Ireland is bracing itself for a poker drought thanks to new laws which threaten to treat poker like any other casino game.
The newly formed Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) will soon bring into law the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 – an in-depth legal framework, passed on 16th October 2024, which repeals existing laws and streamlines rules specifying how Irish players can and cannot gamble…and poker is nowhere to be seen.
Affecting both live and online events, the new regulations are due to come into effect in 2025. The document spans 220 pages, and only mentions poker in a very brief instance in section 230, page 190. Apart from that, it’s conspicuous by its absence – and the contrast between this and the granular detail on regular casino gambling is what has players in Ireland worried.
This is exclusive to Ireland and will not affect any of the best online poker sites in the UK.
Strict Betting Limits
As there is no specific exclusion for poker, it’s being grouped with games of chance like slots and casino games. Because of this, the biggest hurdle for poker will be the betting limits outlined in the regulations, which you can read about in the very last page of the document.
Players will be restricted to:
- €10 maximum wager
- €3,000 maximum winnings
Most major tournaments and live festivals, including the Irish Poker Open, would be shut down instantly. And even low stakes games would become unplayable. For instance, in a $1/$2 NL Hold’em cash game, you’d be capped after raising just five big blinds, which would effectively turn cash games into some kind of pre-flop all-in frenzy.
This is not the first time poker has found itself in no man’s land. Earlier this year, poker was classified as a mind sport by the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA). But it’s also sometimes banded in with generic casino games, much to the chagrin of passionate enthusiasts. The water is muddied further by the fact there are casino versions of poker which are played against the dealer and have a traditional house edge.
Poker players believe it’s mostly about skill with a dollop of luck, while those outside of the game often think luck plays a bigger role, akin to blackjack or even slots.
But there’s still hope. Exceptions can be made, and it’s believed horse racing may be allowed to escape the constrictive betting caps because it’s being treated as a sport. Sports will not be restricted in the same way that casino and games of chance will.
Many are hoping poker will get a proper review and won’t be shackled by restrictions that make no sense for the game. Alternatively, players may migrate to the best offshore poker rooms. There’s precedent for this, as we’ve witnessed a similar situation in Australia.
For now, though, Irish poker players will be hoping that the authorities come to their senses and apply rules which are both fair and realistic. Whether that happens remains to be seen.
Gambling Regulation Bill Start Date
The Gambling Regulation Bill has been in the works since 2022, covering a huge amount of material and going through various amendments.
On 16th October 2024, the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 was passed, which means it was ready to be introduced to the president. That man is Michael Higgins, currently in his second term having been president of Ireland since 2011.
A week later, on 23rd October, Higgins signed the bill into law. But that’s not quite the end of the process.
A ministerial commencement order is required next, which will kick the law into action. There’s no set time period for this, but the laws are expected to come into effect in 2025.