Ireland Delays Online Casino Licensing Over Funding Gap

Ireland’s Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRAI) has warned that it cannot deliver key industry reforms on schedule with its current funding. It outlined these concerns in a March letter to Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan.

Half the requested budget

GRAI requested €26 million for 2026, but the government initially allocated €13.35 million. The regulator’s March letter said this gap would force it to postpone some objectives and reduce the scope of others.

The Department of Justice added €2.8 million in August. It also said the original allocation represented a 92% increase over the previous year and reaffirmed its support for the authority.

GRAI aims to become self-financing within three years, but it still needs government funding as it builds its regulatory operations.

Online casino licensing moves to 2027

The delay affects remote gaming, including online casinos and slots. GRAI now expects to open registration systems for operators in early 2027.

Ireland has already begun rolling out its new gambling licensing system, starting with betting licences during 2026. Online casino licensing forms a separate, later stage of that process.

GRAI began operating in March 2025, following Ireland’s approval of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. The law gives the authority responsibility for licensing, supervision and player protection.

Black-market work continues with fewer resources

GRAI also warned that limited resources would force it to scale back monitoring of overseas black-market operators targeting Irish customers. It linked those limits to gambling harm and money-laundering risks.

Enforcement has nevertheless begun. The authority says dozens of operators, including two major prediction markets and an international gambling site, have blocked access from Ireland following its intervention.

GRAI says it is directing staff and funding towards areas where it can have the greatest effect. It says additional resources would help it detect more unlicensed operators.