Why this is still legal
Ireland's old regime, run through Revenue, didn't require a domestic licence for remote gaming at all — many operators serving Irish players have only ever held a foreign licence. The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 doesn't retroactively make that illegal; it phases in a domestic requirement over time, starting with betting in July 2026 and gaming later.
What changes, and when
Once GRAI opens its remote gaming licensing category, operators serving Irish players will need to hold a GRAI licence to continue doing so legally. Operators who don't apply, or whose application is refused, will need to stop accepting Irish customers or face GRAI enforcement action — fines up to €20m or 10% of turnover, and potential court orders to cease operating.
Protections that already apply regardless of licence
Some Gambling Regulation Act 2024 protections are already in force for anyone gambling from Ireland, regardless of which regulator licenses the operator — the credit card gambling ban and the TV/radio advertising watershed (5:30am–9pm) took effect on 5 February 2026 as general consumer protection law, not as conditions tied to holding a GRAI licence specifically.
What to do if you're unsure about a specific brand
Search it in our registry to see its current filing status, then verify the licence number it displays directly against the issuing regulator's own public register rather than trusting the casino's own footer graphic.