Key points:
- Rebecca Coen has been appointed as Director of Enforcement and AML at Ireland’s new Gambling Regulatory Authority
- Coen has a strong background in legal enforcement, having held senior roles at the CEA, Law Reform Commission and DPP’s office
- The GRAI is being established under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 and will oversee licensing, compliance and AML measures
Rebecca Coen has been appointed as the director of enforcement and anti-money laundering (AML) at the newly established Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), according to Irish Legal News.
A qualified barrister, Coen brings extensive experience in criminal enforcement and regulatory oversight.
Before joining GRAI, she served as the Director of Criminal Enforcement at the Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA), Ireland’s agency responsible for company law enforcement.
Prior to that, she was the Director of Research at the Law Reform Commission, contributing to legal policy development.
Coen's legal career also includes more than a decade as a Senior Prosecutor in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). During this time, she led prosecutions involving complex criminal cases, including sexual offences, homicide, organised crime and terrorism.
She additionally held a leadership role in the prosecution policy unit within the DPP’s office.
Commenting on her appointment to the position at GRAI, Coen said: “In my new role I am looking forward to embedding the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland into the Irish law enforcement landscape, and to continuing to work with colleagues across the criminal law and regulatory enforcement community to drive a cohesive and collaborative approach to combatting economic crime.”
Good to know: Beyond her professional experience, Coen is a published author on Irish criminal law, having written books on Garda powers and criminal litigation
The GRAI is currently being established following the enactment of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.
Once fully operational, it will oversee licensing, compliance and consumer protection measures within Ireland’s gambling sector.
Coen’s role will involve enforcing regulatory standards, investigating breaches and strengthening AML frameworks.
