Ireland’s GRAI Teams Up with Gibraltar’s Regulatory Authority

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) announced that it has penned a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority. This agreement will see the two authorities collaborate to tackle a variety of gambling industry issues.

GRAI Joins Forces with Gibraltar’s Regulator

According to the GRAI’s announcement, this new arrangement is in line with its broader goal to form productive relationships with an international community of operators and share important information regarding the industry.  

The agreement was signed by Anne Marie Caulfield, chief executive officer of the GRAI, and Andrew Lynam, a commissioner representing the Gibraltarian gambling regulator.

The MoU sets out some clear points and principles of collaboration that the gambling regulators of Ireland and Gibraltar have committed to follow. By sharing information, the two bodies will be able to more easily tackle illegal gambling, share best practices and follow the latest developments in the sector.

The MoU furthermore reflects the GRAI’s trust in the Gibraltarian authorities, which have previously assisted the Irish authority during its set-up phase. The GRAI reiterated its appreciation and expressed excitement about the continued collaboration.

A Formalized Working Relationship

Anne Marie Caulfield, chief executive officer of the GRAI, commented on the MoU, saying that it will create a formal working relationship between regulators in the two countries. She added that the MoU with Gibraltar’s regulator would be especially important considering the significant overlap between the two countries’ operator bases.

Given how many Gambling Operators are active in both jurisdictions this Memorandum of Understanding will be the first step in cementing what will be a positive and mutually beneficial working relationship between both organisations.

Anne Marie Caulfield, CEO, GRAI

Caulfield added that this is an important step for the GRAI, which continues to seek mutually beneficial partnerships with the broader community of gambling regulators. The agreement with Gibraltar’s regulator is notably the third in a series of similar MoUs.

Caulfield also welcomed Andrew Lynam, CEO of the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, to Dublin and thanked him and his team for their incredible and continued assistance.

GRAI Responded to Industry Feedback

The MoU with the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority comes two weeks after the GRAI issued a response to the input it gathered during its inaugural public consultation on Ireland’s new Gambling Regulation Act 2024. The authority acknowledged the significant concerns raised by industry stakeholders, which included calls for a fairer and more transparent fee structure.

The GRAI confirmed that its main goals remain to foster a socially responsible and transparent gambling industry while protecting the public from gambling harm.