Stake has geo-fenced Ireland, blocking access for Irish consumers following reported discussions with the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI).
The move mirrors action Stake previously took in the United Kingdom, where the platform implemented strict geo-fencing measures after losing its licence in March 2025.
Stake, which has repeatedly referred to itself as “the world’s largest online casino and sportsbook,” is now unavailable to users attempting to access it from Irish locations.
Users in Ireland who try to visit the platform are met with a clear message: “Due to licensing restrictions, access to Stake from your current location is not available.”
The GRAI confirmed that several platforms had voluntarily restricted access to Irish users, though it stopped short of naming any of them directly.
In a statement, the regulator said: “Operators, including two major prediction markets and a major international online gambling platform, have geo-blocked their services, which means that they have voluntarily restricted access to their platforms for users from Ireland.”
The GRAI also confirmed it is actively working to ensure affected consumers are not left out of pocket following the access restrictions.
“The GRAI is working closely with operators who have geo-blocked to ensure that consumers in Ireland are promptly refunded all monies deposited with these operators,” the regulator stated.
While the GRAI did not identify the three platforms in question, the Irish Times has previously reported that major prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket have also geo-blocked access for Irish users in recent months.
The cluster of voluntary geo-blocks signals a broader regulatory tightening around unlicensed online gambling access in Ireland, with the GRAI clearly engaging directly with operators to enforce compliance.
The situation reflects a wider trend across Europe, where gambling regulators are increasingly pressuring international platforms to either obtain proper licensing or remove access for users within their jurisdictions.
For Irish consumers who had accounts with Stake or other affected platforms, the focus now shifts to the refund process being overseen by the GRAI to recover deposited funds.
