The short version
A licence tells you who has the power to investigate and punish an operator, and under which country's rules — it is not a direct measure of how trustworthy that operator is day to day. GRAI is the only one of the three built specifically around Irish consumer protection law.
| Regulator | Jurisdiction | Max fine | Covers Irish online casino today? |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRAI | Ireland | €20m or 10% of turnover | Betting: yes, from 1 Jul 2026. Casino (remote gaming): not yet |
| MGA | Malta | Varies by breach type | Yes — many brands serving Ireland hold only this |
| UKGC | United Kingdom | Unlimited, case by case | Technically UK-focused, but some dual-licensed brands serve Irish players |
Why this matters for a complaint
If an operator only holds an MGA licence, an Irish player's recourse runs through Malta's complaints process, not an Irish one. Once GRAI's remote gaming category opens, Irish players get a domestic authority with Irish-specific consumer protection rules — the credit card ban and the National Gambling Exclusion Register are examples of protections MGA and UKGC don't mirror exactly.
What to actually check
Look for a licence number, not just a logo — logos can be copied. Then cross-check that number against the regulator's own public register: mga.org.mt for Malta, gamblingcommission.gov.uk for the UK, or grai.ie once GRAI's public register is live.