New Gambling Regulation Act related to online poker about to start

A new gambling law in Ireland, passed in October 2024 and set to take full effect by October 2025, poses a serious threat to both live and online poker with strict limits on maximum stakes and winnings.

The 2024 Gambling Regulation Act aims to modernize Ireland’s outdated gambling laws and represents the result of 17 years of planning and three years of legislative efforts. The Government has hailed this as a “historic” step towards “streamlining, strengthening, and modernizing” gambling oversight.

Yet, unintentionally or otherwise, the legislation could severely harm online poker. A maximum stake of €10 would essentially eliminate cash games above micro stakes, while a €3000 cap on winnings per game would rule out most MTTs and jackpot-style sit-and-goes.

Still, there is optimism that further discussions this year might lead to adjustments, creating space for online poker to be regulated in a balanced way, rather than driving it entirely offshore.

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Born and raised in a casino. With 10+ years in the iGaming field, and with extensive knowledge of the Irish industry, I am here to serve you info about all the crucial aspects of gambling in Ireland.