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Ireland’s new gambling regulator has opened the door to licence applications, but the same law that created the system is already raising a big question for operators: can regulated online poker survive with a €10 max bet and a €3,000 max win?
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) confirmed it is accepting applications from Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 for in-person betting, remote betting, and remote betting intermediary licences. The start date follows a commencement order signed last week by Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, which allows the authority to begin issuing licences and using new enforcement powers.
“Today marks another important step towards replacing Ireland’s outdated gambling laws with a streamlined and simplified licensing [system],” O’Callaghan said when the order was announced, adding that the law includes safeguards aimed at reducing harm, especially for children.
Licensing begins, with remote and retail timelines set
While applications are now opening, the move-in happens in stages. The stated plan is to start licensing remote operators from July 1, 2026, with in-person licences from Dec. 1, 2026, once the existing Revenue licences reach the end of their run.
GRAI chair Paul Quinn says the point is a tighter, safer market with clearer rules for operators. CEO Anne Marie Caulfield called the launch a major step for the new regulator as it moves from setup to day-to-day oversight.
This first phase is about betting licences. The wider market will follow as more licence categories come online.
Poker viability questions start with the numbers
The concern for online poker comes from the Gambling Regulation Act’s limits for certain game types. Under the Act, a “relevant game” is capped at a €10 maximum stake and a €3,000 maximum win.
Those limits may be manageable for some casino-style products. Poker is different. Tournaments rely on buy-ins, rebuys, prize pools, and top prizes that can easily run beyond those figures. Even cash games can run into practical issues if the ceiling locks out higher-value play and reduces liquidity.
That makes Ireland’s potential regulated poker offer look narrow from day one, and critics argue it could push serious players toward offshore sites that do not operate under Irish rules.
A regulator with real teeth
The commencement order also activates new enforcement tools. The government has pointed to administrative financial penalties that can reach €20 million or 10% of turnover, alongside criminal enforcement powers and court applications to stop illegal activity.
The measures switched on also include tighter controls around online accounts and safer-gambling requirements, plus a prohibition on using credit cards for gambling payments.
Source: Poker Industry Pro
