Funding Shortfall Leaves Key Gambling Reforms Stalled, Irish Regulator Warns

Ireland’s gambling regulator has warned that reforms covering remote gaming and the enforcement of unlicensed operators have stalled, citing a budget for 2026 that fell short of what the authority requested. The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), the body established under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 to overhaul gambling regulation in the State, received approximately half of the funding it sought for the current year, according to reporting by The Irish Times.

The development has significant implications for the pace of Ireland’s licensing regime, the most substantial regulatory change in the sector since the foundation of the State.

Background: A Phased Regulatory Transition

The GRAI has been rolling out the new regime in phases since its establishment. In February 2026, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan signed a commencement order paving the way for the authority to open applications for remote and in-person betting licences. From 1 July 2026, GRAI licensing formally replaced Revenue’s oversight of betting operators, requiring both business-to-consumer and business-to-business operators to secure licences and comply with new standards covering background checks, premises inspections and other conditions.

However, the regime governing remote gaming – a category that covers online casino-style products – has yet to commence. Industry participants have been awaiting clarity on the timetable for these licences, which are expected to bring online casino operations into the regulated framework for the first time.

The Funding Constraint

According to the report, the authority has indicated that resourcing limitations have delayed progress on several fronts. Two areas of particular concern are:

• Remote gaming licensing: The implementation of the licensing framework for online gaming products has not advanced as planned, leaving a significant segment of the market operating outside the new regime.

• Enforcement against unlicensed operators: Efforts to tackle the black market, in which unlicensed websites target Irish consumers, have been constrained by limited capacity.

The authority has previously outlined plans to address illegal operators, including an application for “trusted flagger” status with Coimisiún na Meán, which would enable flagged websites to be taken down rapidly. The regulator has also moved to have Ireland geoblocked by certain offshore operators.

Implications for Operators

For licensed and prospective licensees, the funding shortfall introduces a measure of uncertainty. Betting operators that completed the July 2026 transition now face a competitive environment in which unlicensed remote gaming operators continue to reach Irish customers without bearing the cost of compliance. Licensed firms have consistently argued that effective enforcement is essential to maintaining a level playing field.

At the same time, the GRAI’s phased approach reflects the scale of the task involved: the authority is simultaneously building its institutional capacity, processing licence applications, and developing consumer protection measures under the 2024 Act, including advertising restrictions and safeguards for vulnerable customers.