How have changes in Irish gambling legislation affected sports betting

Ireland has undergone a sweeping overhaul of its gambling legislation in recent years. The country has had to work diligently to modify outdated rules for the modern world, especially with the growth of online sports betting in recent years.

This culminated in the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 being passed, which brought significant changes to the way sports betting was regulated. But what has changed in the sports betting world in Ireland, why was the new legislation needed and what does it mean for the future of the industry and its customers?

Irishluck.ie has kept a close eye on changes to gambling legislation over the years, and they saw that prior to 2015, the laws governing Ireland’s gambling industry came from the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 and the Betting Act 19311. Being that they were 59 and 84 years old at that time, they were badly out of date and reform was sorely needed to keep up with the changing pace of the sector.

These laws just simply couldn’t account for the modern realities of the gambling industry. Online betting, international operators and consumer habits that have changed vastly over the years just weren’t included in legislation, and that had to change. People needed to be protected from rogue operators, so they didn’t lose money on bets where there was never any intention for winnings to be paid out in an increasingly online world. The Betting (Amendment) Act 2015, which made amendments to the original 1931 act, brought in legislation that focused on bookmakers and ensuring they were properly licensed to operate.

The 2015 act legislated that any person operating without the appropriate license required as a bookmaker either in person or remotely would be guilty of an offence. This was the first time that online operators had been targeted by law in the country. The punishments were severe, with fines of up to €150,000 and up to five years in prison2 facing offenders.

Four years later, the Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Act 2019, which proposed changes to the 1956 act, made it into law. The Minister for Justice David Stanton, who proposed the bill noted at the time, spoke about why the new act was needed and what he hoped it would achieve:

“A modern and effectively regulated gambling environment will ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that gambling will be a safe, fair and entertaining activity for the majority of those who choose to take part in it. We must ensure that it will provide enhanced consumer protection for players while limiting to the greatest extent possible the harmful effects on young people and those who may be susceptible to addiction3.”

Although these two amendment acts began to tackle the issues faced thanks to the rise of online operators, a whole new act was introduced just five years later with the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. This was the act that brought into existence the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI). This independent body is now responsible for overseeing licensing, compliance and consumer protections in both the physical and online gambling worlds.

The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 also saw several changes brought into effect that deal with sports betting. The act has consolidated and updated previous gambling legislation in the country and seeks to address modern challenges faced in the industry.

The introduction of GRAI was the most sweeping change brought about by the act. Its remit is to focus on wellbeing and public safety when it comes to gambling4. This independent regulator will cover betting both in person and online with powers to regulate gambling, advertising, websites and apps. Those who wish to offer sports betting in Ireland — whether they are domestic or international operators — must now be licensed by GRAI as a legal requirement.

GRAI has already made changes in the way the gambling industry in Ireland is allowed to advertise and market itself. There are now severe restrictions on the advertising of gambling services, with no adverts related to the industry allowed either on TV or radio from 5:30 am to 9:00 pm. In addition, adults now need to actively opt-in to see gambling advertisements online and there are provisions in the Act to ban gambling advertising on social media5.

The Act provides greater consumer protection by introducing deposit limits and mandatory affordability checks. The onus is on betting operators, including those offering sports betting, to ‘Know Your Customer’ and follow procedures to assess their players’ financial capabilities before they place any bets. Self-exclusion tools have been enhanced, which means gamblers can take matters into their own hands and choose to ban themselves from betting platforms for a set period.

The GRAI also has the power to enforce operator interventions for at-risk gamblers. These customers would be identified through betting patterns. If problem behaviour was spotted, GRAI could then intervene. In a country where one in 30 adults suffer from problem gambling6, increasing consumer protections and keeping people from harm is of the utmost importance.

Betting operators will now also have to contribute to a Social Impact Fund. This fund will support initiatives to attempt to reduce problem gambling in the population. It will offer treatment services as well as educational campaigns to keep people informed and aware of the risks associated with gambling.

As far as sports betting operators, one of the biggest effects the Act has had is to limit live or in-play betting. Popular with many sports fans, these options allow you to continue to bet after a sporting event such as a football match or Gaelic Athletic Association game has started. Due to concerns that in-play bets can lead to impulsive gambling, operators must use additional safeguards to curb that risk. Time outs, restrictions on accounts displaying problematic behaviour and complete exclusions can be applied, but these are still down to the bookmakers themselves to decide on and enforce.

Although the legislation only passed into law in 2024, it’s already had a profound impact on betting companies, including those offering sports betting. Some overseas operators have left the Irish market completely due to the increased regulation. With responsible gambling at the heart of the Act, some bookmakers have invested in new technology, including AI, to track customers’ behaviour and spot problematic patterns more quickly than before.

This has meant that some smaller operators have struggled to cope with the added costs of compliance. Those already promoting responsible gambling as par for the course have found things easier. There is now a more consolidated gambling industry in Ireland with fewer operators, but those that remain are more accountable to help players stay safe when gambling.

New restrictions on sponsorships between sports teams and betting operators have caused major changes as well. Previously, many football, rugby and horse racing teams relied on betting company sponsorships for crucial funding. They are now fighting to find alternative sponsors who know that they should be able to get the same marketing opportunities that gambling operators did. The GAA proved to be ahead of the game in this regard as it voted to ban all gambling sponsorship in the sport in 20187.

This has caused particular concern in the horse racing industry, which is very closely tied to the betting world. The Irish government has allocated a portion of gambling taxes to help support the racing industry, as it is a huge part of Irish culture and the country’s sporting success. The 2025 budget set out by the Irish government has seen its support of the horse racing industry increase by more than €3m to €79.28m8.

Advertorial: The regulations governing sports betting and the wider gambling industry in Ireland are still relatively new, so the long-term impact of these changes won’t be known for some time. Operators have been challenged to provide a more consumer-focused offering with an emphasis on responsible play. The ones who last will no doubt be the ones who embrace that ethos while others trying to skirt regulations or find loopholes might find that they’re quickly bearing the brunt of the GRAI.

The GRAI itself is expected to refine the regulations as needed based on what the future holds. Just as the 1956 and 1931 Acts were vastly out of date when they were amended, the 2024 Act will no doubt be seen as obsolete one day. The advantage now is that the GRAI can update and amend the regulations as needed to keep up with an ever-changing world.

Overall, the changes in Irish gambling legislation have reshaped the sports betting landscape, promoting responsible gambling while maintaining the integrity of the industry. As the sector adapts to the new regulatory framework, Ireland has set a precedent for other jurisdictions seeking to modernise their gambling laws in an increasingly digital world.