Operators providing betting from a premises in the State require an in-person betting licence from the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland. This page sets out what the in-person licence covers, what each shop has to produce, and the application process.
Last reviewed 14 September 2026 against GRAI published guidance and GRAI correspondence with the IBA.
Timelines
- 30 Nov 2026Existing Revenue bookmaker licences under the Betting Act 1931 expire. A GRAI in-person licence is needed from 1 December 2026
- Open nowIn-person betting licence applications have been accepted through the GRAI Operator Portal since 9 February 2026
- 28 daysMinimum period between publication of the Notice of Intention and submission
- Per premisesA turnover based fee plus a further €1,200 for each premises, payable in full at submission and non refundable
- No published deadlineA last date for submission and an indicative determination timeline have not been published
If you are not ready to apply
You can lodge now with documents outstanding
GRAI has confirmed that a proposed licensee may lodge an application in good faith with documents still outstanding. A short written explanation is uploaded in place of each missing document, setting out why it is not yet available and attaching any supporting evidence. GRAI will begin its review on that basis.
Where a Certificate of Compliance with Planning Permission and Building Regulations is not available, an explanation, opinion or other evidence from a suitably qualified professional is acceptable. An Opinion on Compliance from an architect, engineer or building surveyor, supported by evidence, is the route GRAI has identified. The same applies to a Fire Safety Certificate, which may be amalgamated into the same Opinion on Compliance. GRAI has stated that it is not a planning authority and has no role in planning enforcement.
On occupation, where deeds or a lease are not available, other documentary evidence is acceptable, including an explanation, opinion or other evidence from a suitably qualified professional, such as a letter from the landlord.
Source: GRAI written response to the Irish Bookmakers Association, 8 September 2026. This is not published GRAI guidance. Members should keep a copy of any correspondence relied on and confirm the position with their own case officer.
Given the expiry date above and the absence of a published determination timeline, an application lodged with explained gaps is in a materially better position than one held back until every certificate is in hand.
What the licence covers
An in-person betting licence authorises the licensee to provide betting from one or more premises in the State, where a person attends at the premises to bet. Providing a betting activity in the State without the appropriate licence is a serious offence.
Betting shops
Each premises is listed on the application and appears on the licence. Every shop needs its own document pack and its own premises assessment.
Racecourses and other relevant premises
Betting at a racecourse, greyhound track, coursing ground or point to point meeting requires an in-person betting licence. The relevant premises is selected from a list in the portal. Course betting permits and representative permits remain a matter for Horse Racing Ireland.
Pool betting
Pool betting may also be provided under an in-person betting licence, for an event, a series of events or a class of events.
The application, step by step
The seven steps below follow the process published by GRAI.
1. Publish the Notice of Intention
A Notice of Intention must be published before an application can be submitted. It must identify the proposed licensee, state the licence type sought, and list every premises at which betting will be provided.
- Where to publish
- One premises, or fewer than four in a single local authority area: a local newspaper serving that area. Four or more in one area, or premises across more than one area: local newspapers for each area affected, plus a national daily. Betting only at relevant premises such as racecourses: a national newspaper only.
- Timing
- Publication must take place at least 28 days before the application is submitted. The same period applies to renewal applications.
- Proof of publication
- A copy of the published notice, with the newspaper title and date of publication, is sent to notices@portal.grai.ie. GRAI then publishes the notice on its website.
2. Prepare the documentation
Two sets of documents are needed: one set covering the proposed licensee, submitted once, and a separate set for every premises. The per premises pack is what most often holds an application up.
- Per premises
- Maps or plans, evidence of ownership or occupation, a Certificate of Compliance with Planning Permission and Building Regulations, a Fire Safety Certificate, insurance details, and confirmations relating to the Betting Act 1931.
- Licensee level
- Corporate documents, policies, financial information, licensing and regulatory history, and details of every relevant officer and beneficial owner.
3. Register, submit and pay
Applications are made through the GRAI Operator Portal. Each premises is entered separately and its documents uploaded against it. The full application fee is payable at the point of submission.
- Portal
- Registration is at services.grai.ie. In-person betting licence applications have been accepted through the portal since Monday 9 February 2026.
- Fee
- Tiered by turnover in the preceding year, plus a further €1,200 for each premises. All payments are non refundable.
- Account officers
- The Account Officers, Relevant Officers and Beneficial Owners sections warrant particular attention. GRAI has identified these as the sections most often left incomplete.
4. GRAI review
GRAI conducts a risk based assessment of the applicant’s suitability to provide gambling activities, and assesses the corporate structure and each relevant officer and beneficial owner. Every person listed receives a separate email requesting completion of an individual application.
- Further information
- Additional information may be requested during the review.
- Other authorities
- GRAI may request or exchange information with other regulatory bodies and authorities as part of its due diligence.
- Timelines
- Neither a last date for submission nor an indicative determination timeline has been published.
5. Premises assessment
For an in-person licence, GRAI arranges an assessment of each premises. This involves a physical attendance by a representative of the Authority to confirm that the premises is suitable for the provision of a gambling activity.
- What GRAI takes into account
- The documents submitted, any internal communication with a non gambling premises, other licensed in-person premises nearby, proximity to schools, the physical assessment itself, and consultation with the local authority and the fire authority.
- Further detail on request
- After considering the initial material GRAI may ask for more: size and layout including entry and exit points, lighting, the size and location of the gambling area and the position of equipment, security including internal and external CCTV, non gambling areas and what separates them, and external space, signs and lighting.
- Right to comment
- Where observations from a local authority or fire authority are relevant to the determination, the proposed licensee will be given an opportunity to comment on them.
6. Decision
GRAI assesses the documentation and considers all relevant information before determining the applicant’s suitability for licensing. Applicants are notified in writing of the decision to grant or refuse a licence.
- Notification
- The decision issues directly to the proposed licensee.
- Scope of the licence
- The licence sets out each premises from which betting may be provided.
- Combined licences
- A combined in-person and remote betting licence is not yet available. An operator providing both must apply for each separately.
7. Ongoing obligations
The licensing principles must continue to be satisfied for the duration of the licence. Failure to satisfy any requirement may lead to suspension or revocation.
- Renewal
- Licences run for three years. Renewal fees fall due on expiry and will be determined by a subsequent regulation. The 28 day Notice of Intention requirement applies to renewal applications.
- Material changes
- Changes in ownership or control, changes in the financial circumstances of the licensee, and conviction of the licensee, a relevant officer or a beneficial owner for a relevant offence.
- Adding or changing premises
- GRAI has said that guidance on the fit out of new premises, and on acquisitions and changes of occupier, is under consideration. No date has been given.
- Obligations guidance
- GRAI’s Guidance on Relevant Obligations (B2C) and Guidance on Advertising Obligations set out the day to day requirements.
Document checklist
Drawn from GRAI’s Premises Assessments Guidance and Licensing Application Guidelines. Open each heading for the detail.
Per premises, uploaded against each shop
- Maps or plans of the premises. A street map clearly showing the location, plus a map or plans of the premises itself. Planning permission maps are acceptable where the layout is unchanged since permission was granted
- Evidence of ownership or occupation. Deeds, lease agreements or other documentary evidence, such as a folio file plan from Land Direct, clearly showing the proposed licensee owns or occupies the premises
- Certificate of Compliance with Planning Permission and Building Regulations
- Fire Safety Certificate, from the fire department of the local authority
- Insurance details. Insurer, type of cover such as third party liability, and level of cover for the premises and the licensee. Copies of the policies are uploaded
- Confirmations relating to the Betting Act 1931. Whether a certificate of suitability was ever refused for the premises and why, whether a court ever directed removal from the register of bookmaking offices and why, and whether the proposed licensee, a relevant officer or a beneficial owner was convicted of an offence in relation to the premises while it was registered
Per premises, only if GRAI asks
- Size and layout, including all entry and exit points
- Lighting
- Size and location of the gambling area and the position of equipment
- Security, including internal and external CCTV
- Non gambling areas and the features separating them
- Size and location of external space, signs and lighting
Licensee level, once per application
- Trading name, registered business address and tax clearance information
- Certificate of Incorporation, constitution documents and Shareholders Register
- Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing, Know Your Customer, Responsible Gambling, Risk Management and Whistleblower policies, and a Business Continuity Plan
- Financial statements, bank statements, loan agreements and a business plan with financial projections
- Details of any other gambling or non gambling licences held or previously held, in the State or elsewhere
- Details of any convictions, criminal proceedings or regulatory action initiated and not yet concluded, or previously taken, against the applicant, its relevant officers or beneficial owners for relevant offences
Officers and beneficial owners
- Details of all relevant officers and beneficial owners
- An individual application completed by each, covering proof of identity and address, licences held now or previously in any jurisdiction, criminal convictions for a relevant offence, proceedings or sanctions, and tax clearance information
Declarations
- A statutory declaration signed on behalf of the company
- An individually signed declaration from each relevant officer and beneficial owner
- A separate declaration for each licence type applied for
- An original signature from the proposed licensee. Electronic signatures are not accepted
Fees
The application fee is set on a tiered basis according to the applicant’s turnover from the relevant gambling activity in the preceding year, or projected turnover where the operator is newly established, with a further €1,200 payable for each premises. Turnover for this purpose is gross win, being total income from the activity less winnings paid out.
A separate and lower scale applies where betting is provided only at racecourses and other relevant premises. The current bands for both are set out in GRAI’s Application Fees Guidance, linked below.
The full fee is payable at the point of submission and all payments are non refundable. Licences run for three years. Where a change in financial circumstances is likely to exceed the fee category limit of the licence, a variation of licence application may be required.
GRAI guidance and forms
Links open on the GRAI website. These documents are updated from time to time, so check the version date before relying on any of them.
Questions
Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland
Licensing queries: licensing@grai.ie
Notice of Intention and proof of publication: notices@portal.grai.ie
IBA members should seek their own independent professional or legal advice directly for assistance with a licence application.
The information on this page, and on this website, is intended as a general guide and does not constitute professional or legal advice. It is not a legal interpretation of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 or any regulations made under it. It should not be assumed that the guidance is exhaustive, nor should it be relied upon as a definitive solution for all circumstances. Readers should always seek their own legal or professional advice. Where this page differs from GRAI published guidance, the GRAI guidance applies.