All GRAI-licensed operators are required to offer responsible gambling tools as a licence condition. This guide compares what the GRAI mandates vs. what the best operators offer beyond the minimum — and how to use these tools effectively if you feel your gambling is becoming a problem.
What GRAI Licensing Requires
Under GRAI licensing conditions, all remote betting operators must offer: (1) Deposit limits — daily, weekly and monthly, effective immediately when set, with a 24–48 hour delay when increasing; (2) Self-exclusion — minimum periods, with marketing stopped immediately; (3) Time-out — a short break from the site; (4) Reality check — a prompt after a set time online; (5) Access to the GRAI’s national self-exclusion register (once fully operational).
| RG Tool | GRAI Minimum | Best-Practice Operators |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit limits | Daily/weekly/monthly | Pre-deposit limits (before first deposit) |
| Self-exclusion | Operator-level | Multi-operator (via GRAI register) |
| Increase limit delay | 24 hours | 48 hours (more protective) |
| Affordability checks | Not specified | Proactive for high-volume customers |
| Gambling spend summary | Not specified | Monthly statement by email |
| Third-party blocking | Not required | Link to GAMBAN, GamStop |
Getting Help: Gambling Awareness Trust
If you are concerned about your gambling, contact the Gambling Awareness Trust at 1800 753 753 (freephone) or visit gamblingcare.ie. The service is free, confidential and available to anyone concerned about their own or someone else’s gambling. GRAI-licensed operators must provide this contact on their sites.
Self-Exclusion: What to Know
Self-exclusion with a GRAI-licensed operator is immediate and binding for the minimum period you choose. The operator must stop all marketing to you during the exclusion. The GRAI’s national self-exclusion register, once fully operational, will allow you to exclude from all GRAI-licensed operators with a single registration. For now, exclude directly from each operator’s site or app. Consider also using third-party blocking software (GAMBAN) to block gambling sites at a device level.
Frequently Asked Questions
GRAI-licensed operators must offer deposit limits (daily/weekly/monthly), self-exclusion, time-outs and reality checks. These are licence conditions — mandatory, not optional.
Go to the responsible gambling or account settings section of the operator’s site or app. Self-exclusion is immediate and binding. The operator must stop all marketing during the exclusion period.
The Gambling Awareness Trust is Ireland’s leading gambling support charity. Contact them at 1800 753 753 (freephone) or gamblingcare.ie. The service is free and confidential.
Some GRAI-licensed operators allow deposit limits to be set before the first deposit. This is best practice that goes beyond the GRAI minimum. Check if your preferred operator offers this.
GRAI-licensed operators must offer a minimum self-exclusion period — typically 6 months to 5 years. Some offer permanent exclusion. Lifting an exclusion before its expiry is not permitted.