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Ireland advances 1% gambling levy to fund harm prevention and treatment
Licensed operators will pay the levy on turnover from their previous financial year. Ireland has notified the European Commission of its plans.
Ireland has notified the European Commission of plans to introduce a 1 per cent levy on licensed gambling operators to finance prevention, education and treatment programs for gambling harm. The requirement is scheduled to begin on April 1, 2027.
The levy will support the Social Impact Fund established under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. Operators will calculate their contributions using turnover from the previous financial year, Focus Gaming News reported.
Payments will be due by July 1 each year to the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, or GRAI, by bank transfer or electronic payment. The regulator will collect contributions and administer the fund.
The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration agreed on the contribution rate with GRAI. The 2024 law defines online gambling turnover as the total paid to an operator for betting and gaming services.
The law also created GRAI as Ireland’s dedicated gambling regulator. Established in February 2025, the authority took over licensing duties from the Revenue Commissioners in June 2026.
Before the reforms, the Totalisator Act 1929 and the Betting Act 1931 were the main laws governing Ireland’s gambling sector. The government is also considering possible tax increases and further restrictions on gambling advertising.