GRAI and Spillemyndigheden Formalize Cross-Border Regulatory Partnership

2026-07-08

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) and Denmark's Spillemyndigheden have signed an MoU to enhance cross-border cooperation on compliance, monitoring, and enforcement. This agreement, following GRAI's recent launch of remote betting licenses, aims to improve information sharing and coordinated responses to digital gambling challenges.

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has entered into a formal collaboration with Denmark's Spillemyndigheden, its counterpart regulator, by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement is set to enhance cooperation between the two bodies in critical areas including compliance, market monitoring, and enforcement.

The MoU was signed shortly after the GRAI initiated its new Irish Remote Betting Licences on July 1. The primary goal of this accord is to support more effective sharing of information and coordination, particularly given that both regulatory authorities oversee many of the same operators and market practices. Both agencies acknowledge that the digital nature of modern gambling necessitates a harmonized European response to tackle cross-border challenges.

This partnership follows a recent meeting between Anne Marie Caulfield, CEO of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, and Anders Dorph, Director General of Spillemyndigheden. During their discussions, the leaders exchanged insights on prevalent regulatory hurdles and explored avenues for aligning their approaches.

Commenting on the development, Anne Marie Caulfield highlighted the importance of such alliances. She stated, "This Memorandum of Understanding with the Danish Gambling Authority is another vital milestone in strengthening cooperation between regulators operating in closely connected markets." Caulfield further articulated that continuous dialogue and collaboration between Ireland and Denmark would facilitate more effective oversight, forming part of a broader strategy to deepen cooperation with European regulatory partners.

The signing of this agreement aligns with the GRAI's progressive rollout of new Irish gambling licenses. After introducing remote betting licenses at the beginning of July, the authority intends to launch in-person betting licenses later in the current year. Subsequent applications for lottery, B2B, and charitable gaming licenses are slated for 2027 and 2028.