Ireland’s gambling crackdown delayed until 2026

The Gambling Regulation Authority of Ireland (GRAI) is now operational and headquartered at its new Mount Street offices. 

But while its presence marks a major milestone in reforming Ireland’s multibillion-euro betting sector, the actual implementation of its powers, including licencing, enforcement, and industry penalties, remains on pause. 

As a result, experts and campaigners are warning that vulnerable players remain dangerously exposed.

New laws won’t kick in until mid-2026

Justice Minister, Jim O’Callaghan, confirmed in a recent parliamentary response that the full licencing regime under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 will not begin until the middle of next year. 

Only then will gambling operators be required to comply with new rules, including bans on credit card deposits, tougher ID checks, and restrictions on free bets.

Among the most pressing concerns is the Social Impact Fund, a cornerstone of the regulator’s public health strategy. 

The fund, designed to support treatment, education and research into gambling harm, will be funded by annual contributions from licenced operators. 

But as things stand, it won’t be operational until those first licences are issued, again, not before 2026.

Calls for urgency

Labour TD Mark Wall, who is a long-time advocate for tighter gambling controls, criticised the delay. 

People who are dealing with gambling addiction desperately need the Social Impact Fund operational as soon as possible. This is not just a statistic; it’s a reflection of the real and growing crisis affecting our youth.

His comments come on the back of research showing that over 20% of Irish 16-year-olds, mostly boys, have gambled in the last year, a figure he described as alarming.

Ireland can not afford to wait

The numbers only reinforce previous findings, including the 3.3% national problem gambling rate, which is one of the highest in Europe. 

For many campaigners, these figures prove that Ireland cannot afford to wait another year for real protections to be introduced.

With no active licencing or enforcement in place, industry operators face no legal obligation to restrict advertising, verify age, or contribute to addiction services. 

For at-risk individuals and their families, that means at least another 12 months without the protections they’ve been promised.

Promises being made

Still, the GRAI remains optimistic.

At the formal opening of its offices, Chairperson Paul Quinn and CEO Anne Marie Caulfield reiterated the body’s commitment to safeguarding the public.

Quinn stated; 

Our work will make an enormous difference to the lives of so many people affected by gambling addiction.

Continuing the train of optimism, Caulfield described the Gambling Regulation Act as one of the most significant pieces of legislation in recent years. 

At every stage of the legislative process, the public health mandate was kept front and centre. We will continue to keep public health at the centre of everything we do.

The regulator is scaling up, aiming for 35 staff by year-end and continuing hiring into 2027, but its powers will come online only gradually.

A race against time

While the vision is commendable, critics warn that the phased timeline fails to address urgent public health needs. 

For now, Ireland’s gambling sector remains effectively unregulated, with no requirement for ID verification, no advertising restrictions, and no limits on free bets or marketing tactics aimed at younger audiences.

With so much at stake, the question remains: Can those most at risk afford to wait for 2026?