Ireland launches licensing regime for betting operators

• Novibet became the first operator to receive a licence from Ireland’s new gambling regulator, valid for three years from 1 July 2026.
• GRAI has signed a memorandum of understanding with Denmark’s Spillemyndigheden to strengthen cross-border compliance and enforcement.
• Licensed operators must meet strict consumer protection rules, including age verification, deposit limits and a ban on credit card payments.

Novibet has become the first operator to receive a remote betting licence from the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), as the regulator began issuing licences under its new framework on 1 July.

The milestone comes as GRAI also signed a memorandum of understanding with Denmark’s Spillemyndigheden, its first bilateral cooperation agreement since taking over licensing duties.

First through the door

Novibet is the first company to complete GRAI’s licensing process, securing a remote betting licence valid for three years, from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2029. The Greek-founded operator has held a presence in the Irish market since 2021.

To be approved, operators must demonstrate they are fit and proper, hold sufficient financial capacity and can show winnings are funded through lawful means, according to GRAI. Novibet’s successful, timely completion of the process confirms its governance structures meet those standards.

UK operator Betfred has not completed the same process. The company paused its Irish operations from 30 June, and a notice on its website advises Irish-based customers not to open an account or make a deposit. It remains unclear whether Betfred intends to resume trading in the market.

New consumer safeguards

Licensed operators must now meet a range of consumer protection requirements, including age verification checks, payout obligations and a ban on credit card payments. Operators are also required to close customer accounts on request, let players set deposit and spending limits, and integrate with Ireland’s new national self-exclusion register.

GRAI holds significant enforcement powers. It can investigate operators, impose fines of up to €20 million or 10 percent of turnover, and apply to the courts for orders against illegal operators.

The licensing rollout is phased. Applications for other licence categories, including gaming, lotteries, B2B and charitable activities, will open between 2027 and 2028.

Jim O’Callaghan, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, said:

“The commencement of licences for remote betting operators establishes a clear and robust regulatory regime for the gambling sector, strengthening Ireland’s reputation as a well-regulated market, and ensuring operators are held to consistent standards of compliance.”

Reaching across Europe

GRAI has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Spillemyndigheden, Denmark’s gambling regulator, its first such agreement since assuming licensing powers. The deal follows a meeting between GRAI chief executive Anne Marie Caulfield and Spillemyndigheden director general Anders Dorph, and is intended to support closer information sharing between the two markets.

Anne Marie Caulfield, Chief Executive Officer of GRAI, said:

“This Memorandum of Understanding with the Danish Gambling Authority is another vital milestone in strengthening cooperation between regulators operating in closely connected markets.”

GRAI’s remit extends beyond licensing. The regulator also oversees a Social Impact Fund supporting gambling research and treatment, part of its three-year strategy for the sector.

Novibet’s licence sets a template other operators will now be judged against, and GRAI has made clear that unlicensed activity is next on its list. With land-based licences due by December and a growing network of European regulatory partners, the authority’s oversight of the Irish market looks set to widen quickly.