Guide · Verification

How to check whether an operator is actually licensed.

A licence logo in a website footer proves nothing — logos are copied constantly. Here's how to verify an operator's status properly before you hand over money or ID documents.

The five-minute check

Go to the regulator, not the operator. Start at grai.ie and look for the public licence register. Search the operator's company name, not just the brand — brands are often owned by differently-named companies.
Match the details. The company name and licence number in the site's footer should match the register exactly. A mismatch is a red flag, not a technicality.
Check the licence category. As of July 2026, GRAI licences cover remote betting. A GRAI licence for online casino games doesn't exist yet — that category is still phasing in. An operator claiming one is misrepresenting its status.
For overseas licences, verify at source. Sites licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority or UK Gambling Commission can be checked on those regulators' own public registers. Again: search the register yourself rather than trusting a footer badge.
Test the safeguards. Licensed operators must offer deposit limits and self-exclusion, verify your age, and must not accept credit cards. If a site takes a credit card deposit from an Irish customer, that alone tells you something is wrong.

Red flags

Claims of a "GRAI casino licence" before the category has commenced.
No verifiable company name, registered address or licence number anywhere on the site.
Pressure tactics: countdown bonuses, "last chance" deposit prompts, or bonuses conditional on disabling limits.
Accepting credit cards or crypto with no identity checks.
Winnings withheld pending endless "verification" that was never requested at deposit time.
No self-exclusion or limit-setting tools.

If you find an unlicensed operator

Once the relevant GRAI licence category is in force, operators targeting Irish players without a licence are breaking Irish law. You can report suspected unlicensed activity to the GRAI through its official contact channels at grai.ie. If you've been defrauded, contact An Garda Síochána and your bank — chargeback routes may be available depending on the payment method.

Already in a dispute with an operator? See our step-by-step complaints guide.

Practical rule of thumb: if you can't independently confirm the licence on a regulator's own website within five minutes, don't deposit. There is never a bonus good enough to justify skipping this step.