Ireland Embraces GRAI: Transforming the Landscape of Online Betting

The Minister for Justice, Mr Jim O’Callaghan T.D. has signed the order to commence parts of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 to enable the Authority to become operational and the order to establish Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, on a statutory basis.

Minister O’Callaghan has also approved the appointment of the seven members of this new, independent Authority, who will be appointed and commence their roles with effect from tomorrow, 5 March, 2025. They will be the members of the Authority which is responsible for regulating and licencing all gambling providers in the State and which has wide ranging powers to regulate both in-person and online gambling, gaming and most lotteries.

Mr. Paul Quinn has been appointed as chair of the Authority and the other newly appointed members are as follows:

• Ms. Celine Craig

• Ms. Marion Kelly

• Ms. Rita Purcell

• Mr. David Hickson

• Mr. Michael McGrath

• Dr. Colin O’Driscoll

Minister O’Callaghan said:“Today marks a new era for the regulation of gambling in the Irish State.

Minister O’Callaghan added: “I warmly congratulate Mr. Paul Quinn on his appointment as Chair of the new Authority and each of the newly appointed Authority members and wish them well in their new roles.

In accordance with the provisions of section 17 of the 2024 Act, appointments to the Authority will be for an initial period of three or four years. All members of the Authority may be reappointed for a second four-year term.

Speaking this morning, Minister Browne stated: “Minister O’Callaghan’s actions today mark the culmination of much hard work and dedication by Minister McEntee, Ms. Caulfield, Minister O’Callaghan and myself, supported by a core team of Authority staff and Departmental officials.

Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, T.D., commented: “I welcome today’s development as an important step towards ensuring that the harms associated with gambling are minimised. I look forward to the Department of Health working with the Gambling Regulatory Authority on initiatives to promote and progress this important goal.”

Welcoming the establishment of the Authority and the appointment of its members, the CEO of the GRAI Anne-Marie Caulfield said: ‘I greatly welcome the appointment of the seven-member Authority and the establishment of Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann. I would like to thank the Ministers, Oireachtas members, the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and Department of Justice officials for their work in bringing about our establishment.