GRAI CEO: “We’ll Use the Full Toolkit” to Protect Irish Gamblers

The Chief Executive Officer of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has outlined that the new organization intends to use the “fool toolkit” at its disposal to ensure the Irish public is protected from betting firms that take advantage of addiction.

Anne Marie Caulfield, the CEO, served a warning to betting firms who fall foul of new Irish legislation in an interview with the Irish Examiner.

How Ireland’s New Gambling Regulator Plans to Tackle Problem Gambling

Further to licensing all gambling activity in Ireland, the GRAI will administer a social impact fund and establish a gambling exclusion register in a bid to reduce gambling-related harm.

Caulfield expressed concerns around the “ample evidence” of problem gambling in Ireland, citing an Economic and Social Research Institute study showing that one in ten Irish residents report at least moderate harm from gambling, yet 47 percent of industry profits come from these customers.

She also expressed concern about young people being exposed to gambling harms, commenting: “Another thing that’s very worrying and does really justify clamping down very hard is children and gambling.” Caulfield added that when data was analyzed, citizens who gambled before the age of 18 were twice as likely to suffer from gambling-adjacent harms.

“We have met with numerous people with lived experience, and it is so devastating, not just for the individuals, but also for their families,” said Caulfield when discussing a study showing 23 people who had taken their own lives had gambling mentioned in the coroner’s note.

“It really does reinforce the fact that we’ve been given a very responsible role, and it’s important, we owe to those people to do our job properly, and we’ll certainly be making every effort to do that over the coming years,” she continued.

The GRAI was established as a statute of new regulation, the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, which became operational on 5 March 2025. The Gambling Regulation Act will overhaul Ireland’s gambling laws, which have previously been governed by the Betting Act of 1931.

GRAI received €9.1 million in 2025 as part of the government budget, including €4 million for ICT capital investment.

As well as establishing the self-exclusion register and becoming the regulatory authority, the GRAI is also responsible for enforcing Ireland’s new gambling advertising and sponsorship restrictions, which aim to reduce exposure to gambling, especially among those at high risk of gambling-related harm. A statutory watershed will prohibit gambling advertisements on television, radio, and on-demand services between 5:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

In addition, she said that she expects research to be published later this year on the impact of free bets offered by bookmakers and another on consumption patterns in the country. She emphasized that the GRAI will be keeping an eye on companies trying to circumvent tighter advertising rules and also will not be afraid to introduce new regulations.

“For example, there can be warnings with regard to something akin to what you’d have on financial services products. Warnings about potential losses, directing people to areas where they can get assistance and help. There are different measures, further measures, that can be taken by the authority. So that is an area that will be looked at in due course,” Caulfield continued.

GRAI to Vet Gambling Executives Under Stricter Licensing Process

Ireland’s new regulator will also vet executives of top gambling firms as part of its new licensing process. “As part of that vetting process, we will be asking who the responsible individuals are and vetting them individually. If there’s an issue, we’ll be tracking back to that,” Ms Caulfield told the Examiner.

Companies that breach more stringent Irish rules and regulations will face harsher penalties. Fines could reach 20 million euros or ten percent of turnover, and licenses could be revoked or suspended. There could also be specific consequences for “key decision makers.”

The brief for the GRAI is wide-ranging, but it’s clear that the authority is looking to get a firm grip on the regulated domestic market and stop incumbent licensees from taking advantage of those at risk of harm.

Critics of tight regulation argue that the strictest regulatory regimes only push users to pursue other mediums for wagering, such as crypto sportsbooks or iGaming products. The GRAI has not yet tackled this area, as it will ultimately start with the licensees under its authority.