On 30 July 2026 the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) published its first annual report, covering the period from its establishment on 5 March 2025. It is the most detailed public picture yet of how Ireland's new gambling regulator is built, what it has done, and where Irish punters stand under the new framework.
What Is the GRAI Annual Report?
The GRAI annual report is a statutory publication that sets out the Authority's activities, finances and regulatory milestones for the period under review. The first report, published 30 July 2026, covers the foundational period: how GRAI hired staff, designed its licensing systems, launched its consumer protection framework and developed its enforcement capabilities.
The report was produced under the oversight of GRAI CEO Anne Marie Caulfield and published under the auspices of the Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan.
Key Licensing Milestones
The timeline in the annual report confirms the schedule Irish punters and operators have been working to:
- March 2025: GRAI formally established under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.
- October 2025: Statement of Strategy 2025–2027 launched, setting out six objectives: licensing, monitoring & compliance, enforcement, consumer protection, governance, and a digital-first approach.
- February 2026: Remote betting licence applications opened to operators.
- 1 July 2026: First remote betting licences issued — the new Irish regulatory regime goes live for online operators.
- December 2026: In-person (betting shop) licences expected.
- 2027–2028: Gaming and casino licences scheduled — no GRAI casino licences have been issued to date.
Market Size — What the Numbers Say
The annual report provides the most authoritative estimate to date of the Irish gambling market:
The retail sector has contracted significantly: 684 betting shops remained at the end of 2025, down from 1,385 in 2008 — a fall of more than 50% in 17 years.
Consumer Protections Introduced
The annual report confirms the consumer protections now in force under GRAI-licensed operators. These include:
- Age verification required before any gambling activity
- Credit card deposits banned
- Operators must pay out winnings promptly
- Operators must close accounts on a customer's request
- Deposit limits must be effective immediately upon request
- The National Gambling Exclusion Register (NGER), built on a Salesforce platform developed by Deloitte Ireland under a €10.4m contract signed in February 2025
GRAI also ran a brand awareness campaign in October 2025 to inform the public about the new framework.
Problem Gambling — ESRI Findings
The annual report draws on research by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) that provides a stark reassessment of problem gambling in Ireland. ESRI found that harmful gambling in Ireland is "about ten times higher than previously thought," with approximately 130,000 adults in Ireland experiencing problem gambling.
A separate ESRI/GRAI study found that free bets and money-back guarantees increased gambling spending by more than 10% in controlled experiments — a finding that is likely to inform future restrictions on promotional offers.
Enforcement Powers
The GRAI has significant enforcement tools under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024:
- Fines of up to €20 million or 10% of annual turnover (whichever is greater)
- Criminal penalties including prison sentences of up to 8 years
- Compliance agreements, preliminary notices, notices of non-compliance
- Directed investigations
GRAI has also built international cooperation agreements — with the UK, Belgium and Gibraltar in 2025, and with Denmark, Alderney and the Nevada Gaming Control Board in 2026.
Building the Regulator — Staff and Systems
At 31 December 2025, GRAI had 28 full-time staff, expected to grow significantly through 2026. The €10.4m Deloitte Ireland contract (February 2025) covers the entire regulatory technology stack: licensing, compliance, enforcement and the National Gambling Exclusion Register — all built on Salesforce.
What's Coming Next — Casino Licences 2027–2028
The annual report confirms that casino and gaming licences are scheduled for 2027–2028. Zero gaming/casino licences have been issued by GRAI. Any site claiming a GRAI casino licence at this point should be treated with caution — no such licence category yet exists.
For now, Irish bettors should look for operators holding valid GRAI remote betting licences, verifiable at the GRAI public register (grai.ie).
Find a GRAI-Licensed Bookmaker
Our recommended partner holds GRAI betting licence GRAI-0191-RB-26-0001, valid 16 September 2026 to 15 September 2029 — verifiable at grai.ie.
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