TLDR
- Stake has geo-blocked Irish users following talks with the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI).
- The exit comes two months after Ireland launched a new licensing system for gambling operators.
- Prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket have also blocked Irish users in recent weeks.
- The GRAI says it is working with operators to ensure Irish customers get refunds on deposited funds.
- Stake was banned in Nigeria days earlier and lost its UK licence back in March 2025.
Stake has blocked access to its platform for users in Ireland. The move followed discussions with the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, known as the GRAI.
The change happened two months after Ireland introduced a new licensing system. That system moved oversight of gambling from the Revenue Commissioners to a body focused on integrity and player protection.
Stake is expected to use the same geo-fencing approach it applied in the UK. The company lost its UK licence in March 2025.
What The Regulator Said
The GRAI spoke to the Irish Times about the exits. It said operators, including two prediction markets and one major online gambling platform, had voluntarily restricted access for Irish users.
The regulator did not name the companies directly. Stake has often called itself the world’s largest online casino and sportsbook.
Reports say prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket have also blocked Irish users recently. This adds them to the growing list of platforms leaving the country.
The GRAI confirmed it is working with these operators on refunds. It said the goal is making sure Irish consumers get back money they deposited.
For users trying to log into Stake from Ireland, the site now shows a message. It states that access is not available due to licensing restrictions.
Pressure In Other Countries
Ireland is not the only country pushing back on Stake. Just days before this news, Nigeria’s Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority banned the company.
Regulators from twenty four other Nigerian states joined that ban. They said Stake had ignored repeated warnings over the past two years.
Stake has also faced scrutiny in the UK. Its sponsorship of Everton FC has drawn criticism from other companies in the industry.
The company moved its logo from the front of Everton’s shirt to the sleeve. This followed new Premier League rules on gambling advertising.
Entain, a rival gambling company, asked Everton last month to end its deal with Stake. Entain said Stake remains unlicensed in the UK market.
Stake has taken some steps to work with regulators elsewhere. It has secured licences in Denmark, Argentina, and Mexico.
Ireland now joins Nigeria and the UK as places where regulators have acted against Stake this year. The company has not issued its own public statement on the Irish exit.
