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The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland has signed its first cooperation agreement with a US gambling regulator as Ireland introduces a new licensing system.
Good To Know
- GRAI and the Nevada Gaming Control Board will exchange regulatory knowledge.
- Ireland opened betting licence applications in February 2026.
- Online gaming licence applications are due to open during 2027 and 2028.
Nevada Expertise Supports Irish Gambling Reform
The memorandum of understanding creates a framework for GRAI and the Nevada Gaming Control Board to share experience, regulatory practices and information where legally permitted.
GRAI described the deal as a response to an industry where operators, technology and gambling activity often cross national borders. Nevada brings decades of casino licensing, compliance, enforcement and investigation experience to the arrangement.
Anne Marie Caulfield, CEO of GRAI, said:
“The knowledge and expertise that the Nevada Gaming Control Board has in terms of gambling regulation are very valuable to us in the GRAI.
“We very much welcome the insight, guidance, and experience that the NGCB can provide to the GRAI as a newly established regulator, and I look forward to our continued partnership with the shared goal of consumer protection and public health and safety at the heart of operations.”
NGCB Chair Mike Dreitzer said:
“We are pleased to sign an MOU with the GRAI and look forward to sharing best practices with them and advancing our collaboration.”
The Nevada agreement follows earlier GRAI memoranda with the UK Gambling Commission and the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner. Ireland and the UK share many operators, while Gibraltar remains an important licensing base for gambling companies serving European markets.
Ireland Licensing Rollout Remains Phased
GRAI began accepting applications for remote betting, betting intermediary and retail betting licences on February 9, 2026. Those categories cover sportsbook activity rather than the full online casino market.
Applications for gaming, lotteries, business to business suppliers and other licence categories will open in later phases during 2027 and 2028. Therefore, reports describing the February opening as a general online gaming licensing launch are inaccurate.
New obligations for licensed remote betting businesses began on July 1, including consumer protection and regulatory requirements created under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. GRAI will eventually oversee betting, gaming and most lottery products across online and retail channels.
The agreement does not create shared licences or allow Nevada operators to enter Ireland automatically. Each regulator keeps authority within its own jurisdiction, while the MOU provides a formal route for cooperation and knowledge exchange.
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