GRAI secures EU alliance with 2025 licensing still achievable

The agreement, signed by GRAI CEO Anne Marie Caulfield and Belgian counterpart Magali Clavie, sets a formal framework for cooperation between the two bodies. The MOU aims to enhance information sharing, improve oversight, and support joint efforts to raise standards of player protection across European markets.

Speaking about the signing of the MoU, Caulfield said;

This Memorandum of Understanding with the Belgian Gaming Commission is a significant step in formalising the working relationship between Irish and Belgian gambling regulators. The support and advice from the Commission during our formative phase has been invaluable.

A proactive move amid timeline confusion

The announcement comes at a critical moment for the GRAI, which has been battling perceptions of delay following recent parliamentary comments suggesting Ireland’s new licensing regime may not begin until mid-2026. 

In contrast, the GRAI maintains it will begin accepting licence applications through a phased rollout in late 2025. Online betting platforms and large retail bookmakers are expected to be among the first groups invited to apply, given their market scale and consumer reach.

Pushing back against speculation, the regulator said; 

The GRAI is preparing to open for licensing in late 2025. We are making steady progress and plan to implement a phased approach.

While full implementation of the new gambling laws may stretch into 2026, the phased licensing model allows the regulator to gradually onboard operators, particularly in higher-risk verticals such as online betting.

Cross-border collaboration as a cornerstone

The partnership with Belgium is not merely symbolic. It reflects a wider strategic shift among European gambling authorities towards closer alignment and collective action. 

While Ireland’s current regime remains fragmented, the GRAI aims to mirror aspects of Belgium’s integrated approach, especially when it comes to licensing structure, enforcement capability, and cross-border coordination. 

As national markets evolve and online gambling becomes increasingly borderless, regulators are seeking shared solutions to tackle cross-border challenges, from money laundering and illegal operators to responsible gambling standards.

Belgium, one of the EU’s more established regulators, has already provided guidance to Ireland’s new authority, and the MOU formalises that cooperation. 

By learning from Belgium’s structure and safeguards, Ireland aims to avoid early missteps, ensure player-first regulation, and establish itself as a credible authority from day one.

It is the second such agreement signed by the GRAI, with more expected in the coming months.

A commitment to protection

Despite its youth, the GRAI is taking deliberate steps to establish itself as a credible, connected, and collaborative force in Europe. 

By aligning with experienced regulators like Belgium’s and the UK’s, Ireland signals that its future gambling regime will be rooted in transparency, shared oversight, and player protection, not just regulatory box-ticking.