# Reporting a fake betting app or misleading advert

> Where to report a fake betting app or a misleading betting advert in Ireland: the app store, the ASA, the GRAI and the CCPC, what to attach and what each body can do.

Source: https://beforeyouinstall.com/guides/report-a-fake-betting-app-or-ad/
Updated: 2026-11-07

Report a fake betting app to the store that lists it, and a misleading advert to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) handles unfair consumer practices. Betting without a GRAI licence is an offence (s.67(1)). Keep screenshots, the link and the date before you report.

## What to collect first

- Screenshots of the app page or advert, with the date and time.
- The link, or the app name and developer name shown in the store.
- Where you saw it: social media, search, a message or a website.
- Any licence number it displays. Compare it with the [GRAI register](https://www.grai.ie/register/licence-register).
- Any payment you made or details you shared.

**In short:** save the evidence before you report, because adverts and listings get removed.

## Steps by channel

1. **Stop and do not pay.** Do not enter ID or card details.

  - Result: you limit the damage.
  - Common mistake: replying to a message that asks for a transfer outside the app.

2. **Report the app in the store.** Apple and Google both give a way to report an app from its listing.

  - Result: the store can review the listing.
  - Where the report option sits and what each store promises: Not checked.

3. **Report the advert to the ASA.** Use the complaint route on adstandards.ie.

  - Result: the ASA assesses the advert against its Code.
  - Common mistake: complaining to the ASA about an app that has no advert.

4. **Report unfair practices to the CCPC.** Use it for misleading claims aimed at consumers.

  - Result: the CCPC can act on patterns it sees.

5. **Tell the GRAI about unlicensed betting.** See its enforcement page for how.

  - Result: the GRAI knows about the operator.
  - Whether the GRAI has a public reporting form: Not checked.

6. **Contact your bank if you paid.** Tell the card issuer or bank what happened.

  - Bank procedures: Not checked.

**In short:** stop, save evidence, then report to the store, the ASA, the CCPC and the GRAI as they fit.

## Who handles what

**Reporting channels. Source: ASA Code; CCPC; GRAI; Gambling Regulation Act 2024 · checked 7 November 2026**

| Channel | Report it if | What it can do | Response time |
|---|---|---|---|
| App Store or Google Play | An app copies a brand or hides who runs it | Review the listing | Not checked |
| ASA | An advert promises wins, targets under-18s or hides that it is an ad | Assess the advert against its Code and publish a decision naming the brand | Not checked |
| CCPC | A trader misleads consumers | Issue compliance notices and prohibition orders, or bring cases | Not checked |
| GRAI | Someone offers or advertises betting without a licence | Seek a High Court order against advertising or providing it (s.75) | Not checked |

Posing as a licensee is an offence (s.111(2)). Each body publishes its own process and timescale. We quote none until we have captured them.

**In short:** the store handles the app, the ASA the advert, the CCPC the practice and the GRAI the licence.

## What happens next

- The ASA can publish a decision that names the advertiser and brand.
- The CCPC can use compliance notices, prohibition orders and court action for misleading practices.
- The GRAI can seek a High Court order on advertising of unlicensed betting (s.75). That can include blocking access, freezing accounts, refunds to players and publishing the decision.
- We do not promise a result, a refund or a timescale.

**In short:** each body has real powers, but none of them guarantees an outcome for you.

## If it does not work

- **The store says no breach.** Report the advert or the practice to the ASA or CCPC instead.
- **The advert has gone.** Send your screenshots. The date and link still help.
- **You already paid.** Contact your bank first. Then use the order in [complaining about a betting app](https://beforeyouinstall.com/guides/complain-about-a-betting-app/).

**In short:** use another channel when one says no, and keep your screenshots.

## How we checked

- Law: ss.67, 75 and 111 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.
- ASA: Code Section 10 and its scope rules. CCPC: its published advertising guidance. See [ASA](https://adstandards.ie/), [CCPC](https://www.ccpc.ie/) and [GRAI enforcement](https://www.grai.ie/enforcement).
- Still to capture: Apple and Google report forms, the ASA and CCPC complaint routes, and the GRAI Compliance and Complaints FAQ. Each needs a date.
- We did not report any real app or advert to test the channels.

**In short:** powers are sourced; forms and timescales are not checked yet.

## What changed

- 7 November 2026: first version of this page.

**In short:** no earlier versions exist.

## Related questions

**Is running a fake betting app a crime in Ireland?** Providing betting in Ireland without a GRAI licence is an offence under s.67(1), and posing as a licensee is an offence under s.111(2). See the [red flags](https://beforeyouinstall.com/guides/fake-betting-app-red-flags/).

**Does the ASA cover adverts from operators based abroad?** Section 10 of the ASA Code applies to operators based abroad as well (rule 10.3). Sites outside Ireland are covered only in part (rule 2.3(n)).

**Can the GRAI take complaints about betting adverts?** Not yet. The ASA takes advert complaints now. The GRAI is expected to take complaints about licensees' adverts once its advertising powers are brought into force. To check an operator first, use the [licence check](https://beforeyouinstall.com/guides/check-a-betting-app-licence/).

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: 1800 936 725 · gamblingcare.ie. More on [responsible gambling](https://beforeyouinstall.com/responsible-gambling/).

**In short:** 18+ only; help is free and open 24/7.

## FAQ

**Is running a fake betting app a crime in Ireland?**

Providing betting in Ireland without a GRAI licence is an offence under s.67(1) of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, and posing as a licensee is an offence under s.111(2).

**Does the ASA cover adverts from operators based abroad?**

Section 10 of the ASA Code, on gambling, applies to operators based abroad as well (rule 10.3). Sites outside Ireland are covered only in part (rule 2.3(n)).

**Can the GRAI take complaints about betting adverts?**

Not yet. The ASA takes advert complaints now. The GRAI is expected to take complaints about licensees' adverts once its advertising powers are brought into force.