How to Report an Illegal Betting Site in Ireland

Last updated: November 2026 — 18+ | Gambling Awareness Trust | 1800 753 753

If a betting site operating without an Irish licence has taken your money, refused a withdrawal, or simply vanished, here is exactly what to do — step by step.

Step 1 — Confirm the site is actually unlicensed

Before reporting, check the GRAI public register. Search by the company name (not the brand name). Some sites trade under a different legal entity. If the operator holds a valid GRAI remote betting licence — number format GRAI-XXXX-RB-YY-ZZZZ — it is licensed regardless of what you read elsewhere.

Also check whether the site holds an unexpired Revenue Commissioners remote bookmaker permission from before July 2026 — these remain valid during the transition period.

Step 2 — Report to GRAI

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland accepts complaints and reports from the public at grai.ie. When submitting:

• Include the full website URL and any brand or company names you can find
• Attach screenshots of your account, deposits, and any refused withdrawals
• Note the date you first deposited and the amount currently held
• Include any emails or chat logs from their support team

GRAI cannot directly recover your funds, but a formal report creates an official record and may trigger enforcement action against the operator.

Step 3 — Chargeback through your bank

If you deposited by debit card or credit card, contact your bank immediately and raise a chargeback. Under Visa and Mastercard rules, you can dispute a transaction where the service was not provided as agreed — a refused withdrawal or account closure often qualifies.

Act quickly: chargeback windows are typically 120 days from the transaction date for Visa and Mastercard. Your bank will ask for evidence — the screenshots you gathered in Step 2 are exactly what you need.

Step 4 — Report to Revenue (for Betting Duty)

Unlicensed operators also typically evade the 2% Betting Duty that licensed bookmakers pay on each bet placed by Irish customers. You can report tax evasion to Revenue at revenue.ie under their “Report Shadow Economy Activity” function. This is separate from GRAI and can run in parallel.

Step 5 — Garda if fraud is suspected

If the site appears to be a deliberate scam — fake company details, impersonating a known brand, or a Ponzi-style operation — file a report at your local Garda station or via the Garda Síochána website. For online fraud you can also contact the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB).

What about ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution)?

Licensed operators under GRAI are required to offer access to an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution provider. Unlicensed sites have no such obligation, which is exactly why licensing matters. ADR routes are only available to you if the operator holds a current licence.

Avoid these sites going forward

CraicBet tracks the GRAI register of licensed betting sites and flags known unlicensed operators on our blacklisted sites page. Sticking to GRAI-licensed bookmakers means you have a clear legal route if anything goes wrong.