The Republic of Ireland has commenced the mandate for the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) to become operational as of 5 March.
The formation of the GRAI is a statute of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, as sanctioned by the Houses of the Oireachtas in October 2024.
The Gambling Regulation Act will overhaul the Republic’s gambling laws, which to date have been governed by the near-century-old Betting Act of 1931.
Its mandate calls for the establishment of the GRAI as a dedicated gambling authority supervising the laws, standards, and protections of gambling in Ireland.
During the passage of the Gambling Regulation Bill (GRB), the government announced the appointment of Anne Marie Caulfield as the designated CEO of the GRAI.
Justice sign-off on GRAI board elections
An update issued by the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, confirmed the appointment of seven board members to oversee the GRAI’s regulatory supervision of gambling.
The board of the GRAI will be led by Paul Quinn as Chair, the former CEO of Ireland’s Procurement Office. Board members include:
Minister O’Callaghan stated: “Today marks a new era for the regulation of gambling in the Irish State.The establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland is a further step towards replacing Ireland’s outdated gambling laws with a streamlined and simplified licensing framework.
This will reflect the nature of modern gambling while taking into account the harms associated with problem gambling, providing safeguards to protect people from those harms, especially children.”
Self-Exclusion Scheme & Social Impact Fund
As part of Budget 2025, announced on 1 October, the GRAI will receive €9.1 million in 2025, including €4 million for ICT capital investment.
The GRAI begins its operations in which it must establish a National Gambling Exclusion Register, designed to provide individuals struggling with gambling addiction the option to self-exclude from all gambling activities and promotions.
A further objective, required the GRAI to create a Social Impact Fund to finance research, training, and education on gambling addiction. The initiative with mirrors UK gambling’s RET Levy, aims to enhance public awareness, support prevention strategies, and improve resources available for those affected by problem gambling.
The GRAI must also enforce Ireland’s new advertising and sponsorship restrictions to limit exposure, particularly among vulnerable individuals and minors. A statutory watershed will prohibit gambling advertisements between 5:30 AM and 9:00 PM on television, radio, and on-demand audiovisual media, ensuring that gambling promotions do not target younger audiences during peak viewing hours.
To further strengthen oversight, the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASA Ireland) has been established to monitor gambling advertising standards and ensure compliance with the new regulations.
Anne-Marie Caulfield: GRAI
Welcoming the establishment of the Authority and the appointment of its members, GRAI CEO Anne-Marie Caulfield said: “I greatly welcome the appointment of the seven-member Authority and the establishment of Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann.
I would like to thank the Ministers, Oireachtas members, the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, and Department of Justice officials for their work in bringing about our establishment.
I look forward to fulfilling our mandate and delivering a safe, well-regulated, and transparent sector, with consumer protection at its core.”
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