According to a GRAI press release, the signing took place on 2 April during a visit by Gambling Commission CEO Andrew Rhodes to Dublin, where he met with GRAI CEO Anne-Marie Caulfield.

This bilateral agreement establishes a framework for enhanced collaboration between the two regulatory authorities.

The MoU outlines key principles of cooperation aimed at reinforcing regulatory oversight, promoting responsible gambling practices, and improving enforcement strategies across both jurisdictions.

The agreement is intended to foster closer working relationships between the Irish and UK regulators, enabling more effective fulfilment of their respective duties.

The formal signing was followed by a bilateral meeting, during which both parties discussed a range of regulatory topics.

These included compliance and monitoring mechanisms, enforcement actions, and the exchange of best practices relevant to gambling oversight.

The meeting provided an opportunity for both regulators to align their strategic goals and deepen institutional ties.

This MoU marks the first of several similar agreements that GRAI plans to establish with gambling regulatory authorities across Europe.

Its objective is to create a robust network of cooperation that will support consistent regulatory standards and improve the cross-border management of gambling activities.

The move comes as Ireland’s new gambling regulator begins to assert its role in shaping the country’s gambling landscape.

Officially operational since March, the GRAI has initiated efforts to build its regulatory capacity and develop the infrastructure necessary for comprehensive oversight.

The authority currently comprises seven appointed staff members, with Caulfield having served in her role since 2022.

GRAI establishes exploratory panel

As part of its commitment to inclusive and transparent regulation, GRAI is now establishing an industry panel to ensure that voices from within the gambling sector are considered during the development of regulatory policies.

Caulfield, in a recent interview with iGB, said the panel will serve as a consultative forum where operators can engage with the regulator on the evolving standards and expectations of the industry.

The creation of this panel is seen as a proactive step toward collaborative regulation.

Caulfield emphasised the regulator’s intention to involve industry stakeholders from the outset and to communicate forthcoming measures clearly.

Over the past two years, GRAI has already held preliminary engagements with major betting operators and smaller gambling businesses to gather insights and build rapport ahead of formal regulatory implementation.

The industry panel will not be the only advisory body guiding GRAI’s work. The regulator is also planning to establish a lived experience panel composed of individuals who have experienced gambling-related harm.

This group will contribute valuable perspectives to the policy-making process, helping to ensure that consumer protection remains central to Ireland’s gambling regulation.

GRAI intends to put many of its forthcoming standards through public consultation and industry review.

This approach aims to foster regulatory transparency and inclusiveness, while ensuring that new measures are both effective and proportionate.

It also reflects a broader shift in Ireland’s gambling policy toward more structured and accountable governance.