November 2026 is a significant month for Irish betting regulation: in-person bookmaker licences move to the new GRAI framework on 1 December, Cheltenham trials season begins in earnest, and Revolut has updated its in-app gambling settings affecting many Irish bettors. Here is CraicBet's round-up of what matters for punters this month.
GRAI Licensing Update: Where Things Stand in November 2026
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has been issuing remote betting licences since 1 July 2026, following the commencement of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. As of November 2026, remote betting licences are live and several operators have received their licences under the new regime. CraicBet tracks the register daily — see the live GRAI tracker for the current list.
One important clarification for Irish punters: GRAI has not issued any casino (gaming) licences. The GRAI remote betting licence covers sports betting and similar products. Casino and gaming licences are a separate category and are not expected to be issued until 2027–2028 at the earliest. Any site claiming a GRAI casino licence at this date should be treated with extreme caution.
Our partner operator holds betting licence GRAI-0191-RB-26-0001, issued 16 September 2026 and valid through 15 September 2029. This licence covers remote betting operations in Ireland.
For punters, the practical implication of the GRAI framework is straightforward: operators that hold a valid GRAI remote betting licence are authorised to offer sports betting to Irish customers. Operators that do not hold a licence are not authorised, regardless of whether they accept Irish customers. We recommend always using a GRAI-licensed bookmaker for sports betting in Ireland.
In-Person Betting Licences: What Changes from 1 December 2026
From 1 December 2026, in-person betting — meaning betting shops and on-course bookmakers — will also move under the GRAI licensing framework. This is a separate licensing category from the remote betting licences that went live in July 2026.
For punters who use betting shops on the high street or bet with on-course bookmakers at racecourses, the December 2026 commencement means that the bookmakers they deal with will need to hold a valid GRAI in-person licence. The transition is expected to be largely seamless for established operators who are already compliant, but it represents a further step in the professionalisation and regulation of Ireland's betting market.
The key change for consumers is enhanced accountability: licensed operators are subject to GRAI's codes of practice on advertising, responsible gambling and dispute resolution. If you have a complaint about a GRAI-licensed bookmaker that you cannot resolve with the operator, the GRAI provides a formal route to escalate. See the responsible gambling page for more detail.
No casino in-person licences are issued under the December 2026 framework. That category remains subject to the existing Gaming and Lotteries Act until the GRAI gaming regulations come into force, expected 2027–2028.
Key Betting Markets This Month: Cheltenham Trials Season Begins
November marks the start of Cheltenham trials season in Ireland and Britain. Punters who follow the ante-post Cheltenham Festival markets — which open for the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase as early as this month — will find the November Grade 1 and Graded races at Cheltenham, Leopardstown, Naas and Navan providing important early form pointers.
Key November race meetings to watch for Cheltenham ante-post pointers in Ireland:
- Naas, early November: Typically the first significant meeting for Irish novice chasers and hurdles of the season, providing an early read on the best of the new jumping generation.
- Navan, November: Hosts a strong card including Listed and Graded novice races that have produced significant Cheltenham Festival winners in recent years.
- Leopardstown, late November: The beginning of Leopardstown's winter programme often includes Graded races that double as early Cheltenham trials. Watch for horses with entries in the Gold Cup or Champion Hurdle making their seasonal debuts.
For ante-post Cheltenham punters, November form carries the caveat that horses are early in their campaigns and the form book is thin. The best approach is to identify horses that show significant ability rather than just winning — a wide margin win on a testing track, jumping accurately, is a stronger ante-post signal than a narrow success. Read the ante-post guide for the full methodology.
British jumps betting also begins in earnest in November, with the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham and the Betfair Chase at Haydock among the first Grade 1 chases of the British season. These races also provide form for Irish runners and open the Gold Cup ante-post market more seriously.
No result at this stage of the season is guaranteed. Ante-post betting carries the risk that horses are withdrawn without a refund. 18+ only. Gambling Awareness Trust: 1800 753 753, gamblingcare.ie.
Payment Methods: Revolut Gambling Settings Update
Revolut, one of the most widely used digital banking apps in Ireland, has updated its in-app controls for gambling-related transactions. The app now provides more granular settings that allow users to block gambling transactions by category: separate controls exist for betting, casino, lottery and gaming.
For Irish punters who use Revolut as their primary payment method with online bookmakers, the practical implication is straightforward: check your Revolut app settings to ensure gambling transactions are enabled if you intend to use Revolut for deposits. The default setting for new accounts has in some cases activated gambling blocks, which users need to manually deactivate if they wish to use the account for betting.
The update reflects Revolut's response to responsible gambling expectations from regulators across Europe, including the GRAI in Ireland. For punters who want to use Revolut's gambling controls as a self-exclusion or limit-setting tool, the updated app provides a more precise mechanism than previously available.
Beyond the control settings update, Revolut remains one of the most widely accepted payment methods at GRAI-licensed bookmakers in Ireland. Deposit and withdrawal speeds via Revolut are generally fast. See the Revolut casinos and betting guide for more detail on using Revolut with Irish bookmakers.
As a reminder: credit card gambling deposits remain prohibited in Ireland under the GRAI framework. Debit cards, Revolut, bank transfer and certain e-wallets remain the standard deposit methods at licensed operators.