From 1 July 2026, any bookmaker taking bets from Irish residents must hold a GRAI (Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland) remote betting licence, or an unexpired Revenue remote bookmaker permission during the transition period. You can verify any site’s licence on the GRAI public register.
How to Check a Betting Site’s GRAI Licence
- Go to grai.ie and find the public register section
- Search by operator name or licence number
- Confirm the licence type is “Remote Betting B2C”
- Check the licence is currently valid (not expired or suspended)
- Note: GRAI does not issue casino (gaming) licences — those are expected from 2027–2028. Any site claiming a GRAI casino licence is incorrect.
What a GRAI Licence Number Looks Like
GRAI licence numbers follow the format: GRAI-XXXX-RB-YY-XXXX. For example, our recommended partner holds licence number GRAI-0191-RB-26-0001, issued 16 September 2026, valid until 15 September 2029. The “RB” stands for Remote Betting.
| Licence Element | Meaning |
|---|---|
| GRAI | Issuing authority: Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland |
| 0191 | Operator number |
| RB | Remote Betting (not gaming/casino) |
| 26 | Year of issue (2026) |
| 0001 | Licence sequence number for that operator |
What to Do If a Site Is Not on the GRAI Register
If a site targeting Irish customers does not appear on the GRAI register and does not hold an unexpired Revenue licence, it is operating outside Irish gambling law. Deposits with such operators are unprotected — there is no GRAI complaint mechanism available to you, and disputes cannot be escalated to the regulator. The GRAI can investigate unlicensed operators, but enforcement against offshore sites is limited.
18+ only. Gambling Awareness Trust: 1800 753 753 · gamblingcare.ie
How to check if a bookmaker has a GRAI licence in Ireland
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) maintains a public register of all licensed operators. To check a bookmaker's licence: visit grai.ie and look for the licensed operators register. The register shows all current holders of GRAI remote betting licences issued since 1 July 2026. Operators may also display their licence number at the bottom of their website or in their terms and conditions.
| Step | How to Verify a GRAI Licence |
|---|---|
| 1 | Visit grai.ie → Licensed operators register |
| 2 | Search the operator's name or licence number |
| 3 | Confirm: Remote Betting Licence, valid dates, operator name matches the site |
| 4 | Check the licence type — GRAI has not issued casino gaming licences as of November 2026 |
What is the GRAI licence number for licensed Irish bookmakers
GRAI began issuing remote betting licences on 1 July 2026 under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. Licence numbers follow the format GRAI-XXXX-RB-YY-XXXX where RB denotes Remote Betting. For example, GRAI-0191-RB-26-0001 is a remote betting licence valid from 16 September 2026 to 15 September 2029.
Important: as of November 2026, GRAI has issued remote betting licences only. No casino gaming licences have been issued — these are expected in 2027–2028. Any website claiming to hold a "GRAI casino licence" is incorrect. If a site lacks a GRAI or Revenue Commissioners remote betting licence, it is operating without proper Irish authorisation and consumer protections do not apply.
No. As of November 2026, GRAI issues remote betting licences only. Casino (gaming) licences under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 are expected to begin issuing in 2027–2028. Any site claiming a current GRAI casino licence is incorrect.