Ireland now has an official gambling regulator, as the new Gambling Regulatory Authority is up and running as of Wednesday. This new body is in charge of issuing licenses to operators and regulating the industry in the country.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan spoke about this landmark day, describing it as a “new era” for the country and a major step toward replacing “outdated gambling laws” and bringing legislation into the modern age.
only became possible following the passage of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 in October
The Gaming Regulatory Authority only became possible following the passage of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 in October. Lawmakers hope the bill will help protect at-risk gamblers, although critics claim it will destabilize the horse racing industry, which has a €2bn ($2.2bn) in annual economic impact, and the country’s poker scene.
Some of the other upcoming changes as part of the legislation include a watershed on gambling ads from being shown on television between 5:30am and 9pm, stricter betting limits, and more money going toward addiction research and treatment.
