Ireland’s gambling legal landscape is undergoing a major overhaul. In October 2024, the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 was signed into law, establishing a new statutory regulator: the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI).
Under this new regime, online gambling operators will need to apply for a license from GRAI to serve Irish customers lawfully. The Gambling Regulation Act also gives the GRAI strong enforcement powers: it can suspend or revoke licences, impose fines up to €20 million or 10% of turnover, and even pursue criminal penalties.

Age and player eligibility: You have to be over the age of 18 to gamble online in Ireland. To withdraw from Irish casinos, you will have to verify your age as well as your address in Ireland.
Why using licensed sites matters: Using licensed gambling sites is important because these operators must follow strict standards that ensure fair play, secure data handling, and strong responsible-gambling measures. Licensed platforms also provide avenues for dispute resolution, as GRAI oversees compliance and player protection.
Future/regulatory changes to watch: As the regulatory regime is new, it is still being phased in, so things may change. Just always make sure to check the current status via GRAI or official government sources so you are always on top of things.

Responsible Gambling in Ireland: How a casino approaches responsible gambling is a good indicator of how much they care about their players. Here is what to look out for.
Signs of problematic play: Problem gambling can show in many different ways: spending more than you intended, chasing losses by gambling to win back what you lost, or gambling interfering with everyday responsibilities like work, family, or social life.

Tools available at online casinos: The best online casinos will have responsible gambling tools in place to help players stay in control. Here are some examples.

Deposit/loss limits: These are tools that stop you from depositing or losing more than a set amount you can decide on. It's a great way to prevent overspending.
Time-out: If you have noticed any signs of problem gambling listed in the first section, it might be time to use the time-out tool. This will stop you from logging back in until the date you have chosen and allows time to cool off.
Self-exclusion: If you have exhausted the other tools available and feel that they are not helping or you feel it's just gone too far, it may be time to self-exclude. This means the casino will not allow you to log back in again.