Stake Blocks Access for Irish Players After GRAI Contact

Crypto casino Stake has blocked access to its website for players in Ireland following contact with local regulator GRAI, according to a report by The Irish Times. The platform had previously operated in the country without restrictions for several years.

The blocking follows the launch of Ireland's online betting licensing system on July 1, 2026. GRAI did not name the specific companies it took action against, but The Irish Times identified Stake as the operator involved. The regulator is currently reviewing more than 100 operators, and several companies have already blocked access for Irish users and pledged to refund customer balances following GRAI's intervention. The new licensing framework requires age verification for customers, bans credit card payments for bets, and imposes other compliance requirements on bookmakers. GRAI has issued 33 licenses to date.

According to the regulator, approximately 70% of all betting activity in Europe flows through the illegal market, with a total volume exceeding €80 billion and roughly 6,000 illegal operators targeting European players. The scale of illegal market activity cited by GRAI underscores the broader regulatory challenge facing European gambling authorities as they work to channel players toward licensed platforms.