Ireland's GRAI Advances to TRIS Notification After Licensing Consultation

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) is moving forward with formal EU notification of its licensing regulations following completion of a public consultation that drew 27 submissions from operators, industry bodies, and civil society organisations.

Consultation FindingsAn independent review by Governance Ireland found that the majority of submissions, particularly from operators, expressed supportive or pragmatic views on the proposed application fees, licence durations, and additional licence conditions. Where concerns emerged—primarily around fee structures and licence terms—the regulator attributed many to misunderstandings of terminology within the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.

The GRAI has committed to publishing guidance documents to clarify key definitions, including the interpretation of "turnover" for fee calculation purposes.

Fee Structure DefendedSeveral stakeholders compared Ireland's proposed fees unfavourably against UK rates. The GRAI rejected these comparisons, noting that:

GRAI's regulatory responsibilities extend beyond those of the UK Gambling CommissionMany functions handled by local councils in Britain will fall under GRAI's remitMarket size and taxation differences make direct comparisons misleadingRemote gaming is not currently licensed in Ireland, complicating cost comparisonsThe regulator emphasised that fees reflect a new self-financing regime with enhanced oversight.

Three-Year Licences ConfirmedDespite some industry calls for longer terms, the GRAI is proceeding with three-year licence durations as an "appropriate starting point," though it committed to keeping this under review as the framework matures. The Act permits a minimum of one year.

Next StepsThe regulations will now be notified to the European Commission and Member States under the Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS), a standard procedural requirement under Directive (EU) 2015/1535 to ensure regulatory coherence across the EU.