Irish Gambling Regulator GRAI Officially Established
In early March, Ireland officially established the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) as part of its new gambling legislation, which was approved last year. The new regulator will oversee both online and land-based gambling in the European nation.
Ireland has spent years attempting to modernise its gambling laws, which have remained largely unchanged since the 1930s. The first version of the new legislation was approved in November 2022, but the final version has yet to come into effect. One key element of the new law was the creation of a dedicated regulatory body, the GRAI. More than two and a half years ago, the Irish government appointed Anne Marie Caulfield as its first CEO.
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New Gambling Law
The Ministry of Justice has signed the first commencement order. As a result, the first provisions of Ireland鈥檚 new gambling law have come into effect, including the official establishment of the GRAI. Additionally, Paul Quinn has been appointed as the chair of the regulator, whilst Anne Marie Caulfield will officially take office as CEO.
During the signing, the minister stated that the first licences under the new gambling law will be issued in 2025. In May last year, the GRAI conducted a survey to gauge interest from gambling operators. All stakeholders in Ireland鈥檚 gambling sector, both domestic and international, were invited to express their interest with the authority.
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Combat Problem Gambling
A key objective of the GRAI is to combat problem gambling. As part of this effort, the regulator will introduce a self-exclusion register, allowing Irish gamblers to voluntarily exclude themselves from legal online gambling. The National Gambling Exclusion Register is similar to Australia鈥檚 BetStop scheme.
Additionally, a ban on gambling advertisements will come into effect once the new law is fully implemented. This will prohibit gambling ads on television and radio between 5:30 AM and 9:00 PM.
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New Zealand’s Online Gambling Reform
New Zealand鈥檚 online gambling laws are set for major reform as the Department of Internal Affairs reviews the outdated Gambling Act 2003. Currently, only Lotto NZ and the TAB are legally permitted to offer online gambling, but New Zealanders can freely access offshore platforms, which operate outside local regulations. This lack of oversight raises concerns about consumer protection.
With the lack of a local legal framework, offshore operators exploit legal loopholes to serve Kiwi players. A key example is SkyCity, which has relocated its operations to Malta to legally target the New Zealand market. To address these risks, the government plans to legalise and regulate online casinos by early 2026, introducing stricter rules on consumer protection and advertising restrictions.
The proposed framework will build on existing gambling laws, adapting them to the online sector. The government aims to submit the bill to Parliament next year, with full implementation expected by 2026. Once the new law comes into effect, Kiwi operators will be able to offer regulated gambling sites. In November 2024, Minister of Internal Affairs, Brooke van Velden announced that the number of licence holders will be limited to 15.
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