Delay in Irish Gambling Reforms Draws Criticism Despite Regulator Start

Ireland’s new gambling regulator has begun operations, but its full authority under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 will not kick in until the middle of next year. This delay puts off major changes to reduce gambling-related harm.

Irish Gambling Regulator Launched, Yet Licensing and Addiction Fund Still a Year Away

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) opened its doors in March 2025. Its job is to overhaul Ireland’s old gambling laws and bring in a new licensing system. However, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said the authority’s licensing rules would not start until mid-2026, as reported by Irish media The Journal. Until then, gambling companies in Ireland do not have to follow the upcoming tough rules.

This delay has also pushed back the start of the awaited Social Impact Fund, a key part of the reform plan. The fund aims to pay for addiction help services, public awareness efforts, and studies using money from fees and fines collected from licensed gambling firms. Minister O’Callaghan said they could not start the fund until they gave out licenses.

Labour TD Mark Wall, who often speaks up about gambling reform, expressed concerns about the delay. He pointed out recent findings that over 20% of Irish teens aged 16 have gambled in the past year. He pushed the government to make starting the fund a top priority, calling it crucial to tackle what he saw as a growing problem among young people.

Delay in Irish Gambling Crackdown Sparks Concern Despite Regulator’s Growth

Despite these setbacks, GRAI keeps growing its operations, with plans to have 35 employees by late 2025. The staff count will go up as the authority gets ready to enforce regulations in the years ahead.

Once put into action, the new rules will ban incentives like free bets, stop the use of credit cards for gambling, and tighten ad controls during times when kids might see them. Companies will need to check customers’ IDs with photo proof, and setting up accounts for underage users will be against the law.

Although GRAI intends to open a window for license applications later this year, the longer timeline has faced criticism from supporters who want to see quicker progress. Still, government officials argue that it takes time to build a strong regulatory base, and they stress that keeping the public safe remains their main concern.

The creation of GRAI marks a big change in how Ireland oversees gambling, but for now, the industry keeps running under the same conditions as before.