Ireland to restrict daytime gambling advertising

Ireland is preparing to impose restrictions on gambling advertising during the daytime. There is currently no confirmed start date for the initiative. The Department of Justice states that the implementation of the new restrictions is ongoing and is part of the country’s overall gambling regulation reform. The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 provides for advertising restrictions that will mainly affect the operators licensed by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI). A Department of Justice representative said that the safeguards are actually dependent on the licenses issued by the regulator. The department is working with the Office of the Attorney General to promote the implementation of the other parts of the legislation. According to the documents issued by GRAI, the licensed operators cannot conduct gambling ads on TV, radio and audio-visual services from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. The regulator hasn’t mentioned when the restrictions are going to come into effect but informed its licensees in advance about the implementation of the requirements. Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan supports the introduction at the earliest time possible. The government considers the restrictions to be a public health initiative aimed at protecting children, youth, and other social groups vulnerable to gambling-related harm. The advertising watershed forms part of Ireland’s phased rollout of the Gambling Regulation Act. Remote betting and betting intermediary licences began being issued in July 2026, while further provisions, including restrictions on gambling inducements, are still being implemented.