Gambling Authority Warns: Blacklisted Online Casinos Targeting Irish Market
Ireland's newly established Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRAI) has begun formal enforcement action against unlicensed online casinos targeting Irish customers, following the start of the country's licensing regime in February 2026.
The regulator, which launched in March 2025, is now issuing licences to compliant operators and taking steps to block or sanction offshore online casino sites that continue to offer gambling services in Ireland without authorisation.
While trusted providers like Mega Casino operate under established regulatory frameworks such as the UK Gambling Commission and display clear licensing information, independent watchdog groups have identified dozens of unlicensed online casinos actively marketing to Irish players through localised advertisements that give the false impression of legitimacy.
What Makes a Casino Blacklisted
"Blacklisted casinos" is not an official legal category, but a designation used by consumer protection advocates and online casino review platforms to flag operators considered unsafe. These casino sites are typically unlicensed by any reputable jurisdiction or hold licences from authorities with minimal oversight.
Common complaints against blacklisted casino operators include declined withdrawal requests for legitimate winnings, suspicious game outcomes suggesting software manipulation, unauthorised charges to player payment methods, and poor or non-existent customer service. In severe cases, sites have been found running pirated versions of legitimate casino games or disappearing entirely after collecting deposits.
Casinos remain blacklisted until they demonstrate sustained ethical conduct and resolve outstanding player complaints. Many blacklisted sites eventually shut down after losing traffic and credibility.
Industry observers note that such operators often use aggressive marketing tactics to attract new customers faster than their reputations can catch up with them. Tactics include unsolicited promotional emails, misleading bonus offers with hidden terms, and advertisements placed on Irish sports and social media sites to create a sense of local presence.
Irish Players at Risk
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has stepped up enforcement of online marketing rules in recent months, issuing compliance notices to high-profile influencers Conor McGregor and Suzanne Jackson for failing to clearly label commercial content on Instagram. The move signals increased scrutiny of digital advertising and potentially extends to gambling promotions targeting Irish audiences.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Irish consumers are losing substantial sums to online fraud. Gardaí reported that 88 people lost approximately €2.8 million to online romance scams in 2025 alone, with over €9 million lost in the previous five years. Fraud investigators warn that artificial intelligence tools are now being used to create convincing fake identities at scale, a technique equally applicable to fraudulent gambling sites seeking to build false credibility.
Consumer advocates warn that blacklisted casinos expose players not only to financial loss but also to data theft, as many operate without basic security protocols such as HTTPS encryption. Personal and banking information submitted to these sites can be harvested and sold to organised crime networks.
GRAI Enforcement Powers
Under Ireland's new gambling legislation, the GRAI finally has the authority to act against non-compliant operators. The regulator can suspend or revoke licences, compel internet service providers to block access to unlicensed sites, and impose administrative financial sanctions of up to €20 million or 10 percent of an operator's turnover for serious breaches, subject to court approval.
Licensed operators must now meet standardised requirements around consumer protection, advertising restrictions, responsible gambling tools, and bans on credit card betting. All gambling companies offering services to Irish customers are required to hold an Irish licence.
For operators that refuse to comply, the GRAI can issue cease-and-desist orders and escalate cases to the courts. The regulator has begun on-site inspections of physical gambling locations near schools and ATMs and has made enforcement against offshore sites operating without authorisation an early priority.
How to Stay Safe
Consumer groups advise Irish players to verify that any online casino they consider holds a valid GRAI licence before depositing funds. Licensed operators are listed on the regulator's public register.
Warning signs of unsafe sites include unrealistic bonus offers, vague or manipulative terms and conditions, lack of secure website protocols, requests for unusual payment methods such as cryptocurrency or wire transfer and missing or unresponsive customer service channels.
Players who encounter problems with a gambling site should report the issue to the GRAI and the CCPC and contact their bank immediately to attempt a chargeback if payments were made by card. Documentation such as screenshots, emails, and transaction records should be preserved.
Some industry observers have raised concerns that overly strict domestic regulation could unintentionally push a segment of Irish players toward unregulated offshore sites. Consumer advocates counter that player education and clear licensing requirements are the best defence against blacklisted operators, and that a well-regulated market offers sufficient choice without the risks of unlicensed gambling.
The GRAI's enforcement activity represents the first time Ireland has had a unified regulatory framework covering both land-based and online gambling. Offshore operators that previously faced little consequence for targeting Irish customers now operate under real legal and financial risk.
The regulator has not yet published figures on how many unlicensed sites it has moved to block or how many licence applications it has received since opening the regime in February. Further updates on enforcement actions are expected in the coming months.
SP