Gambling regulators in Ireland have announced a team-up with the United Kingdom to develop better regulations on practices moving forward. According to a press release from the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)with the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). This happened on April 2, 2025, when Gambling Commission CEO Andrew Rhodes met with GRAI CEO Anne-Marie Caulfield.
Because they have such a long and storied history and due to their geographical proximity, the UK and Ireland see a lot of overlap, including in the consumer market, with gambling as a major example.
Gambling is a popular activity in both the UK and Ireland, and many of the platforms that operate in one country serve the other or even the whole of Europe. As Andjelija Blagojevic explains, there are many examples of European casinos for UK players, and this means that regulation for gambling within the UK can impact the rest of Europe.
This meeting saw not only a discussion on various relevant topics affecting both countries but also the signing which outlines a framework for the creation of laws, the treatment of relevant issues within the industry, and so on.
While this is certainly impressive, it is one of several planned MoUs that will be signed with gambling commissions all over Europe. The European markets have proven to be very profitable for the gambling industry, and as rapid increase and changes take place, there will be the need for uniform laws to not only ensure organization but protect users as well.
“Ireland and the UK share many of the same operators and gambling practices, so putting this agreement in place will enhance our ability to share information and discharge our respective regulatory responsibilities effectively,” said GRAI CEO Anne-Marie Caulfield.
As regulatory changes are taking place, the commission has made it a point of duty to carry the industry along. After all, it is not unheard of for laws to be passed in good faith but end up hurting the industries they are meant to protect. In light of this, the commission has set up an exploratory panel that will make sure that stakeholders within the industry can give input as laws are being developed. This is not the first time that the commission is taking this approach as over the last few years, it has met with stakeholders of all sizes to discuss industry needs and practices.
Given that there is a growing use of AI, cryptocurrency, and other such technological developments, this is needed more than ever. After all, it will be hard to put laws that benefit an industry and its customers if the commission is not aware of these changes as they happen. As time goes on, we should hear more announcements about more partnerships with other gambling commissions in Europe and, following that, more laws passed. Hopefully, these partnerships are fruitful and lead to positive change for the gambling sector in Europe.
