Stake blocks Irish users following GRAI intervention

Stake has blocked Irish users after engaging with the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI). The regulator can sanction operators or take action in the High Court against firms operating without the required licence.

GRAI confirmed that it has recently engaged with several operators, prompting some to restrict access to their services in Ireland.

The regulator’s officials stated:  “Operators, including two major prediction markets and a major international online gambling platform, have geo-blocked their services, which means that they have voluntarily restricted access to their platforms for users from Ireland.

“The GRAI is working closely with operators who have geo-blocked to ensure that consumers in Ireland are promptly refunded all monies deposited with these operators. A number of other operators have also closed their betting activities in Ireland following GRAI engagement.”

Indeed, the regulator declined to name any of the companies involved, but it is understood that the “major international online gambling platform” is Stake.

For additional context around the two major prediction markets outlined in the statement, Polymarket in fact added Ireland to its list of restricted jurisdictions in July.

Meanwhile, Ireland is preparing tighter anti-money laundering (AML) requirements for gambling businesses as part of a new national strategy targeting money laundering, terrorist financing and other forms of financial crime. Ireland’s 2026 National Risk Assessment classified the country’s overall money laundering threat as moderate.

The requirements build on measures reported earlier this summer and arrive as GRAI continues rolling out Ireland’s new gambling framework.

The regulator began issuing remote betting licences in July. Land-based licences are expected to follow later this year. Applications for other licence categories, including gaming, lotteries, B2B and charitable operations, will open between 2027 and 2028.