Stake has restricted access to its platform from Ireland after engagement with the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), as the country’s new gambling licensing framework moves into full operation.
Irish users attempting to access Stake are now being told that the service is unavailable from their location because of licensing restrictions. Stake’s current terms of service also list Ireland among the jurisdictions where customers are prohibited from using the platform for real-money gambling.
The move follows regulatory discussions involving GRAI and several gambling-related platforms. According to information provided by the authority to Irish media, two major prediction-market operators and one large international gambling platform have voluntarily geo-blocked Irish customers following engagement with the regulator.
GRAI did not publicly identify the three companies. However, Kalshi and Polymarket have previously been reported as restricting access from Ireland, while Stake has now introduced its own geo-blocking measures.
The regulator is also working with operators that have withdrawn from the market to ensure Irish customers receive money remaining on their accounts. Other gambling companies have stopped taking bets in Ireland following contact with GRAI, according to the regulator.
Stake Plans Irish Licence Application
Stake does not appear to be abandoning Ireland permanently.
The operator has confirmed separately that it has closed new registrations in the Irish market and intends to seek a licence under Ireland’s new regulatory system. That would potentially allow Stake to return under GRAI supervision once it completes the required approval process.
Ireland opened applications for remote betting, remote betting intermediary and in-person betting licences in February 2026. From 1 July, responsibility for licensing existing remote betting operators transferred from the Revenue Commissioners to GRAI under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.
Companies providing remote betting services to Irish consumers must obtain the appropriate business-to-consumer licence. Applicants are subject to suitability checks covering areas including their financial capacity, ownership and ability to fund customer winnings through lawful sources.
The legislation also gives GRAI enforcement powers against companies operating without the required authorisation. The framework includes rules covering customer account protection, refunds, online safeguards for minors, gambling limits and restrictions on credit-card payments.
Ireland Joins Stake’s List of Restricted Markets
The Irish restriction adds to a series of regulatory changes affecting Stake across different jurisdictions.
Stake previously introduced geo-blocking for UK customers after withdrawing from the British regulated market in 2025. The company has nevertheless been expanding its licensed operations elsewhere, including regulated markets in Europe and Latin America.
Its latest terms specifically classify Ireland as a prohibited jurisdiction and state that users located in restricted markets cannot engage in real-money play. Attempts to circumvent geographic restrictions are also treated as a breach of the platform’s terms.
Stake’s Irish withdrawal therefore appears to be a temporary compliance measure rather than a permanent market exit, with the company now seeking a route back through GRAI’s licensing system.
For Ireland, the development is another indication that the newly empowered regulator is beginning to reshape the online betting market by requiring operators serving Irish customers to either secure local authorisation or withdraw access.