Irish gambling regulator signs MoU with Gibraltar 

The new regulator is expanding its collaborations with other bodies.

Ireland.- The new Irish gambling regulator continues to make agreements with other regulatory bodies. Following memorandums of understanding with the British Gambling Commission and the Belgian Gambling Commission, Anne Marie Caulfield, CEO of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), has signed a similar agreement with the Gibraltarian Gambling Regulator, which now operates under the Ministry of Finance.

The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation and sets out broad principles for collaboration between the GRAI and Gibraltarian authorities. The GRAI said the shared aims of the regulators are to enable closer working relationships which will enhance each organisation’s ability to discharge their respective duties and functions.

“The Gibraltarians have given their time generously in the set up phase of the GRAI and their support and advice has been greatly received,” the GRAI said. “This is the third of a series of MOUs which the GRAI intends to put in place with other gambling regulators in other jurisdictions over the coming months as we move towards opening for our first phase of licensing.”

Caulfield signed the MoU in a meeting with Gibraltarian commissioner Andrew Lynam. She said: “This Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Gibraltarian Gambling Commissioner Andrew Lynam, representing the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority is a significant step in formalising the working relationship between regulators in Ireland and Gibraltar. 

“Given how many Gambling Operators are active in both jurisdictions this Memorandum of Understanding will be the first step in cementing what will be a positive and mutually beneficial working relationship between both organisations. This is another important  step in the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland series of MOUs with fellow regulators.”

Meanwhile, the GRAI has published a response to operator concerns over the proposed framework for new Irish gambling licences following the consultation it began in March.

Operators had raised concerns about the proposed application fee structure, which was described as being based on operator ‘turnover’. The GRAI has clarified that it will consider a tiered licensing fee model based on gross gambling yield (GGY) or a hybrid of turnover (gross profit) and GGY.

Operators also raised concerns about the baseline fees of €20,000 for remote licences and the fee of €1,200 per premises irrespective of size. The GRAI said it would now consider a premises fee related to the scale of operations, possibly by assessing the number of gaming machines on site.