Licensed or not? Short answers about betting licences and safety in Ireland

How do I check whether a betting site is licensed in Ireland?

Find the licence number the site shows, open the GRAI licence register, filter by Business to Consumer and match the number, licence type, expiry date and trading name. The register lists a licence under a licensee, so the brand on the site is a trading name. If nothing matches, do not deposit. GRAI last updated the register on 20 October 2026.

Full answer: the step-by-step licence check.

Is online betting legal in Ireland?

Online betting is legal when a GRAI licensee offers it. Under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 (s.67(1)), betting for Ireland may be offered only by a licensee, and GRAI began licensing remote betting on 1 July 2026. A site with no matching register entry is not on the list we use. This is not legal advice.

Full answer: the full answer on legality.

What do RB, RBI and IPB mean?

RB is a remote betting licence, RBI is a remote betting intermediary licence and IPB is an in-person betting licence. The register shows 42 licences held by 40 business-to-consumer licensees: 37 RB, 4 RBI and 1 IPB, as updated by GRAI on 20 October 2026. A licence runs for three years.

Full answer: the licence types explained.

Does a .ie domain mean a site is licensed?

No. The Domain Names field is empty for all 40 business-to-consumer records we reviewed, so a domain proves nothing on its own. Licensees must show the licence number on each online platform (s.110(1)(a)(ii), in force since 5 February 2026). Match that number to the register entry.

Full answer: the page on domains and licences.

Can a site with a UK or Malta licence take customers in Ireland?

Betting for Ireland needs a GRAI licence (s.67(1)), and a foreign licence is not a GRAI licence. Whether a given arrangement is lawful is a question for a lawyer, and our page on the topic is under legal review. Check the GRAI register, not a licence badge shown on the site.

Full answer: the page on UK and Malta licences.

Bottom line: match the number on the site to the GRAI register.

What is the minimum age to bet in Ireland?

The minimum age is 18. Children under 18 may not take part in gambling (s.158), and identity and age must be verified before an account is opened (s.169). Both rules have been in force since 5 February 2026. Bookie Ledger shows 18+ on every page.

Full answer: what operators check at sign-up.

Can I deposit with a credit card?

No. Licensees may not accept credit cards or e-methods funded from credit cards (s.165). Debit cards and other methods are separate questions, and each operator publishes its own list. Our deposit-methods table records the eight methods in our criteria for each operator, with a source and a check date.

Full answer: the page on the credit card ban.

Bottom line: 18+, identity checked first, no credit cards.

Is there a national self-exclusion register in Ireland?

Not yet. The national register in ss.44-49 of the Act was not in force on 7 November 2026. Self-exclusion today means asking the operator, using a bank gambling block, or installing BetBlocker or GamBan. Each route covers different sites, so one step does not replace the others.

Full answer: the page on blocking and excluding yourself.

Can I set a limit before my first bet?

Licensees must let a player set a money limit on participation (s.164). Whether an operator describes the tool on its public pages is criterion R1 in our scoring, worth 6 of 100 points. Our safer-gambling table shows what each operator publishes, with a source and a date.

Full answer: setting limits and taking a break.

Bottom line: limits and breaks at the operator, and a national register not yet in force.

Where do I complain about a betting site?

Start with the operator's own complaints procedure. Our matrix records whether each operator publishes one (criterion S3, worth 5 of 100 points) and marks the cell Not published when it does not. The linked page sets out the route in full once it has been checked against primary sources.

Full answer: where to complain.

Does a betting licence cover casino games?

No. The licences on the register are for betting. GRAI had issued no online casino licences on 7 November 2026, and applications are expected from 2027. Bookie Ledger covers betting sites only and does not list or link to casino sections.

Full answer: the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 explained.

Can I rely on a ranking of betting sites?

Only if it explains how the order is decided. A paid position without clear disclosure is a prohibited practice (Consumer Protection Act 2007, s.55(1)(qa)), though its reach over a static page is not settled. Ours is the Ledger score, calculated on 19 published criteria, and links marked Ad are disclosed.

Full answer: how to read a ranking.

Bottom line: start with the operator's complaints route, then use the guide.

The licence hub groups every page on checking and understanding licences. The pre-deposit checklist puts the checks in one list, and the matrix shows what each operator publishes. For limits, breaks and help lines, see responsible gambling.

Bottom line: check the register first, then compare.