The GRAI would like to hear the views of stakeholders, including operators and the public on the proposed regulations concerning licensing which will be commenced on a phased basis.

Consultation Published: Monday 7th April 2025

Submission period closes: 5pm on 5th May 2025

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About us

We are the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland. We were established on 5 March 2025. Our role is to regulate gambling activities in Ireland.

The law that established us, and sets out what we do, is the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.

Those who wish to provide gambling activities in Ireland will need a licence from us. We can issue different types of gambling licences for in person or remote gambling activities, including the following:

1.    Business to consumer gambling licences

This type of licence applies to those providing betting, gaming or lottery activities to consumers.

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 2.    Business to business gambling licences

This type of licence applies to those selling or supplying a gambling product or gambling related service.

3.    Licences for a charitable and philanthropic purpose

This type of licence applies to those who wish to provide betting, gaming, or lottery activities for charitable and philanthropic purposes.

We intend to start our licensing function in a phased way, with different licence category types opening at different times.

Our current plan is to first open for Business to Consumer betting licence applications in December 2025 (both in person and remote). This will be followed by opening for gaming licence applications (remote only) towards the end of the first quarter of 2026. However, the order and timing of commencement maybe subject to change. The license application process will take a number of months.  Once an application is submitted it will be reviewed to ensure all necessary information and documentation has been submitted.  We will then undertake various checks on the applicant and on the Information and documentation submitted to verify the information and to ensure it is given due consideration when making the decision to grant or refuse the license application.

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What is the purpose of this consultation?

We have the power to make regulations.  Regulations are laws created by Ministers or public bodies under powers given to them by Acts of the Oireachtas.

The first set of regulations we plan to make will:

a.    Set the application fee for applications for betting (in person and remote) and gaming (in person and remote) licences. This is provided for in section 38 of the 2024 Act.

The second set of regulations we plan to make will:

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b.    Set the duration for which a gambling licence remains in force. This is provided for under section 108 of the 2024 Act.

AND

c.     Set out some additional conditions which will apply to gambling licences. This is provided for under section 129 of the 2024 Act.

We would like to hear the views of stakeholders, including operators and the public on the proposed regulations.

For more information including how to submit a response please visit: Live Consultation page.

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S8UL, a global name in esports and gaming content, has officially announced its participation in five titles at the highly anticipated Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from July 7 to August 24. The first wave of titles includes Chess, EAFC 25, Tekken 8, Call of Duty (COD): Warzone, and Apex Legends, with more titles and the official rosters to be revealed in the coming weeks.

This move marks a significant milestone for Indian esports. By entering globally competitive titles such as EAFC, Warzone, Apex, Tekken, and Chess, S8UL becomes one of the first Indian organizations to compete at this scale and across such a diverse mix of esports titles. It reflects a clear step toward going global, showing how Indian esports is moving from regional success to a much bigger stage. With this participation, S8UL reinforces the message that Indian esports orgs are ready to compete at the highest level, alongside some of the biggest names in the international esports scene.

To kick off the campaign, S8UL launched a quirky and fast-paced announcement video featuring popular content creator BeYouNick and its star-studded roster of creators. The storyline follows a raid at the S8UL gaming house by an ‘EWC Squad’, leading to a string of humorous reveals and cryptic clues — ultimately leaving fans with just enough answers to be excited, and just enough mystery to keep them hooked. The video has already garnered more than 2.8 million views on Instagram and over 738K views on YouTube, sparking massive fan engagement and applause across platforms.

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“The announcement video was our way of involving the community right from the start — showcasing that S8UL’s strength lies not just in gameplay but in storytelling,” said Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug, Co-founder and CEO, S8UL.“This is a defining moment for Indian esports. Our entry into titles like EAFC, Warzone, Apex, Tekken and Chess is not just participation — it’s a statement. S8UL is going global. We’re stepping into arenas that many never imagined an Indian org could enter, and we’re doing it with heart, skill and intent. We’re not just here to play — we’re here to make a mark. And this is just the first stop in that journey.”

But S8UL’s plans for EWC 2025 go far beyond team participation. The organization is gearing up for one of its biggest campaigns yet, with a pan-India journey across 20+ cities in the lead-up to the World Cup. Fans can expect never-before-seen content, IRL experiences, roster reveals, exclusive behind-the-scenes access, and opportunities to travel and celebrate with the team. This campaign will bring together India’s vibrant gaming community — from brand partners and creators to hardcore fans and casual gamers — and unify them under one flag.

Featuring the largest prize pool in esports history and 24 of the world’s biggest esports titles, the Esports World Cup will also crown a Club Champion — the top-performing esports organization across all games. With over 50,000 square meters of space dedicated to fan activations, global pop culture integrations, and entertainment, the event promises to be the largest gaming festival on the planet.

As the only Indian content and esports org to have won at the prestigious Esports Awards, and with creators who continue to redefine the boundaries between competitive play and pop culture, S8UL is leading India’s global gaming revolution — and the Esports World Cup 2025 is just the next stop.