# Licensee and trading name

> On the GRAI register the licensee is the company that holds the licence and a trading name is a brand it uses. Why the app brand can differ from the licensee.

Source: https://beforeyouinstall.com/guides/licensee-and-trading-name-meaning/
Updated: 2026-11-07

The licensee is the company that holds the GRAI licence. A trading name is a brand that company uses, and it can differ from the company's own name. The name on an app or a store listing is the brand or its developer, while the register entry carries the licensee, licence number and type. You match the two by licence number.

## Two names on one licence

- **Licensee:** the legal entity that holds the licence. It is the party GRAI licenses and supervises.
- **Trading name:** a brand or business name the licensee uses with customers. The register shows these in a Trading Names tab.
- **App name:** the name you see on the home screen. It follows the trading name, not the licensee.
- **Developer name:** the name in the store listing. It may be the licensee, a group company or another party. We compare it with the register on the licensee pages.

**In short:** the brand you tap is not always the company that holds the licence.

## What a GRAI register entry shows

Per our research notes of 6 November 2026, an entry carries these fields:

- **Licence Number:** the format is GRAI-NNNN-RB-26-NNNN.
- **Licence type (Licence Activity):** RB is remote betting, RBI is remote betting intermediary, IPB is in-person betting.
- **Issue Date and Expiry Date:** the licence term is three years.
- **Trading Names, Domain Names and Premises:** Domain Names was empty on all 40 business-to-consumer entries read.

Because domain names are empty, you confirm a site or app by the licence number it shows. A licensee must show its licence number on each online platform (s.110(1)(a)(ii), in force since 5 February 2026).

**In short:** match the number on the operator's site to the number on the register.

## Examples from the register snapshot

**Illustration only. Values are copied from our research notes of the register as last updated 20 October 2026. Each operator is a candidate, licence to be confirmed on the day of use. Source: GRAI register via research notes · checked 7 November 2026**

| Trading names on the entry | Licensee | Licence number | Re-checked on the register |
|---|---|---|---|
| bet365 | Hillside (Europe) ENC | GRAI-0539-RB-26-0001 | Not checked |
| Betfair, Paddy Power | PPB Counterparty Services Limited | GRAI-1003-RB-26-0001 | Not checked |
| BetVictor, talkSPORT BET | BV Gaming Limited | GRAI-0862-RB-26-0001 | Not checked |
| William Hill | WH Ireland Limited | GRAI-1096-RB-26-0001 | Not checked |

Two rows show one licensee with two trading names. The register is updated at GRAI's pace, so open it on the day you check. A match here is not a licence check: no entry is shown as "Licence active on [date]" until we have looked.

**In short:** one licensee can stand behind several brands.

## Why the difference matters to you

- **Checking:** search the register by licensee and by trading name. A brand may not appear as the licensee.
- **Ownership:** a brand with an Irish feel may have a licensee in another country. Our notes list BoyleSports under Boylesports (Gibraltar) Limited. See [Irish-owned and Irish-licensed](https://beforeyouinstall.com/guides/does-irish-owned-mean-irish-licensed/).
- **Terms:** look for the licensee named in the operator's terms, because that is the company GRAI licenses.

**In short:** the terms and the licence name the licensee, not the logo.

## How we checked

The fields and the examples come from our research notes on the register, not from a fresh visit on 7 November 2026. The s.110 wording is as summarised in those notes. Re-checking is Not checked.

**What changed:** 7 November 2026, first version.

**In short:** definitions are firm, example rows are dated and unconfirmed.

## Related questions

- [How do you check a betting app's licence, step by step?](https://beforeyouinstall.com/guides/check-a-betting-app-licence/)
- [Which GRAI licensees have an app in the Irish stores?](https://beforeyouinstall.com/data/app-availability-by-licensee/)
- [What must a licensed app show about its licence?](https://beforeyouinstall.com/guides/licence-number-display-rules/)
- [Licence, law and safety](https://beforeyouinstall.com/guides/licence/)

## 18+ and help

18+ only. Gambling can be addictive – play responsibly. Set limits, take breaks and never bet more than you can afford to lose. Free 24/7 support: Gambling Awareness Trust helpline 1800 936 725 · gamblingcare.ie.