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‘New era’ for gambling as watchdog set up

The new gambling regulator will formally start work today (5 March) after the Minister for Justice commenced parts of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. 

Minister Jim O’Callaghan has also approved the appointment of seven board members of the new Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann (Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland). 

Paul Quinn, a former chief executive of the Office of Government Procurement at the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, will chair the watchdog’s board. 

Anne Marie Caulfield had been named chief executive designate in 2022, charged with responsibility for putting the structures in place necessary to allow the first sections of the act to be commenced. 

Board members 

The GRAI will license and regulate betting, gaming, certain lotteries, the sale or supply of products or services related to gambling, and charitable or philanthropic gambling activities. 

As well as the chair, the six other board members are: 

• Celine Craig (former Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán),
• Marion Kelly (current chief executive of the Irish Banking Culture Board),
• Rita Purcell (current deputy chief executive at the Health Products Regulatory Authority),
• David Hickson (current financial controller at the Community Foundation of Ireland),
• Michael McGrath SC (barrister), and
• Dr Colin O’Driscoll (current senior psychologist and clinical lead for the HSE’s Mid-West Addiction Services). 

Board members will serve for three-year or four-year terms and can be re-appointed for a further four years. 

‘Licensing a priority’ 

Minister O’Callaghan described the GRAI’s establishment as marking “a new era” for the regulation of gambling in the State and “a further step towards replacing Ireland’s outdated gambling laws with a streamlined and simplified licensing framework”. 

He added that the new body would now start implementing its legislative powers on a phased basis. 

“I understand that this includes, as a priority, work on progressing the licensing process, with a view to inviting applications for some licence types within the coming year,” the minister stated.