Ireland Speeds Up Plans for Mandatory Social Fund

The Irish government has notified the European Commission of plans to set up a social fund that licensed betting companies will have to pay into each year. The Social Impact Fund will be established under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.

Under the law, from 1 April 2027 licensed companies will pay 1% of their turnover for the previous financial year into the fund. The money will be used to support gambling harm prevention and treatment programmes across the country. Payments will be made each year by 1 July, either by bank transfer or electronic payment, to the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland.

The rate was reportedly set jointly by the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and the regulator. It is aimed at providing a regular and significant sum to the fund while avoiding undue strain on operators' financial position and commercial activity. The law defines the turnover of online operators as the total amount players pay the company for betting and gaming services.

The regulation is part of a modernisation process that replaces the Totalisator Act of 1929 and the Betting Act of 1931, which are nearly a century old. The new independent regulator for the online market, which has an estimated annual turnover of more than 5 billion euro, was established in February 2025 and took over licensing duties from the Revenue Commissioners in June 2026. The report also says talks are ongoing on tax increases and possible restrictions on operator advertising.