Answer
Are betting apps safe to use in Ireland, and how do you spot a fake?
Safety does not come from a store rating or a polished screen. It starts with two facts you can check: the operator holds a GRAI licence, and you installed its app from an Apple App Store or Google Play listing. This page gives five steps to tell a licensed app from a fake and says where to report one.
Editorial team · checked
Short answer
- Licence first. An operator needs a GRAI licence to offer betting to people in Ireland (s.67(1), Gambling Regulation Act 2024).
- A rating is not a licence. Store stars, an Irish-sounding name or a slick design prove nothing about licensing.
- No app is certified here. We show what was checked and on which date. We do not call any app safe.
In short: check the licence on the GRAI register first, the install source second, the rating last.
Five steps to tell a licensed app from a fake
- Find the licensee. Look for the licensee name and licence number in the app or on the operator's website. The Act asks licensees to show the number on each online platform (s.110(1)(a)(ii)). Whether that covers an app screen is open.
- Match the register. Open the GRAI licence register. Match licensee, number, licence activity and dates. Our walkthrough shows each field.
- Read the store listing. The developer named there may be the licensee, a group company or another name. A mismatch is a question to ask, not proof of a fake. See the register and store comparison.
- Check the install source. Install only from the Apple App Store or Google Play, opened from the operator's own website. We give no file links: see sideloading.
- Distrust the advert. Treat an app link in an advert, message or social post as unverified until steps 1 and 2 pass.
If the register shows no entry, write down "Not found on [date]" and keep your money out of the app.
In short: a licence number that does not match the register ends the check.
What the law says about unlicensed betting
| Provision | What it says | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| s.67(1), (4) | Providing betting without a licence is an offence; up to 8 years on indictment. | An operator outside the register is outside the licensing regime. |
| s.111(2) | Pretending to be a licensee is an offence. In force. | A fake that copies a licensed brand breaks this rule. |
| s.75 | GRAI can ask the High Court for orders against anyone who provides or advertises unlicensed betting: stop, blocking by internet providers and app stores, bank account restrictions, repayment to players, publication of the decision. In force since 5 February 2026. | Advertising counts, not only the operator. Reach over a site owner outside Ireland: not confirmed. |
In short: the Act targets the unlicensed operator and the advert that promotes it.
Common questions
Does a high store rating show that an app is licensed?
No. A rating is a storefront average of user scores. It does not record whether the operator holds a GRAI licence.
Is an app from the UK store licensed for Ireland?
Not by that fact alone. The licence that counts for Irish customers is the GRAI licence for the operator's Irish service.
Where do I report a fake betting app?
Report it to the store that lists it, and send advert complaints to the ASA. Our reporting guide lists each route.
How we checked
Sources read: the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 (ss.67, 75, 110, 111), the Irish Statute Book commencement table and the GRAI register page.
The register showed 40 business-to-consumer entries, last updated 20 October 2026, when we read it on 6 November 2026. We opened no accounts, placed no bets and ran no app tests.
Not checked: Apple and Google rules on gambling apps. Re-read the register on the day you act.
What changed
7 November 2026: first version of this page.
Caveats
Whether s.75 reaches an owner outside Ireland is a question for the owner's lawyer. So is the number-on-screen question for apps (s.110(1)(a)(ii), (b)).
18+ only. Free 24/7 support: 1800 936 725 · gamblingcare.ie. More on responsible gambling.
Keep going