oversight.

The casino section of bet365 is a separate product and operates under a Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) licence. It is important to understand that the GRAI has issued zero casino or gaming licences as of November 2026 — these are expected to become available from 2027 or 2028. So while casino play at bet365 is covered by MGA regulation (a reputable and well-established framework), it is not yet covered by a GRAI casino licence.

For a full list of operators that hold GRAI betting licences, visit our guide to GRAI-licensed betting sites in Ireland.

What Does GRAI Licensing Mean for Irish Players?

The GRAI (Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland) began issuing remote betting licences on 1 July 2026 under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. When a bookmaker holds a GRAI remote betting licence, Irish players benefit from a specific set of mandatory protections that do not apply at offshore-only operators:

• Mandatory deposit limits: GRAI-licensed operators must offer deposit limit tools and, in some cases, enforce cooling-off periods before increases take effect.
• NGEI self-exclusion: Ireland's National Gambling Exclusion Ireland (NGEI) register allows players to self-exclude across all GRAI-licensed operators simultaneously — one decision blocks you everywhere.
• Advertising standards: GRAI-licensed operators are subject to Ireland's advertising rules, restricting how and when gambling is promoted.
• Formal complaints route: If a dispute with a GRAI-licensed operator cannot be resolved directly, you have recourse through the GRAI's alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process. See our GRAI complaints guide for step-by-step instructions.
• Responsible gambling obligations: Operators must provide access to gamblingcare.ie and similar support resources.

For a deeper look at all the rights and protections GRAI licensing gives you, see our GRAI player protection guide.

Betting vs Casino at This Operator

It is worth being clear about the two distinct parts of the bet365 product and which regulator governs each:

This two-licence structure is not unique to bet365. All major operators offering both betting and casino in Ireland currently have GRAI betting licences paired with MGA, UKGC, or Gibraltar licences for the casino side. The GRAI framework will eventually cover casino too, but that framework does not yet exist.

Deposit Methods for Irish Players

Irish players have a range of payment options when depositing at bet365:

• Revolut: Revolut is widely accepted and is one of the most popular deposit methods for Irish players, given the high uptake of Revolut banking in Ireland.
• Visa and Mastercard debit cards: Standard debit cards work. Note that credit cards cannot be used for gambling transactions in Ireland under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 — debit cards only.
• Bank transfer: Standard bank transfers (including SEPA) are supported, though these typically take longer to clear than card or Revolut deposits.
• PayPal and other e-wallets: PayPal is accepted at many major operators including bet365 — check the operator's current cashier for the full list at the time of deposit.

Minimum deposits are typically in the €5–€10 range. Withdrawal processing times vary by method; debit card and Revolut withdrawals are generally among the fastest.

How to Check Any Operator's GRAI Licence

One of the most useful things the GRAI has done is publish a freely accessible register of all licensed operators. You do not need to take any website's word for it — you can verify directly. See our full GRAI licence checker guide for a walkthrough, or follow these three steps:

1. Go to grai.ie and navigate to the Licensing & Regulation section.
2. Open the public licence register (the GRAI makes this available as a downloadable list or searchable page).
3. Search by operator name or parent company name. A valid GRAI remote betting licence will appear in the format GRAI-XXXX-RB-26-XXXX.

If an operator claims to hold a GRAI licence but does not appear on the register, that is a serious red flag. If an operator claims to hold a GRAI casino licence, that is factually impossible at present — zero have been issued.

GRAI-Licensed Alternatives

bet365 is a large, well-established operator, but it is not the only GRAI-licensed option available to Irish players. As of November 2026, there are 39 operators holding GRAI remote betting licences. The full list is available at grai.ie.

When comparing operators, the key factors to weigh are: breadth of sports markets, odds competitiveness, in-play offering, mobile app quality, and the bonus terms (read the wagering requirements carefully — a headline bonus with punishing rollover requirements costs more than it is worth).

Our recommended partner holds GRAI remote betting licence GRAI-0191-RB-26-0001 (valid 16 September 2026 – 15 September 2029), independently verifiable at grai.ie. It offers competitive odds on Irish racing, GAA, and major football markets, with Revolut deposits and fast withdrawals.

Frequently Asked Questions