1720. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the timeline for the implementation of the implementation of schedule 3 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1270/26]
1721. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in relation to the self-exclusion register proposed by the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, if he will ensure that the register applies equally to in person and online gambling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1271/26]
1722. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in relation to gambling regulation, if he will ensure that the licensing system reflects the level of compliance of each of the licensees, if he will consider implemented a tiered system that gives greater room for manoeuvre for those licensees that show exceptional compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1272/26]
1723. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in relation to the licensing framework under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, if he will enhance the licensing restrictions to ensure that there is a penalty for licensees who fail to comply in any material effect with the conditions of their licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1273/26]

Jim O'Callaghan, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1720, 1721, 1722 and 1723 together.

The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 was enacted on 23 October 2024 and established a new, independent statutory body – Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (the Authority / GRAI). I signed the orders to commence the first provisions of the Act and to establish the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) on a statutory basis on 4 March 2025. The establishment day for the GRAI was 5 March.

The GRAI’s Strategy Statement 2025-2027 prepared under section 30 of the Act and launched by me as Minister on 15 October 2025 identifies clear goals and objectives for the Authority over the coming years. The Act provides for a new streamlined, simplified, and coherent licensing framework which reflects the nature of modern gambling in the State and for a robust regulatory regime to regulate gambling in-person and online that will replace the existing, fragmented systems which date back to 1929.

The GRAI is an independent regulator under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and the GRAI’s powers will be rolled out on a phased basis.

The GRAI is responsible for establishing a comprehensive licensing regime encompassing all licence categories under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, including betting, gaming, lotteries, business to consumer, business to business operations, and charitable or philanthropic initiatives. The Authority will begin its licensing and enforcement functions on a phased basis , commencing in early 2026.

Once the relevant provisions of the Act are commenced, the Act will provide the Authority with the necessary enforcement powers, to take appropriate and focused action, where licensees fail to comply with its provisions and with the Authority’s licensing terms, conditions, and regulations. The Act also provides the Authority with extensive powers to deal with unlicensed operators.

The Act provides the Authority with sufficient scope and flexibility to keep licensees’ compliance under review and, depending on the nature of any contravention of a licence or breach of the Act, the Authority may bring criminal prosecutions for a number of offences, with penalties ranging to up to eight years imprisonment and, or, a fine at the discretion of the Courts. Alternatively, the Authority may seek to impose administrative sanctions with penalties of up to 10% of a licensee’s turnover.

Section 45 of the Act specifies that the GRAI shall establish and maintain a National Gambling Exclusion Register, which shall contain information on persons who have excluded themselves from participating in relevant gambling activities by remote means with licensees of Business to Consumer gambling licences. The Register will enable an individual to request that they be excluded from participating in remote gambling indefinitely and is an important public health protection measure. The provisions of the Act underpinning the Register reflect how such exclusion schemes work in other jurisdictions and international best practice for how such systems operate. In that context, the Government has no plans to extend the scope of the Register to in-person operators.

Schedule 3 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 specifies maximum relevant payments and winnings for different gambling activities and will be implemented in due course along with relevant sections of the Act. I expect that schedule 3 to the Act will be commenced in conjunction with the corresponding licence types.