1250. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 72367/26 of 13 October 2026, whether mandatory affordability checks or mandatory deposit limits, as distinct from limits set by customers under section 164 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, will be required for online gambling accounts; whether the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland intends to exercise its power under section 170 to limit the amount lodged with a licensee; and, if so, the timeframe for same. [75381/26]
1251. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 72361/26 of 13 October 2026, the date on which sections 144, 146 and 149 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 will be commenced. [75379/26]
1252. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 72357/26, whether Chapter 3 of Part 2 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 has been commenced; if not, the date on which it will be commenced; and on which the National Gambling Exclusion Register will be fully operational. [75377/26]

Jim O'Callaghan, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1250, 1251 and 1254 together.

The regulation of the gambling sector is being overhauled through the phased commencement of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 (the ‘2024 Act’). The 2024 Act establishes an independent agency to regulate the gambling sector, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), and ensures that the GRAI can respond appropriately to ongoing and future developments in the gambling sector.

The provisions relating to the various gambling sectors are being commenced on a phased basis to enable the development of the necessary regulatory, licensing, and compliance framework, including guidance and codes of practice where appropriate. Once commenced, Chapter 3, Part 2 of the 2024 Act provides that the GRAI shall establish and maintain a National Gambling Exclusion Register. The Register, which represents an important public health protection measure, will allow individuals to request exclusion from remote gambling indefinitely and will prevent all such Business to Consumer licensees from:

- providing gambling services to persons entered in the Register;

- accepting payments from them; and

- communicating with them in a manner that invites (or has the effect of inviting) them to participate in a relevant gambling activity.

Section 164 obliges licensees to provide account-holders with the facility to set monetary limits on the amounts paid to participate in gambling activities. Section 170 empowers the GRAI to impose limits on the amounts that account-holders may lodge with licensees. There are no provisions in the 2024 Act related to affordability checks. The protections and safeguards provided for in the 2024 Act, including the advertising provisions set out in sections 144, 146 and 149, are contingent on operators being licensed and regulated by the GRAI.

Work is ongoing to progress commencement of the remaining provisions of the 2024 Act as quickly as possible.

Question No. 1251 answered with Question No. 1250.