Stake Blocks Irish Users After GRAI Action

Stake has restricted access to its online gambling platform for customers in Ireland following engagement with the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI). The company, which describes its platform as the “world’s largest” betting website, had operated in the Irish market without the remote betting licence required under the country’s recently introduced regulatory framework.

The operator says it serves more than 44 million customers across 169 countries. Irish users lost access to the platform last week after discussions with the regulator. GRAI can impose sanctions on companies that provide regulated gambling services without the necessary authorisation and can also pursue action through the High Court.

Stake previously sponsored English Premier League club Everton on the front of the team’s shirts. The gambling company is registered in Curaçao and had reportedly remained accessible to customers in Ireland for several years before the latest restriction.

Ireland’s New Licensing Rules Take Effect

Ireland’s remote betting licensing system became operational on July 1, 2026. Authorities have issued 33 licences under the new framework so far.

The rules require operators to verify customers’ ages and provide prompt payment of winnings. Licensed operators also cannot accept credit cards for gambling payments.

GRAI said its recent engagement with companies active in Ireland has already resulted in several platforms restricting their services.

“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.”

The regulator did not identify the companies covered by its statement. However, Stake is understood to be the “major international online gambling platform” referenced by GRAI.

Polymarket and Kalshi are understood to be the two prediction markets involved. Both platforms have restricted access for Irish users in recent months, with Polymarket adding Ireland to its list of prohibited jurisdictions in July.

Stake Restricts Its Entire Platform

Stake provides sports and event wagering alongside online casino-style games. Ireland’s new regulatory framework does not yet cover the latter category.

That distinction meant Stake could have continued providing its casino and other online gaming products to Irish customers while removing services that required a remote betting licence. The company instead chose to restrict access to its entire website for users in Ireland.

Among the features available through the platform is an affiliate arrangement offering open-ended commissions based on betting activity from family members or friends referred by customers.

GRAI’s intervention extends beyond Stake and the two prediction market operators. The authority is reportedly examining the activities of more than 100 operators as it establishes its enforcement regime.

“Our enforcement team is focusing on both extraterritorial remote gambling sites that are illegal at the point of consumption in Ireland, as well as unlicensed betting in pubs and unlicensed bookmaking, both in-person and online,” it said.

The regulator estimates that illegal gambling accounts for 70 per cent of European betting activity and represents a market valued at more than €80 billion. Around 6,000 operators are targeting that market, according to figures cited by GRAI.

Further Gambling Regulation Still Ahead

Ireland continues to introduce additional parts of its new gambling framework following the launch of remote betting licences in July.

Authorities expect land-based licensing to begin later in 2026. Applications covering other areas, including gaming and lotteries, are scheduled to open between 2027 and 2028. Licensing for B2B and charitable operations will also form part of that later rollout.

The country is also preparing additional anti-money laundering requirements for gambling businesses under a broader national strategy dealing with financial crime. Ireland’s 2026 National Risk Assessment classified the country’s overall money laundering threat as moderate.

For operators that have already restricted access following regulatory engagement, GRAI has placed attention on returning customer balances. The authority said it is working with affected companies so Irish users receive money they deposited on those platforms without unnecessary delay.

The regulator’s actions against Stake, Polymarket and Kalshi show that enforcement has started while Ireland continues implementing the remaining parts of its licensing system. Other operators have also stopped betting activities in the country following contact with GRAI, although the authority has not publicly identified those companies.

Source:

‘World’s largest’ betting website closed to Irish users after regulator action, irishtimes.com, September 14th, 2026.