Will Ireland become a winner with the new strict iGaming regulator, the sustained interest in licenses, and the tax issues in the UK — or will strict rules slow down its betting boom?

Ireland, once home to some of the world’s most influential betting brands, has long taken a surprisingly soft approach to gambling regulation. The country, which is home to Flutter Entertainment — the parent company of Paddy Power and Betfair — as well as major national operator BoyleSports, has relied until recently on fragmented and outdated laws and a tax certificate system administered by tax authorities.

Control has been fragmented, and enforcement powers have been limited, as the regulatory system has not kept pace with the market’s complexity.