Last checked: 7 November 2026 — we re-check GRAI press releases and Irish press weekly. The GRAI does not publish a list of operators it has acted against; entries below are drawn from GRAI statements and from reporting in The Irish Times, Irish Examiner and trade press. Where only one outlet has a figure it is marked reported.
Enforcement Log
Newest first. "Target" is as described by the GRAI or the cited outlet; the GRAI itself has not named any operator.
| Date | Operator / target | Action & outcome | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Nov 2026 | "Dozens" of unlicensed operators — small Irish bookmakers, major online operators and "the two largest prediction markets in the world" | GRAI chief executive Anne Marie Caulfield: enforcement ranges from cease-and-desist letters to High Court action; most operators stopped trading after the initial warning; "We have not been to the High Court." The consumer-protection division is now receiving complaints, many about withdrawing funds. | Irish Times · Gambling.com |
| 2 Oct 2026 | Enforcement capacity (GRAI funding) | GRAI received €13.35m for 2026 against €26m requested and warned it would de-prioritise monitoring of extraterritorial black-market operators. Enforcement continued via reallocated staff and an extra €2.8m from the Department of Justice (early August). Online casino (gaming) licensing pushed to 2027. | CasinoBeats |
| w/c 7 Sep 2026 | "A major international online gambling platform" — understood to be Stake | Blocked its entire site (betting and casino) for Irish users after engagement with the GRAI. GRAI said it was working with geo-blocking operators so Irish consumers are "promptly refunded all monies deposited", that "a number of other operators have also closed their betting activities in Ireland", and that it was investigating more than 100 operators (33 licences issued at the time). | Irish Times · Yogonet |
| 27 Jul 2026 | Websites linked to the Soft2Bet group (145 sites named in leaked material, per Investigate Europe) | GRAI confirmed an investigation following an Irish Times investigation: "We are investigating each of these websites with a view to enforcement action." Outcome not yet published. The number of sites affecting Ireland is reported, not confirmed by the GRAI. | Irish Times · Investigate Europe |
| by 21 Jul 2026 | The two largest prediction markets — Polymarket and Kalshi | Geo-blocked Ireland after the GRAI classified prediction markets as gambling and threatened High Court action. GRAI: "Controls have been implemented to prevent the creation of new accounts"; existing Irish accounts restricted from depositing or opening new positions. Neither platform said whether it would seek a licence. | Irish Examiner · Yogonet |
| 1 Jul 2026 | Licensing regime commences | First remote betting licences take effect. GRAI: it is a criminal offence to operate without a betting licence and work has commenced identifying unlicensed operators. | GRAI press release |
| 30 Jun 2026 | Betfred (voluntary withdrawal, not enforcement) | Took a "temporary pause" in Ireland from 30 June rather than operate under the new regime at launch; customers told not to place bets settling after 29 June; World Cup ante-post bets reported to be honoured. Included for completeness: it shows the licensing deadline itself moved operators. | Racing Post · SBC News |
Scope note: every action above concerns betting (including prediction markets, which the GRAI treats as betting). The GRAI has issued no online casino licences — casino licensing is now expected in 2027 — so "unlicensed casino" is not yet an enforcement category in Ireland. Any site claiming a "GRAI casino licence" is misleading you.
GRAI Enforcement Powers
The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 gives the regulator an escalating set of tools. In its first four months it has used the bottom of the ladder and, on its own account, not yet needed the top:
- Cease-and-desist letters — the first step; the GRAI says most unlicensed operators stopped after this.
- High Court orders — threatened against prediction markets in July 2026; none sought as of 4 November 2026.
- Financial sanctions — up to €20 million or 10% of turnover for licensed operators, subject to court confirmation.
- Criminal prosecution — operating without a licence is an offence under the Act; the GRAI has described "live investigations" that could lead to prosecutions.
- Blocking and payment orders — provided for in the Act; no court-ordered ISP or payment block has been reported yet.
What This Means for Punters
- You commit no offence by using an unlicensed site; the offence is the operator's. But you also have none of the protections the Act gives customers of licensed sites.
- Refunds after a block are cooperation, not a right. The GRAI said it worked with geo-blocking operators so Irish customers were refunded — it cannot compel an operator it does not license. Withdraw balances promptly; never keep more on a site than you are playing with that week.
- The credit card ban and age checks that apply to licensed operators are, in the regulator's words, ignored by many black-market operators — one reason it treats them as higher risk.
- VPN use does not change your legal position, but it breaches operators' terms and gives a site grounds to void winnings or refuse withdrawal once it identifies an Irish payment method.
- Complaints about a licensed operator can go to the GRAI's consumer-protection division; complaints about an unlicensed one cannot. See how to complain about a bookmaker.
How to Check a Site Before You Deposit
- Find the licence number on the site — the format is GRAI-XXXX-RB-26-0001 (RB = remote betting; RBI = betting intermediary). No number, or a number without "RB", is a red flag.
- Check it with our free GRAI licence checker (every entry verified against the register on 7 November 2026) or on the official register at grai.ie.
- Cross-reference the trading name: the register lists the licensee company and its brands. Our list of GRAI-licensed bookmakers maps all 40 licensees to their 50+ brands.
- Remember the casino caveat: a bookmaker's GRAI number covers its betting product only; its casino games run under a Malta, Gibraltar or UK licence until Irish casino licensing opens.
✓ Our partner's licence: CraicBet's recommended partner holds GRAI licence GRAI-0191-RB-26-0001, issued 16 September 2026, valid until 15 September 2029. You can verify this directly on the GRAI register.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal for me to use an unlicensed betting site in Ireland?
No — the player commits no offence. The Act penalises the operator for providing unlicensed gambling services. The practical cost is that your funds and your complaints have no Irish regulatory protection.
Has the GRAI published a list of blocked sites?
No. As of November 2026 the GRAI describes its actions in general terms ("dozens of operators", "two major prediction markets", "a major international platform") and has not named operators. The names in our log come from press reporting, as cited.
How do I know if a casino I'm using has an Irish licence?
No online casino holds a GRAI licence yet; only betting products are licensed. Casino licensing is expected to open in 2027. For casino safety today the relevant check is an MGA, UKGC or Gibraltar licence in the site footer, cross-referenced on that regulator's register.
Can the GRAI block sites at the ISP level in Ireland?
The Act provides for court orders against unlicensed operators; the GRAI threatened High Court action in July 2026 but said on 4 November 2026 that it has not yet gone to court. No ISP-level block has been reported.
GRAI-Licensed · Your Funds Are Protected
Licence GRAI-0191-RB-26-0001 (Sep 2026 – Sep 2029)
Verified on the GRAI public register. Mandatory deposit limits. Irish complaints route.
Bet on a Licensed Site →18+ | Terms apply | GRAI Licence GRAI-0191-RB-26-0001 | Gamble responsibly
18+ | Responsible Gambling
Always verify a site's licence before depositing. Use deposit limits on every account you hold. If gambling is affecting your finances or relationships, contact the Gambling Awareness Trust on 1800 753 753 (free, confidential). gamblingcare.ie. 18+.
Always verify a site's licence before depositing. Use deposit limits on every account you hold. If gambling is affecting your finances or relationships, contact the Gambling Awareness Trust on 1800 753 753 (free, confidential). gamblingcare.ie. 18+.
Sources:
GRAI press release, 1 July 2026 ·
GRAI licence register ·
Irish Times, 4 Nov 2026 ·
Gambling.com, 5 Nov 2026 ·
CasinoBeats, 2 Oct 2026 ·
Irish Times, 14 Sep 2026 ·
Irish Examiner, 26 Jul 2026 ·
Investigate Europe, 27 Jul 2026 ·
Racing Post, 17 Jun 2026 ·
Gambling Regulation Act 2024.