2026 saw a sudden shift in betting in Ireland, but not quite the one reported in the press. The first remote-betting licences under the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) came into effect on 1 July, as Revenue’s previous remote-bookmaker licensing system was replaced. The one thing that did not happen that morning was the disappearance of all free bets and sign-up offers all across the country.
That is why this is important if you’re looking to claim Bet365’s welcome bonus. As of August 2026, Irish pages are still running a new player promotion via bet365, so there may still be a chance to get the exclusive welcome bonus. The restriction on gambling inducements is in force under the law; however, on the latest official commencement record, it has yet to be brought into force.
The end of an era: Why welcome bonuses and free bets vanished in Ireland
While the system is being gradually phased in, it developed the regulatory framework and established the national body for licensing, supervision, complaints and enforcement under the name of GRAI.
GRAI started taking applications for remote betting, remote betting intermediaries and in-person betting simultaneously from 9 February 2026, following a commencement order signed by Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan on 5 February. The change in the legal landscape in Ireland from 1 July saw remote betting without a GRAI licence become illegal.
There’s a lot of confusion surrounding a Free Bets Ireland ban, because of section 157. The text of the act as enacted does not contain any restrictions on the provision of an inducement by a licensee to a person or group of persons, and the Minister has the power to regulate, condition or prohibit inducements to the public. An inducement is something that would encourage a player to bet, or would be given to convince a player to bet.
But section 157 was excepted from the Feb. commencement order. Another provision, not section 157, in the Act began when an order was made later in June. As of August 2026, therefore, it would be wrong to claim that there already exists a blanket ban on all public welcome bonuses in Irish betting laws.
Beyond bonuses: The new rules of the game for Irish bettors
These changes already published are significant. Now GRAI is at the core of remote-betting licensing, and operators are subject to a more broad-based licensing framework that has been updated by new laws, instead of the more limited licensing framework previously governed by Revenue. Enforcement and complaints functions were activated in parallel to the roll-out.
A number of player-related measures began in February. Section 164 requires that licensees allow customers to place monetary limits on gambling; and section 165 bars them from taking money by credit card and from extending credit to those for their gambling. The changes include account funding and control.
The 9pm advertising watershed and what it means
The Act includes a designated broadcast watershed, which will bar specified gambling advertisements on television, radio and on-demand audiovisual or sound services between 5.30 am and 9 pm. It also has more stringent regulations for advertising on social media and video sharing websites.
However, in the most recent official documentation available in August, sections 143–151 remained as “not commenced. The Act does not also provide for a blanket prohibition of advertising on all live sporting events. Instead, the power is given to GRAI to impose restrictions on specific events, times, places, frequency and duration when the relevant provisions come into effect.
The image is thus in a transitional state. While this may be of interest to Irish audiences, the statutory 9pm watershed should not be considered as being in full effect until it is formally brought into operation.
New player protections: The National Self-Exclusion Register
An important consumer protection measure was included in the plan in sections 44 to 49 and introduced as a National Gambling Exclusion Register through which an individual could exclude themselves from all licensed operators.
The yet-to-be-commenced sections also included those sections. Meanwhile, gamblers who wish to cease gambling should take advantage of self-exclusion and safer-gambling options offered by individual operators, not presume that a national register is in place to block access at all operators.
How have bookmakers like Bet365 adapted to the new market?
The regulatory change is immediate for Bet365 Ireland and their counterparts. Now the remote operators require GRAI authorisation, and must carry out their activities under the conditions of the license and under the commenced duties of the consumer protection. The next implementation level includes marketing and inducement controls.
That does not change competitive strategy, though. With a heightened focus on regulation, differentiation will increasingly be achieved by the price, liquidity, product quality and customer experience. When promotions are limited, odds quality, in-play games, bet building tools, streaming and settlement speed and support gain in significance.
So, where can you find value in Irish betting now?
When Ireland’s gambling laws change, the prudent thing to do for the typical punter is not to assume that all bonuses are gone. To ensure an operator is properly licensed, to check the conditions on any promotion and to compare the core service before placing money.
Don’t accept a ‘bait’ offer. Play a comparison of odds on markets used, when Cash Out is available, Bet Builder depth, live-streaming access, payment options, withdrawal options and customer support. Better gambling controls and tools for safer use should not be overlooked.
The bigger picture isn’t that Ireland banned gambling altogether, but that it’s heading for a regulated future, a process that’s been gradual. The licensing of remote bookmakers was changed on July 1, and it’s the new licensee that’s now the main figure in legal online betting. The advertising watershed, national exclusion register and section 157 inducement restrictions are still legislative provisions that come into effect.
The distinction between enacted and commenced legislation is the important factor to understand in Ireland in August 2026. The rules are indeed more stringent and are getting even stiffer, but that hasn’t moved the welcome to the back burner.
