Gambling in its entirety is very popular in Ireland. Most Irish people love to gamble, creating friendly competition. It is estimated that 9.8 billion Euros was gambled in the year 2019.
There has been an increase in online casinos, and this has seen casinos emerge weekly that support and allow Irish players. This also means that the competition in the online casino industry is very high. Therefore most of these online casinos that cater to the Irish have fairly good bonuses and free spins for their players.
This article will outline the Ireland casino scene and online casinos in Ireland. We will further explore the legality of online casinos in the Irish land. We will also outline a few new Ireland online casinos.
The culture of gambling has long been in the Irish land. The arrival of the internet has also been a huge factor resulting in the change in how people in Ireland Gamble. Now it is easier for any Irish punter to place a bet because they can just use their smartphone.
To answer the question, yes, online gambling was officially legalized in Ireland in 2015. This was when the betting amendment act was formally implemented. Currently, players in Ireland can enjoy all forms of online gambling. All local and foreign operators can offer services in Ireland as long as they will follow the Irish licensing laws and taxation.
Irish players can Gamble on poker, casino games, bingo, sports, lotteries, and so much more as long as the provider is licensed and legal. The gambling industry has a multi-million dollar value in Ireland. Currently, the gambling laws in Ireland permit Irish residents to gamble on any offshore betting sites and online casinos as well as sites located in Ireland.
Online gambling for players on websites is subject to the Irish gambling license or a valid remote gambling license from the respected authorities such as the UK gambling commission (UKGC).
Best 3 Irish casinos reviewed
There is a wide variety of casinos available for Irish players online. We have taken the time to take a look and review some of the best online casinos in Ireland. Below we will look at 20Bet, Bizzo Casino, and Casino Masters.
Owned by Rabidi N.V., Quickwin is one of the best online casinos accepting Irish players. It hosts an expansive portfolio of over 9500 titles. Talk of slots, table games, card games, scratchcards, and specialty games. Most are available for instant play and often come with a demo version.
Checking on its banking section, there are numerous notable options suitable for most Irish players. They include Interac, Mastercard, NeoSurf, Bitcoin, and many others.
The minimum deposit amount is €10, while the maximum isn’t specified. It could vary depending on your payment method. That said, you cannot withdraw anything below €10 or exceed the €7,000 monthly limit.
The casino holds a valid Curacao gambling license. It has a strict privacy policy, enhancing players’ protection during wagering and transactions. As such, Irish players can always rest assured of safety here.
With only a few months in operation (launched in 2023), Novajackpot casino has constantly rocked the European gambling market. At its core, it boasts a diverse portfolio with over 4000 titles. Most are slots, with table games and game shows slowly following the suit.
A sneak peek of its payment section reveals some level of diversity. Irish players can use Visa, Giropay, Bitcoin, eZeeWallet, and many others to facilitate transactions.
The minimum amount viable for deposit here is €10. The maximum is €5000 (for most methods). On withdrawals, the least viable amount is €10, while the maximum is €5000. Cryptos are exempted from these limits.
Novajackpot Casino holds a valid gambling license from Curacao gaming authorities. It also uses SSL encryption to shield players’ sensitive data during transactions. This means Irish players can confidently rely on the security and safety measures implemented while enjoying their gaming experience here.
The site isn’t available in Irish, but players can still use other dialects like English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and Finnish.
This is definitely one of the most popular casinos across the EU and amongst Ireland players. As part of the Rabidi N.V. group, there’s no need to doubt its stellar reputation.
Neon54 boasts over 4000 titles in its portfolio. Talk of video slots, table games, live casino options, and TV shows. Slots obviously are the majority, with most Irish players thrilled by their unique gaming mechanisms.
Checking on its payment section, we found diverse options suiting Irish players. Some of these include Interac, eZeeWallet, and bank transfers. Bitcoin and Ethereum are also acceptable.
The minimum amount you can deposit here is €20, while the maximum isn’t specified (often depends on your payment method). You cannot withdraw any amount less than €10 or exceed the €10000 monthly limit.
Neon54 casino holds a valid gambling license issued by the Curacao gaming authorities. The platform is also SSL-encrypted for data confidentiality and protection. So when gambling here, you can always rest assured of optimal safety.
Casino Infinity is another recently launched Rabidi-owned gambling site accepting Irish players. It features a clean layout with well-arranged menus and tabs, making it easy to locate everything, including games. Unfortunately, Casino Infinity isn’t available in Irish, but English will work pretty well for most players.
Speaking of games, the site hosts thousands of innovative casino games (9500+). Players, therefore, have the flexibility to try out different titles. There are slots, table games, game shows, scratchcards, pokers, and many others.
Casino Infinity’s banking section offers multiple payment options suitable to Irish players. Some of these include Visa, Mastercard, and Skrill. Crypto options are also viable.
The least amount you can deposit or withdraw here is €10. And on the same note, you cannot do more than € 5,000 per transaction.
Casino Infinity holds a valid Curacao gambling license. Even better, it has SSL encryption technology that safeguards players’ sensitive data during transactions. This, in turn, ensures it remains a safe and reliable gambling environment.
Still, on Rabidi N.V casino series, Spinanga emerges as one of the best Ireland gambling sites. It has 4000+ games, covering slots, table games, TV shows, and other specialties. The site isn’t available in Irish, but players can use English, Spanish, Italian, German, and many others.
The payments section has diverse options suiting Irish players. Some of these include Skrill, Jeton, and Visa. The minimum amount you can transact here is €10, applying for both deposits and withdrawals. Also, you cannot exceed the limits of €500 and €7000 daily and monthly, respectively.
Spinanga Casino holds a valid Curacao gambling license, thus a legitimate gambling establishment. Based on our thorough background check, we couldn’t link it or its sister casinos with fraudulent dealings. So it is safe, reliable, and reputable.
20Bet Casino is an online gambling service that welcomes players from many countries, including Ireland. The casino was established in 2020. The online casino has an extensive collection of games from multiple providers and includes some live dealer games. The licensing authorities for 20Bet are Curaçao Kahnawake.
20Bet Casino is a smaller online casino in terms of revenue. Revenue is an important factor in an online casino because it usually determines the amount of time it will take for the casino to pay out larger volumes of winnings. Typically large casinos with a high revenue do not have problems paying out high winnings.
20Bet’s site offers French, English, Italian, German, Finnish, Czech, Spanish, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese and Polish translations. The site is not available in the local language, which is Irish. The site also accepts the local currency, which is the euro.
20Bet casino’s site is easy to navigate and uses very simple colors. The website was developed with SSL encryption, so any personal details are safe on this platform. The platform also accepts payments and withdrawals using cryptocurrency, meaning players have access to faster withdrawals.
20Bet also has a Playamo Partners affiliate program that pays its players for marketing their site and introducing new customers. The amounts players accumulate through the affiliate program are paid out monthly on the 20th. Before you can make any withdrawals on the site, you must verify your age by sending identification documents.
The site has various payment methods, Visa, Paysafecard, bitcoin, and other cryptocurrencies.
Bizzo casino was established in 2021. The online service has a wide selection of game providers, including well-known names such as pragmatic play amongst 60 developers.
Bizzo is a small online casino in terms of revenue. The site offers services in English and German only. They do not offer the local language, which is Irish.
Their licensing authority is Curacao, and they are known to have an average withdrawal limit compared with other sites. Bizzo offers a wide range of currencies, including the Euro, which is the local currency of Ireland.
Bizzo also has live dealer games amongst its great selection of over 3000 games. The website has a modern design and very high responsiveness on mobile devices.
Bizzo offers the following deposit methods: bitcoin, bank transfer, diners credit card, discover the network, ecopayz, and so much more. The available withdrawal methods include bank transfer, Bitcoin diners credit card, and more.
The site offers most payment methods. This site also uses the local currency, the Euro, and includes the US dollar and the Australian dollar.
Casino Masters was established in 2021. The site accepts players from all over the world, including Ireland. Malta licenses the site. They have a simple website design and offer various games, including live dealer games. The site is available in English, German, Norwegian and Finnish. The site isn’t available in Irish.
They are supported by many game providers such as NetEnt and Pragmatic Play. The game selection includes many jackpot, video, and megaways slot titles such as Book of the Dead and Gonzo’s Quest.
The banking section for the casino supports most payment methods out there. The payment methods include credit and debit cards, most e-wallets, mobile payments, and prepaid vouchers. The availability of the payment method depends on the country you are registering from.
The minimum withdrawal and deposit with this site are set very low. They also have no limitations on their progressive jackpot winnings. The VIP players are entitled to higher withdrawal amounts, and the casino only charges a 2% transaction fee on each cash-out request.
Masters Casino is licensed with the UK gambling commission and the Malta gaming authority. These two authorities guarantee the safest gambling environment possible. Masters Casino is owned and operated by Genesis Global, an experienced and competent service provider with an amazing background in the igaming industry.
When selecting an online casino in Ireland, you want to ensure the casino is authentic and safe. This is to avoid any scams and losing money. Below we will look at a few steps you can take when registering or looking at an online casino in Ireland.
1
Does the casino accept players from your country?
In this case, you must be sure the casino accepts players from your country. You can do so by checking the website. Most websites have a button at the top that allows you to switch to your country. If your country is not on the list of countries, the casino doesn’t accept players from your country.
2
Check the reputation of the casino
Knowing whether a casino is trustworthy is not the simplest of things by just looking at their website. Usually, to see the reputation of a casino, you must check reviews online about them. This will give a clearer picture of the operator.
3
Check the casino’s licensing authorities
Who the casino is Licensed with will determine if they are reputable and good. If the casino is licensed with the authorities such as the UKGC, they tend to be a safer and good option for players. Authorities such as the UKGC promote safe and transparent gambling.
4
Check if they offer the games you like
The casino you’ll finally be registering with should offer your favorite games. It is no use depositing into a website where you will not find a game that you can play.
5
User experience
Check if you can easily navigate the site to get all the information listed above. Check if support can be easily contacted.
New online casinos in Ireland
The Irish online casino community continues to grow, seeing most online casinos emerging in 2021. The ongoing pandemic has pushed things to be done online and remotely as most businesses shut down to stop the spread of the virus.
As gambling increases in popularity in Ireland weekly, new online casinos are emerging. Most Irishmen love to gamble, and the rapid growth in online gambling has brought about many forms of entertainment and a wide variety of games for them.
The rapid growth has also brought competition to online casinos, and this has made most game providers make their sites mobile-friendly and accessible. The growth of the mobile industry has also resulted in the rapid increase and growth of online casinos in the world and the Irish land.
Gambling has never been so simple for any Irish punter as there is a great variety to choose from. We recommend selecting one of the online casinos that we will list on this page.
Most popular slots in Ireland
Slots are very popular with online gamers and are among the favorites for Irish punters. The gaming and lotteries act of 1956 governs the gambling industry in Ireland. This law had banned slot machines, and only machines designed for amusement were allowed.
Despite the ban, overseas bookmakers still find a way of getting the popular slots to their Irish players. Since online gambling is legal in Ireland, players can access their favorite slot machine in an online casino.
There are even some Irish-themed slots that they can enjoy. We have taken some time to look at a few popular slots among Irish players. Among the many, we have selected a few: Book of the dead, Wolf gold, and the Irish-themed Top ‘o’ the bonus slots.
Slot Name
RTP
Provider
Max Win
Min Bet
Book of the dead
96.2%
Play ‘N’ Go
5000 x stake
0.10
Wolf gold
96%
Pragmatic Play
2500 x stake
0.25
Top ‘O’ the bonus
95.6%
Inspired Gaming
12500
0.20
Book of the dead
Book of the Dead is an ancient Egyptian themed slot, and it’s one of the favourite amongst many for players. It was launched in 2016 and is still the most played Egyptian slots in casinos. The game has an amazing payout potential and hence attracts many players.
Game Features
Book of the Dead is a 20 payline , 5 reel slot and is compatible with most mobile devices and desktops. The bet is adjustable with a minimum of 0.10 to a maximum of 50 per spin.
The standard low-value royals, the God Anubis, a phoenix, and a pharaoh, are the standard representation of symbols, with the top pair being Rich Wilde. The wild and scatter are represented by the book symbol, which substitutes all other symbols to bring you a multiplier that triggers the free spins round. You can get 10 free spins by landing at least 3 scatters.
Wolf gold
Wolf gold is a famous 5 reel and 25 pay line pragmatic play slot. The theme of the game takes the wild west of America with Native American animal features. In the soundtrack, you can hear wolves howling as you spin.
Game features
Wolf gold has the better-paying puma and low-value royals such as the horse, the buffalo, and the Eagle symbol. The wolf is the wild that can replace all symbols except the scatter. The moon acts as a money symbol. Suppose you land 6 moon symbols in a single spin. The wolf wild then appears because wolves live in packs. If you land a scatter on reels 1, 3, and 5, you get 5 free spins.
Top ‘O’ the Bonus
Top ‘O’ is a colorful slot game that has sprung from the Golden cauldron, which is one of the most entertaining children’s stories about the desire to obtain riches. This 50 pay line slot uses the most well-known Irish symbols such as the wishing well, the leprechaun hat, and the four-leaf clover.
Game Features
The game has a 6 by 4 real grid with 50 paylines during a random spin. The dominant color for the game is green and has a rainbow as the backdrop with the view of a clear sky. You can play with a minimum of 0.20 up to a maximum of 20.
The highest-paying symbols are the wishing well, the four-leaf clover, and the leprechaun hat. The lowest-paying symbol is the container full of silver and gold coins. Just keep your eye on the Leprechaun to win big.
Most online slots for Irish Casinos are under multiple types of software providers such as:
Play N Go
Pragmatic Play
NetEnt
Other popular casino games in Ireland
Video Poker
Video poker is a virtual game where it’s just you, the player, against the computer. You can create your best poker hand to win the game. Video poker has been known to have some of the highest payouts of all games.
In Ireland, poker is legal for both licensed offshore poker rooms and Irish-based poker sites. Due to limitations on land-based poker gambling options, online poker has successfully substituted the market for most Irish players by providing a range of opportunities to play poker.
Blackjack
Blackjack is an all-time favorite and is always a good game choice. Whether you choose to play the progressive, European, classic, or Vegas type of blackjack, it’s a game that is guaranteed to give you a good time and is very popular with the Irish.
Roulette
Roulette is also one of the most popular in casinos, and it is your choice whether you want to play with strategy or just luck. Roulette also has varieties such as European roulette, progressive roulette, and mini roulette. Roulette is also a very popular game with the Irish
Live Dealer Games
Live dealer games are also popular with Irish punters. Live dealer games are designed to give you the excitement and the feel of a physical casino without actually leaving your home. They allow you to connect to a real casino dealer through video streaming and get authentic action in your roulette, poker, blackjack, and so much more.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Live-dealer online casinos in Ireland
Playing with real people in a virtual environment felt bizarre a few years ago. The situation has significantly changed since the introduction of cutting-edge technologies.
You can now play your favorite casino games with a live dealer because there are no longer any restrictions related to the digital component of gaming.
Casinos provide their consumers the chance to play cards or roulette with a real person who has undergone specialized training and is a true gambling specialist. Live dealers keep the action lively by interacting with players, taking bets, dealing cards or chips, and announcing games.
The iGaming industry has spread like wildfire throughout the world in the past couple of years. This includes Ireland too, which is where you can find a lot of genuine fans of the sector. We will now show you the top 5 types of games, the best Irish casinos to play them in, and the types of games they offer.
Roulette
Roulette has most certainly been the casino game that has been played the most. The difference between the live version and the virtual version is not particularly substantial. But it’s really thrilling to be able to play with a live dealer from the comfort of your own home. Here, along with the types of roulette they provide, are listed the top 5 live roulette casinos in Ireland.
Top 5 Live Roulette Casinos in Ireland
Kakadu – Extreme Roulette, American Roulette, Speed Roulette, French Roulette
Woo Casino – VIP Roulette, First Person Roulette, Malta Roulette, Japanese Roulette
Bizzo Casino – Black Roulette, Absolute White Roulette, American Roulette, Auto Roulette
NationalCasino – Lightning Roulette, Double Ball Roulette, Auto-Roulette, American Roulette
Poker
Poker is without a doubt the most enticing card game in the entire world. Live Poker is far more entertaining than the totally virtualized online setting. Therefore, we strongly urge you to try out this variation of poker. Below are the top 5 online casinos that provide Live Poker games and their varieties.
HellSpin – Trey Poker, Caribbean Poker, American Poker, Texas Hold’em Poker
PlayAmo – Oasis Poker, Casino Hold’em, Bonus Poker, Magic Poker
SkyCrown – Bonus Poker, VIP Poker, Texas Hold’em, Classic Poker
Blackjack
Blackjack is a fascinating game that many people adore, so if you’ve never played Live Blackjack, you can only imagine how much fun you’d have. It bestows an entirely new meaning on the term “virtual iGaming.” Some of the best casinos that provide several Live Blackjack versions are listed below.
Top 5 Live Blackjack Casinos in Ireland
PlayAmo – American Blackjack, VIP Blackjack, Lightning Blackjack, Classic Blackjack
Kaiser Slots – One Blackjack, Lightning Blackjack, Speed Blackjack, Power Blackjack
HellSpin – European Blackjack, Japanese Blackjack, Lightning Blackjack, VIP Blackjack
King Casino- American Blackjack, Classic Blackjack, European Blackjack, Multi-hand Blackjack
Baccarat is a straightforward card game in which you either win, the dealer wins, or there is a tie. This game’s virtual environment simply isn’t exciting enough to convey its full potential. Live Baccarat is therefore the preferred option. The top 4 live baccarat casinos in Ireland are listed below.
Top 4 Live Baccarat Casinos in Ireland
CasiGo – No Commission Baccarat, Player Banker Baccarat, Salon Private Baccarat
Neon54 – Bonus Baccarat, 3D Baccarat, Big Win Baccarat, External Baccarat
NoMini – Speed Baccarat, Baccarat Lobby, VIP Baccarat, Fortune Baccarat
Keno is a lottery-style gambling game that is commonly found in modern casinos and is also available in some lotteries.
Players place bets by selecting numbers between 1 and, often, 80. 20 numbers (some variations draw fewer numbers) are drawn at random, either using a ball machine like those used for lotteries and bingo or using a random number generator after each participant has placed their bet. The Live version of this game makes it ten times more exciting than the fully virtual one.
Top 4 Live Keno Casinos in Ireland
Casino Name
Keno
Classic Keno
KenoPop
CaptainSpins
Yes
Yes
No
NucleonBet
Yes
No
Yes
HellSpin
Yes
No
No
LuckyElf
Yes
No
Yes
Irish Live-dealer software providers
There are many Live Dealer software developers in the iGaming industry. But, of course, just like in every other industry, some stand out far more than others. If you’re looking for the safest and most secure Live Dealer games, you might want to start by looking at the offerings from the following software providers. These include Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Microgaming, and Evolution Gaming.
Pros & Cons of playing live-dealer online games in Ireland
PROS
Thrilling
Live Chat Option
Community Environment
Game Variations
Many Live Dealer Irish Casinos
CONS
Stable Internet Required
Not Fully Visible On Small Screens
Ireland Sports betting sites
Sports betting is also legal and very popular in Ireland. The market is highly competitive because of private operators. The country has more than 1000 betting shops, and the largest sports betting operator is Paddy Power.
Bookmaking in Ireland has a long history and is one of the most popular forms of gambling in the nation. This industry is regulated through the Betting (Amendment) Act of 2015 that updated the Betting Act of 1931. With most Sports Betting casinos, players can place their bets using real money on a spot of their choice. Punters can bet on rugby, soccer, and even horse racing.
Regardless of the platform, you select to access Irish-friendly Sports Betting; you can do so legally as long as you visit a regulated and licensed destination. The betting act of 2015 amended the licensing process and included limited remote betting.
The amount of sports betting sites that Irish punters can visit is unlimited. We have taken some time to compile one of the most famous and reliable sportsbooks in Ireland. Please find the list below:
Most popular casino payment methods in Ireland
The list of available payment methods continues to increase as online casinos cater to Irish players. In addition to the traditional credit and debit cards and bank transfers, there has been an emergence of e-wallets, cryptocurrency deposits, and prepaid cards have emerged.
The Irish players have a wide variety of options to make a deposit and withdraw with an online casino. Below we will look at a few popular methods with Irish players.
Debit And Credit Cards
This was the most popular way of making an online casino deposit for Irish players and still is with only debit cards. Most adults in Ireland have at least one card to fund their casino account, and it has been proven that this is a secure method. Typically a player registers by typing in their card number, expiry date, and the security number on the back.
These details are then encrypted by the casino operator, so the security of your personal information is not compromised. Once you have entered your details, you do not have to do so the next time you wish to make a deposit or withdrawal.
The casino operator can easily remember all your card details. You will only be required to enter the security code when depositing in the future. Although from April 2020, credit card payment has been banned in Ireland.
PayPal
PayPal is a very popular e-wallet that was established in 1998 and has been a part of sites such as eBay for quite a while. This is the most famous e-wallet for Irish players and other players worldwide. PayPal transactions are monitored to prevent fraud making it one of the safest online payment methods.
Neteller
Neteller is another e-wallet That can be used to make payments into online betting sites in Ireland. It is a part of a Paysafe group for global payments. Neteller was founded 20 years ago and is very popular in the online payment system. One benefit of using this e-wallet is that it can be funded using more than 25 different global currencies.
Skrill
Another e-wallet popular with Irish players and can be used for deposits and withdrawals is Skrill.
Skrill is a part of the same company as Neteller. Skrill was formerly known as Moneybookers and can be used in more than 100 countries worldwide, Ireland included. The only disadvantage of using skrill is that a player does not qualify for welcome bonuses in Irish casinos.
Apple Pay
Mobile devices have become very popular and used in betting, especially in Ireland. For those that use an iOS device, they can make their payment using Apple pay. Considering that Apple pay was launched a few years ago, it has now become a default payment for most Apple device users in Ireland. iOS players can use Touch ID and Face ID for secure authentication.
Gambling regulator in Ireland
The gambling regulator for Ireland has been the Minister of Justice. However, developments are underway to draft a new gambling bill to reform most gambling activities and create a new independent gambling regulator. There have been indications by the Department of Justice that they intend to publish a scheme that will therefore establish the gambling regulator. Currently, the following regulatory bodies are responsible for supervising gambling in Ireland.
The office of the regulator of the National Lottery (ORNL). ORNL was established in 2013 by the National Lottery Act. Their role is to regulate and monitor all operations of the National Lottery. They approve, manage and control National Lottery games and the Lottery Fund.
The Department of Justice and Equality (DOJE). DOJE issues certificates of personal fitness that are required for betting and remote betting licenses. DOJE Also looks at compliance issues and inspections regarding obligations on gambling service providers. They do all this under the anti-money laundering legislation. The Minister for Justice and Equality can also introduce certain regulations for the Gaming and Lotteries Act.
Revenue Commissioners (Revenue), or Irish tax authority. The Revenue has the following responsibilities:
Issuing betting and remote betting licenses;
Issuing gaming machine and gaming licenses
Issuing amusement and amusement machine licenses.
The revenue has a register of all license bookmakers, remote bookmaking operations, and gaming licenses. They also create policies for remote betting operators to ensure that they are licensed.
The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI). ASAI monitors compliance in terms of meeting the proper advertising standards. The latest version of the code of standards in Ireland now includes a chapter with guidelines for advertising for the gambling industry.
An Garda Síochána and the district courts. The Courts are responsible for granting any lottery licenses, gaming permits, and lottery permits. They can also issue certificates for personal fitness to Irish-based bookmakers that comply with the Betting Act.
The 2022 Gambling Regulation Bill
This is the bill that underpins the new legislation (2024) currently in effect in Ireland’s gambling market. The establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland is a direct outcome of this bill, empowering it to operate independently. GRAI oversees the regulation of casino sites, applications, advertising, and gambling in general.
Drafted in 2022, the bill passed all the legislation stages as required by law and was later enacted by the end of 2023. The Department of Justice, through a Programme Board, had done all the operational preparation for the new laws being enacted. As such, immediately after the bill passed, GRAI commenced its operations.
This statutory authority repeals all other Ireland’s gambling legislation, including the Totalisator Act 1929, the Betting Acts, the Gambling and Lotteries Acts, and the National Lottery Act 2023.
What’s more, the bill is inclusive, covering almost all forms of gambling(both online and land-based). Talk of casino games, lotteries, bingo, amusement games, and sports betting.
According to the bill, gambling entails all the activities where you risk something valuable based on an uncertain event outcome. It is simply more on games of chance. However, games of skill, such as e-sports and fantasy, are explicitly excluded.
GRAI introduces new types of licenses applying to gambling establishments in Ireland (both remote and physical). They include;
B2C(Business to Consumer) Gaming, Lotteries and Betting license
B2B(Business to Business) Licenses
Charitable Gambling licenses
Ireland -specific Gambling restrictions
The Minister of State in the Department of Justice, James Browne, announced that there was to be new legislation. The new law was mainly to focus on regulating the Ireland gambling Industry.
Most of the laws were considered outdated as they date back to the 1930s. New gambling laws were enforced in Ireland, and the following will be restricted:
Free bets and inducements will no longer be allowed. They will be banned, and the regulator and authority can now suspend and take back any provider’s license that issues them.
Players can no longer get credit for gambling, and the use of credit cards will be banned.
Gambling ads are to be restricted at certain times. Ads can only be seen on television at a time that will be stated.
Gambling providers that break the rules will be charged a fee of 20 million Euros or 10% of the casino’s turnover.
The new regulator can:
Revoke or suspend gambling licenses and also block incoming payments to providers, and freeze accounts.
Will place a levy on gambling companies, and this will fund addiction treatment and other measures around awareness.
Will regulate gambling advertising by issuing codes on time and frequency when they will be aired on TV, radio, and other media.
Gambling taxes in Ireland
For Land-Based Gambling:
Bets done through a bookmaker are currently taxed at 2%. On-course bets are not taxed.
Bookmakers should also be registered for betting tax to offer services to the public.
From the 1st of January 2020, the Finance Act of 2002 was amended, and a Betting duty and Betting Intermediary Duty was introduced.
When bookmakers file their betting duty returns, their liability can be reduced by up to EUR50,000 in a year.
For gaming services, the VAT rate is 23% and also applies to gaming and amusement machines.
Tickets issued for lotteries are exempt from VAT.
If you have a remote bookmakers’ licence you are to pay a betting duty of 2% of the wagered stake.
All remote betting intermediaries pay a duty of 25% on commission charges.
All eGaming services are taxed at a rate of 23% on the point of consumption basis in Ireland.
History of Gambling in Ireland
The gambling history of Ireland mirrors the gambling history of the UK. Gambling in Ireland had existed long before the Romans came to the British Isles. Gambling has always been a favorite pastime for the Irish people.
The very first written record of gambling in Ireland goes back to 110BC and 60 AD. During that time, people would bet on chariot races which were held regularly at Curragh as the home of Irish horse breeding.
Horse racing plays a huge role in the history of gambling worldwide and Ireland. Betting on horses was very popular amongst the Irish. England conquered Ireland in the 17th century, and Ireland became a colony, and most laws and customs were copied from London.
Horse racing became more established, allowing people to place bets. Many official bookie companies started operations by accepting bets from punters. The popularity of horseracing made it very easy to set up institutional gambling. By 1751 there were more than 400 locations for horse racing in Ireland.
Horse racing remained popular in Ireland for many centuries. It only started to deteriorate in popularity in the 2010s.
When Ireland was under the English rule, gambling remained unregulated. The Irish also enjoyed playing card games. Most card games were imported from England, originating in France and Italy.
For a while, Ireland didn’t have a state lottery but was established in 1986 when the National Lottery Act was passed. Since it was created, the lottery has distributed an estimated EUR6 billion to various causes such as health and welfare and language and arts.
Sports Betting in Ireland became popular in the 20th century. The sports betting culture was built on horseracing and became more popular so much that the Betting Act was established in 1962 to regulate and curb illegal sports betting. After horse racing, the most popular sport that Irish punters bet on is rugby.
Land-based gambling in Ireland
The laws governing land-based casinos are unclear, but yes, land-based casinos are legal. With all the multiple online casinos available, there are also some physical gaming venues for you. They are well-designed gaming floors with excellent bars, restaurants, and hotels. We have taken some time to pick out just a few land-based casinos for you.
Fitzwilliam Casino and Card Club: The Fitzwilliam is in Dublin and is well known as one of the premier gambling arenas. It offers the most popular games such as roulette, punto banco, and blackjack.
The Sporting Emporium: This is a great place for sports betting and gamblers. The Sports Emporium is famous for its exceptional service and live tables. The place also has friendly and knowledgeable staff.
Fitzpatrick’s Casino: Fitzpatrick’s Casino has amazing slots, roulette as well as daily cash games. They are known for their weekly tournaments that include their Poker Tournaments on Sundays.
The Loft Card Club: If you like cash games and amazing poker schedules in a well-designed and relaxed atmosphere, the Loft Card Club is the place to be.
Macau Casino Complex: Macau Casino Complex is situated in the city of Cork. This is also a great place to get something to eat, play some poker, play some slots, and catch the latest sports on the big screen. Macau also has a wide selection of slot machines to choose from.
Ireland Gambling addictions help
The first rule to gambling responsibly is understanding that gambling is for entertainment and not a source of income.
Never bet on borrowed income. If you can’t afford to lose it, don’t bet.
Be mentally prepared to lose. Be realistic with winning expectations.
Don’t consume alcohol as you gamble; this can affect your betting instincts.
Ireland has set up some institutions to assist gambling addicts locally. Below we will list a combination of local and international gambling addiction help:
GambleAware Ireland: National Gambling Helpline: 1800 753 753 www.gambleaware.ie
Dunlewey Addiction Service provides information on commonly asked questions about gambling. They have a helpline which can be reached at 1800 936 725 (ROI) or 08000 886 725 (NI)
Germany: Gluecksspielsucht Problem Gambling Hotline: 0800 0776611 www.gluecksspielsucht.de/
Did you know?
Gambling addiction affects 40 000 people in Ireland Video poker boasts some of the highest payout percentages in most casino games.
We have prepared this detailed section below to provide extra information about online gaming at casinos in Ukraine. Here, you will find answers to commonly asked questions related to online casinos in Ukraine and the gaming services.
FAQs
Yes, online gambling is legal in Ireland as long the gambling site is registered and regulated by the local authorities.
The Irish gambling regulator is the Department of Justice, although there are developments of possibly having an independent regulator.
The most popular activity is sports betting in Ireland. Other popular casino games include poker and roulette.
An estimated 12% of adults gamble in Ireland every week, of which 2% are regular bettors.
Gambling on smartphones is popular with those between 25 and 34—an estimated 5.7% of bettors.
Final verdict
Gambling is a fast-growing industry and can be addictive. As a player, it is important to play responsibly and safely. Fast growth most times comes with numerous negatives. The rapid growth of online bookmakers offering services to Irish punters could create problems for punters in terms of addiction.
Access to the internet and new technology has pushed the online casino industry to greater heights. It can be seen through the rapid growth of online casinos. Most online casinos are optimized for mobile devices, which means players have access to games anytime and anywhere.
Gambling is one of the favorite pastimes for Irishmen and has been for centuries. It is a very interesting event if done responsibly. Evidently, in Ireland, it has existed for centuries in Ireland and has also provided entertainment for the Irish for a very long time.
The vast games offered by online bookmakers in Ireland have only helped bettors enjoy their favorite games without feeling like they are losing out. From the look of things, the online gambling industry is fast-paced and will continue to grow rapidly to provide the best services to Irish punters and punters right across the globe. It is just a matter of finding the bookmaker that offers what you need.
