The Current Answer: Three Years
GRAI B2C licences run for three years, set by the Gambling (Licensing of Gambling Activities) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 38/2026). That is already a significant upgrade on the old Revenue regime, where remote bookmaker licences lasted two years and in-person bookmaker licences had shrunk to one.
The Five-Year Debate
In its first public consultation (2025), operators pushed back on short terms: a five- or six-figure non-refundable application fee every three years is a heavy cycle, and short terms discourage long-term investment in compliance. The GRAI responded that it would consider five-year licence terms and look at a tiered fee model — a notable early example of the regulator adjusting to evidence rather than digging in.
Why Term Length Matters to Players
Licence renewal is the regulator's periodic deep-dive into an operator: finances, compliance record, complaint history. Shorter terms mean more frequent scrutiny; longer terms mean operators invest more in staying licensed. Either way, the renewal lever — backed by suspension and revocation powers between renewals — is what keeps a register meaningful. Check who currently holds a licence on our daily tracker.
What to Watch
If the GRAI adopts five-year terms, expect it via amending regulations with adjusted fees, likely before casino licensing opens — so the first casino licensees may sign up under the longer regime from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Three years under the 2026 licensing regulations (S.I. 38/2026). The GRAI has said it will consider five-year terms following industry consultation.
Application fees are non-refundable and can reach six figures, so a three-year renewal cycle is costly and discourages long-term investment.
No — the GRAI retains suspension, revocation and sanction powers throughout the term.