Regulators & law
GRAI — the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, established 5 March 2025 under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. See GRAI vs MGA vs UKGC for how it compares to other regulators.
Gambling Regulation Act 2024 — the primary legislation replacing the Betting Act 1931 and the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956, establishing GRAI and its powers.
MGA — the Malta Gaming Authority, a foreign regulator many operators serving Irish players currently hold a licence from instead of GRAI.
UKGC — the UK Gambling Commission, the equivalent regulator for the United Kingdom.
Regulator of the National Lottery (ORNL) — the separate statutory body regulating Ireland's National Lottery specifically, outside GRAI's remit. See does GRAI regulate the National Lottery.
Licensing
Remote betting — betting placed online, by phone, or other remote means. GRAI began issuing remote betting licences 1 July 2026.
Remote gaming — online casino-style gambling (slots, table games, live dealer), as distinct from betting. See does GRAI cover online casino or just betting.
Notice of Intention — a mandatory 28-day public notice an operator must publish before formally applying for a GRAI licence.
B2C licence — a business-to-consumer licence, held by operators dealing directly with players.
B2B licence — a business-to-business licence, held by companies supplying services (software, platforms) to licensed operators rather than dealing with players directly.
Licensee — an operator holding a valid GRAI licence.
Player protection
Inducement — a personalised incentive aimed at an individual customer or segment — VIP treatment, free bets, free credit, free hospitality — all now banned. See VIP schemes, free bets and bonuses banned.
National Gambling Exclusion Register — Ireland's planned single self-exclusion system covering every GRAI-licensed operator at once. See how it works.
Cooling-off period — a mandatory delay (typically 48 hours) between requesting a gambling block be lifted and it actually taking effect. See bank and app gambling blocks.
Watershed — the 5:30am–9pm window in which gambling advertising is banned on TV and radio. See the ad watershed explained.
Problem gambling — a clinically defined pattern of persistent, recurrent gambling causing significant impairment or distress. See gambling statistics Ireland for prevalence data.
Payments
MCC (Merchant Category Code) — a code identifying a merchant's business type, used by banks and card networks to detect and block gambling-related transactions.
Closed-loop policy — a rule requiring withdrawals to return to the same payment method used to deposit, common with e-wallets like PayPal.
KYC (Know Your Customer) — identity verification checks operators must complete, including the age-verification requirements covered in our age verification explainer.
Games & terms you'll see on operator sites
RTP (Return to Player) — the theoretical long-run percentage of wagered money a game pays back to players. Doesn't indicate licensing status — see how to check a licence yourself for that.
Loot box — a randomised in-game reward mechanic in video games, flagged by GRAI as a form of gambling-adjacent exposure for minors.
Complaints & enforcement
Notice of Intention — see Licensing, above.
ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) — an independent process for resolving consumer disputes without going to court. Ireland doesn't yet have a dedicated gambling ADR body — see where a gambling dispute actually goes.
Related reading
Start with GRAI vs MGA vs UKGC if you're new to the site, or the registry to check a specific brand's status.