Ireland’s Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRAI) is reconsidering its proposed licensing fee structure following feedback from its first public consultation.
The regulator is now exploring a tiered model based on Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) instead of turnover, after stakeholders, mostly industry operators, voiced concerns that the original turnover-based model did not accurately reflect actual revenue and could unfairly impact specialized betting services.
The consultation, held over four weeks in April and May 2025, gathered 27 submissions highlighting issues with high application fees, lack of clarity in the fee structure, and the disproportionate burden on smaller operators. Currently, under the 2024 Gambling Regulation Act, turnover is defined as the gross profit from gambling-related products and services.
Industry members also criticized the proposed €20,000 remote licence fee and the €1,200 per-premises fee, calling them excessive—especially for smaller businesses. In response, GRAI confirmed it is open to adjusting the premises fee based on the size of operations, such as the number of gaming machines.
While operators suggested aligning Irish fees with those in the UK, GRAI emphasized that differences in regulatory frameworks limit direct comparisons. Nonetheless, it will review the structure and may adopt a hybrid approach using both GGY and turnover to create a fairer model.
GRAI mentioned:
Many of the regulatory obligations that will be part of the GRAI’s responsibilities are not part of the Gambling Commission’s remit in Great Britain and instead are part of the functions of the local councils.
