Gambling Regulation Act 2024
Ireland’s new gambling law, dated and decoded: what is already in force, what the GRAI switches on next, and how to set up your account today.
The short answer: Ireland’s new gambling law created the GRAI and is being switched on in phases. Credit cards have been banned for gambling since 5 February 2026 and betting licences started on 1 July 2026, but Irish online casino licences come later, so Conquestador serves Ireland under its Malta licence. Pay by debit card and set limits.
The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 in 50 words
The Act replaces Ireland’s 1930s betting laws with one modern licensing system run by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI). It bans credit card gambling, limits advertising, adds an exclusion register and a Social Impact Fund, and switches on in stages. Casino licences come last.
- Signed into law23 Oct 2024
- GRAI established5 Mar 2025
- Credit card ban5 Feb 2026
- Online casino licencesLater phase
The rest of this page is the long version: which parts already touch your account, which are only on paper, and what a sensible Irish player does meanwhile. Every date below traces back to the Act, the GRAI or the Department of Justice.
Sources we checked
Gambling law moves by commencement order, so a news story from last year can already be wrong. These are the primary sources behind this page; all of them were open and readable when we checked on 24 September 2026.
- Irish Statute BookThe full text of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, Act No. 35 of 2024, dated 23 October 2024. Section numbers on this page refer to it.
- GRAIThe regulator’s own site, grai.ie, including its note on the February 2026 commencement order and the 9 February portal opening.
- gov.ieThe Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration notice announcing the order on 3 February 2026, with the full list of measures it switched on.
- Citizens InformationPlain-English pages on the law on gambling in Ireland and on the GRAI and the exclusion register.
- MGA licensee registerConquestador’s own licence, MGA/B2C/818/2020, on the Malta Gaming Authority register, status Licensed on 23 September 2026.
What the Gambling Regulation Act means for you as a player
For most Irish players the Act has so far changed one thing you will notice at the cashier and a handful of things you will notice later. The rest is aimed at operators, advertisers and broadcasters.
The change you feel today is the credit card ban. Since 5 February 2026, a licensed operator may not accept a credit card for gambling, may not give you credit, and may not take money from an e-wallet that you loaded from a credit card (section 165). If you used to top up a Skrill or Neteller balance from a credit card, that route is closed as far as the law is concerned. A debit card or a bank-funded wallet does the same job.
The same order obliged licensees to let you set a monetary limit on how much you gamble online (section 164), to keep children out, to watch for suspicious betting patterns and to follow clear rules when an account is closed and money is refunded. From 1 July 2026, anyone holding a remote licence must check your photo ID and proof of address before you can register, and not just when you first withdraw.
Already live for players
- No credit cards, and no e-wallets funded from one
- Licensees must offer a spending limit you set
- Under-18s may not gamble or work in gambling
- Account closure and refund rules
- A regulator that takes complaints and can fine up to €20 million or 10% of turnover
Written in, not switched on yet
- The 05:30–21:00 gambling ad watershed on TV, radio and on-demand
- Social media ads only if you follow the brand
- The National Gambling Exclusion Register
- The Social Impact Fund levy
- GRAI licences for online casino games
Where does Conquestador fit? The GRAI started with betting because bookmakers already held Revenue licences that needed replacing. Gaming licences, the kind an online casino needs, are a later phase with no published date. Until they open, every online casino available in Ireland is licensed abroad. Conquestador’s licence is Maltese: Mobile Incorporated Limited holds MGA/B2C/818/2020 for Type 1 and Type 2 gaming, and the Malta Gaming Authority itself sets rules on player funds, fair games, KYC and responsible gambling tools. Its sister casino JackWin runs on the same licence, as our sister sites page explains.
So in practice you play in euro, verify your ID the way the MGA requires, and use the deposit limits and self-exclusion that any MGA site has to offer. When the GRAI opens gaming applications, we will check the new Irish register and update this page. If you want to see the lobby for yourself, Conquestador opens in a new tab.
Dates and deadlines under the Act
Pick any date, or leave today’s, and the list below marks what was already in force on that day and what was still to come. Switch between player and operator measures to cut the noise.
Timeline of changes
Dates from the Irish Statute Book, the GRAI and gov.ie, checked 24 September 2026. Measures with no published start date always count as still to come.
- The Act becomes law
The Gambling Regulation Act 2024, Act No. 35 of 2024, is signed. Nothing changes for players yet: each part needs a commencement order.
In force
- GRAI established
Ministerial orders set up the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland with seven members, chaired by Paul Quinn, with Anne Marie Caulfield as chief executive.
In force
- Credit card ban and spending limits
Licensees may no longer accept credit cards or credit-funded e-wallets, must let you set a monetary limit, and must keep under-18s out.
In force
- Licensing, complaints and enforcement switched on
The commencement order announced on 3 February takes effect. The Betting Act 1931 and Totalisator Act 1929 are repealed, and the GRAI gains its complaints and sanction powers.
In force
- Operator portal opens
Applications open for remote betting, remote betting intermediary and in-person betting licences.
In force
- First remote betting licences
Online bookmakers need a GRAI licence. Remote licensees must verify photo ID and proof of address before a player can register.
In force
- In-person betting licences
Betting shops move from the old regime to GRAI licences.
Coming later
- Date not setAdvertising watershed
No gambling ads on TV, radio or on-demand services from 05:30 to 21:00, and social media ads only to people who follow the brand.
Coming later
- Date not setNational Gambling Exclusion Register
One sign-up blocks you from every GRAI-licensed remote operator, for an indefinite period, with removal possible only after six months.
Coming later
- Date not setSocial Impact Fund levy
Commercial licensees pay an annual contribution towards research, education and treatment. The amount waits on ministerial regulations.
Coming later
- Date not setOnline gaming (casino) licences
The phase that will cover online casinos. Until it opens, casinos serving Ireland, Conquestador included, hold licences from other regulators.
Coming later
The core of the rules
The Act runs to 271 sections. These are the ones that shape what you see as a player, with where each stood when we checked in late September 2026.
| Rule | What the Act says | Status, Sept 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | No credit card payments, no credit, no e-wallet money loaded from a credit card (s.165) | In force since 5 Feb 2026 |
| Spending limits | Licensees must give you a way to set a monetary limit (s.164) | In force since 5 Feb 2026 |
| Age and ID | Under-18s may not gamble; remote licensees check photo ID and address before registration | ID checks since 1 Jul 2026 |
| Bonuses | No inducement aimed at a person or a specific group; general offers follow ministerial rules (s.157) | In the Act; detail left to regulations |
| TV, radio, on-demand ads | No gambling ads from 05:30 to 21:00 | Not yet commenced |
| Social media ads | Only to people with an account who follow the operator there | Not yet commenced |
| Exclusion register | One national self-exclusion list for remote gambling, removal after six months at the earliest (s.45–47) | Legislated, not live |
| Social Impact Fund | Annual contribution from every commercial licensee (s.50–54) | Levy not yet set |
| Penalties | Fines up to €20 million or 10% of turnover, whichever is greater (s.206) | Enforcement live since 5 Feb 2026 |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Why the bonus rule matters
Section 157 is the one that gets misread most. It does not ban welcome offers. It bans a licensee from offering an inducement to a particular person or a specific group, the classic example being free bets sent to someone who is trying to stop. Offers to the general public stay allowed, under conditions the Minister can set by regulation. A published welcome package with clear terms, such as Conquestador’s €500 + 200 free spins on Book of Dead at 35x wagering, is the open, same-for-everyone kind of promotion the Act has in mind.
Winnings stay tax-free
Nothing in the new Act taxes players. Gambling winnings are still outside income tax for Irish residents under section 613(2) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, whether you win at a Dublin bookmaker or on a Maltese-licensed slot.
What to do as an Irish player right now
You do not need to wait for the last phase of the Act to get its benefits. Five minutes of set-up gives you most of them today.
Switch to a debit card
Use Visa or Mastercard debit, or a wallet funded from your current account. The cashier lists Visa and Mastercard debit, Apple Pay for deposits, Skrill, Neteller, MuchBetter, Trustly, Revolut and prepaid vouchers such as Paysafecard. The minimum deposit is €20.
Set a deposit limit on day one
Pick a daily, weekly or monthly figure before your first deposit, not after a bad night. MGA rules make limits and self-exclusion standard; if you cannot find the setting, the 24/7 live chat will set it up for you.
Verify early
Upload photo ID and a proof of address dated within the last six months as soon as you register. It is the same paperwork the Act now asks Irish licensees for, and doing it up front keeps your first withdrawal smooth.
Use your bank’s gambling block if you need one
Revolut has an in-app gambling block with a cooling-off period of about 48 hours before you can turn it off, and AIB and Bank of Ireland offer blocks in their apps too. Until the national register opens, this is the closest thing to a one-switch exclusion.
Check the licence yourself
Search MGA/B2C/818/2020 on the MGA register. It takes a minute and tells you who is responsible for your money. Our author, David Chen, rechecks it each time this page is updated.
Checklist before you start
Run down this list before your first deposit. If every line is a yes, you are set up the way the Act intends, even while its casino phase is still ahead.
- I am 18 or older and live in Ireland.
- I am paying with a debit card, a bank transfer method such as Trustly, or a wallet loaded from my bank, not a credit card.
- I have looked up MGA/B2C/818/2020 on the MGA register and seen it listed as Licensed.
- My deposit limit is set, and I know where the time-out and self-exclusion options are.
- My ID and proof of address are ready to upload.
- I have read the bonus terms: 35x wagering, €20 minimum deposit, 30 days to complete.
- I know that withdrawals go back to the method I deposited with where possible, and that they are processed on weekdays.
- I am playing with money I can spare, for fun, not to fix a bill.
All ticked? Then claim the welcome offer at Conquestador and enjoy the lobby. The pending time on withdrawals is up to 24 hours, then e-wallets usually land within about an hour and debit cards within one to three business days, with no casino fees.
Who this isn’t for
The Act exists because gambling harm is real. Online casino play is entertainment for adults, and some situations call for a different step.
- You are under 18
Gambling is illegal for anyone under 18 in Ireland, and every licensed operator, Irish or Maltese, checks age before paying out.
- You wanted to gamble on credit
That is exactly what the Act shut down in February 2026. If you are thinking about borrowing to play, take it as a sign to pause.
- You are chasing losses
Set a time-out or self-exclude from your account today, and turn on your bank’s gambling block so the decision sticks.
- You need an Irish-licensed casino
None exists yet; online gaming licences are a later GRAI phase. If an Irish licence is a must for you, wait for the GRAI register to list casino operators.
Free, confidential help in Ireland
Talk to Gambling Care, Problem Gambling Ireland or Gambling Therapy, which offers online support. The HSE addiction services can point you to local treatment.
Gambling Regulation Act questions from Irish players
Is the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 fully in force?
No. The Act became law on 23 October 2024 and is being commenced in stages. The GRAI was set up on 5 March 2025, the big commencement order took effect on 5 February 2026 and remote betting licences followed on 1 July 2026. The advertising watershed, the National Gambling Exclusion Register, the Social Impact Fund levy and online gaming licences are still to come.
Can I still use a credit card to gamble in Ireland?
No. Since 5 February 2026 licensed operators may not take credit card payments for gambling, and that includes e-wallets topped up from a credit card. Use a Visa or Mastercard debit card, or an e-wallet funded from your bank account. If a card payment bounces, our deposit declined guide walks through the usual causes.
Is Conquestador licensed to take Irish players?
Conquestador is run by Mobile Incorporated Limited under Malta Gaming Authority licence MGA/B2C/818/2020, which the MGA register showed as Licensed on 23 September 2026. The GRAI has not opened Irish online casino licences yet, so every online casino serving Ireland today holds a licence from another regulator.
When will the National Gambling Exclusion Register open?
No date has been published. The Act already describes how it will work: you sign up once, choose to be excluded indefinitely from every GRAI-licensed remote operator, and can ask to be removed only after at least six months. Until then, use the self-exclusion tools inside each casino account.
Do I pay tax on casino winnings in Ireland?
No. Winnings from betting and gaming are not taxed as income for Irish players (section 613(2) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997). The Act does not change that.
What is the gambling ad watershed?
Once the advertising sections are commenced, licensees will not be allowed to advertise gambling on television, radio or on-demand audiovisual services between 05:30 and 21:00. It is written into the Act but was not yet in force when we checked in September 2026.
What is the Social Impact Fund?
A fund run by the GRAI to pay for research, education and treatment around problem gambling. Every commercial licensee will pay an annual contribution, with the amount set by ministerial regulations that have not been made yet.
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David Chen
Published
Updated
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Play by the new rules, keep the fun
Debit card, a deposit limit you picked yourself and an MGA-licensed lobby: that is the whole set-up the Act asks of you.