New Gambling Regulations Begin to Take Effect in Ireland
Verification Requests Have Begun on Irish Bookmakers
The World Cup may be taking up news columns and the headspace of most punters, but soon - from 1st July to be precise - Ireland's gambling regulations are set for a big overhaul.
As part of the changes, operators will need to have been issued with a new remote bookmaker license by the 1st July and adhere to all the new rules that focus mostly on helping problem gamblers and restricting children's exposure to gambling advertising - see here for all the key details on what's set to change.
As a punter, one of the most notable changes will be the need to verify your identity with every licensed operator, even if you're already a member, which is something we've already noticed on BetVictor.
This was the pop up message we received as we entered the BetVictor IE sportsbook
Why Are These Changes Happening?
Prior to the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 being signed into law, Ireland's gambling legislation had long been outdated. The laws simply weren't fit for the modern (and mostly online) gambling landscape we have today.
Along with that was the need to combat problem gambling, with 1 in 30 adults in Ireland believed to have a gambling addiction, according to research, and to better protect children from gambling advertisements.
And so, after years of legislative back-and-forth, Ireland is set to embark on a new era in how gambling (both in-person and online) is regulated.
The new guidelines will be enforced by the newly established regulator, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), whose main aim will be to:
- Make sure that gambling takes place in a fair and safe way
- That safety measures are in place to address problem gambling
- Prevent gambling from being a source of or support for crime
