One of the most open betting nations in the world, the Republic of Ireland will finally be updating their laws for the first time this century. In this article, we’ll get you up to speed on all the legislation, regulations, and any changes and improvements that may affect you!
- Best Betting Sites we Recommend in Ireland
- Online Betting in Ireland Explained
- Is Online Betting Legal in Ireland?
- 5 Main Points of Ireland’s New Gambling Regulation Bill
- Choosing a Good Irish Betting Site
- Popular Payment Methods for Irish Customers
- Live Betting in Ireland
- How To Bet Online in Ireland
- Other Country Betting Guides – Click Each Flag to Learn More
- Best Irish Betting Sites FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
Best Betting Sites we Recommend in Ireland
BET £10 GET £20 18+, UK only. Deposit and place a minimum £10 cash bet at single or accumulated odds of 1/1 or greater and we will give you 1 x £5 in free bets plus an extra 3 x £5 Free Bets the following day. Applies to first cash bet only. Free bets credited as 4 x £5 bets to use on 3x Any sport & 1x Virtuals. Cashed Out, Void or Draw No Bet wagers do not qualify for this promotion. 1 x £5 Free Bets are credited upon qualifying first bet settlement, other free bets credited by midday the day after your first bet settles. 7-day free bet expiry. Available once per customer. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion. Full T&C's apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Bet £10 get £40 18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds. No cash out. Get £40 in Free Bets on selected events. Free Bets expire in 7 days. Debit card / Apple Pay payments only. T&Cs apply, see below. begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly #ad
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Bet £10 Get £30 Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Credit card not accepted for Irish players. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Registration Required. gamblingcare.ie #ad
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Bet £10 Get a £30 Surprise Bet New customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of £10. Qualifying real money bet of £10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer awarded immediately but could be issued the next working day in exceptional circumstances such as technical fault. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Up to £50 in free bets Free bets and spins must be claimed within 28 days of opening. Free bet/spin stake not included in any winnings. Ts&Cs Apply. 18+Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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50% up to £50 Welcome Bonus New Customers only; Min. deposit €15; Bonus amount 50% of deposit up to €50; Wager deposit and bonus 8x within 30 days; 4/5 Min. single odds or 2/5 min. acca selection odds; Max. stake contribution equal to the initial bonus; Certain bet types and payment methods excluded; See full terms; Terms apply; 18+ #ad
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Double Winnings up to £100 Key terms – New players only. Claim by placing a min deposit £10 via “My Offers” page within 30 days. Skrill/Neteller deposits excl. 7 days to stake max £10 in-play. Max. extra winnings £100. 18+ | BeGambleAware.org | LeoSafePlay.com | Play responsibly! Full T&Cs apply BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Bet £10 Get £10 + £10 Casino Bonus New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. £20 in FREE Bets (FB) as £10 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7-day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Bet £5 Get £20 in Free Bets 18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first 5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x 5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cashout, restrictions + Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Bet £5 get £20 18+ New UK+ ROI Customers only. Deposit & Bet min £5 as first bet at minimum odds 1/2 to qualify for 1x £20 Free Bet. Certain deposit methods and bet types excluded. Free bet valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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£40 Money Back Offer + £10 Casino Bonus 18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. No deposit required for NI customers. Call 08081699314 to claim. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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£20 Backup Bet 18+ | New UK players only | Min deposit req. £10 | Certain deposit methods excluded | Place 1 sport bet (3+ selections) | Excl Horse Racing | Min stake £10 | Max stake £20 | Min Odds 2/1 (3.0) | Max FreeBet £20 for football only | FreeBet valid for 7 days | FreeBet stake not returned | Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Get 50% Back as a Free Bet up to £35 Plus 10 Free Spins! We've enhanced our Welcome offer, giving new Republic of Ireland customers €50 in Free Bets plus 10 Free Spins when you register and place a first qualifying bet of €10 or greater, at minimum odds of evens (2.00) or greater. T&Cs apply | 18+ New Ireland Customers Only | http://BeGambleAware.org
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Online Betting in Ireland Explained
It is believed that 15% of the people in the Ireland, home of Paddy Power and BoyleSports no less, place a bet each and every day. With such a rich sporting tradition, it is no wonder the Irish like to bet on sport. In fact, you could say that the Irish don’t just like betting – they love it.
The continuous rise of online betting in Ireland has sparked many debates over the years as regulations were never really set up to accommodate this specific industry, with most bookies self-regulated and implementing their own rules as a result. However, with the sector estimated to be worth €8 billion, new laws are set to bring about some much needed order.
Is Online Betting Legal in Ireland?
Considering how popular it is, it should come as no surprise that betting in Ireland has always been completely legal, including products such as casino, poker, lotteries, and bingo.
This year, the Irish Government finally made proposals to modernise the betting landscape in the country. They are to be set in motion in 2023 with the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland.
But what does that mean for punters living in or visiting the Emerald Isle? Well, the bill proposed a number of initiatives, some of which have nothing to do with punters, while others may affect your betting experience online for better or worse.
5 Main Points of Ireland’s New Gambling Regulation Bill
While the bill is a large one with many intricate sections and details, there are five main sections which are of most importance and relevance to the punter and bookmaker. Here is a brief overview of the new legislations:
1. The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland
The first major change, and one that has been needed ever since the last bill change in the 1950s, is the implementation of a governing body over gambling.
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, or the GRA for short, will be responsible for ensuring that new initiatives are implemented, and that any breaches are dealt with.
This also includes verifying that operators have been properly registered. If there is a breach, the fines that have been mentioned include up to €20 million or 10% of a the company's turnover – whichever is higher.
2. The Social Impact Fund
A truly great inclusion to the bill is the social impact fund, which will be aimed at creating a system to reduce the impact on problem gamblers and to raise awareness on the topic, helping those who are most in need when it comes to gambling addiction.
Where will the funds come from, you may be asking? Well, the GRA will implement a form of levy on the operators working in Ireland to fund the project. The amount which bookmakers have to pay hasn’t been determined yet, but will be once a relevant team has been selected.
3. The National Exclusion Register
A national Exclusion Register is nothing new to the industry, and can be found in other European countries. The Register offers a chance to bettors who need to take a break from the action, for any reason. Once someone applies for the Register, they will not be able to place any bets with any of the regulated betting companies which operate in Ireland.
The incentive gives problem gamblers a way of avoiding betting all together. In fact, operators are required to check this list prior to registering a new customer. This new law will be of great benefit for all punters who are looking for a way out but need that extra step to help them curb addictive behaviour.
4. The Ban on Inducements
This may be the only part of the bill which will actively and negatively affect punters in Ireland. To put it simply, in an effort to slow down the rapid rate of betting and over-betting, it is now illegal to offer any financial incentive. This includes ‘Free Bets’ VIP offers and any other ‘free hospitality’.
This is a major blow for punters everywhere, as these extra boosts often come in handy and offer a little extra for your buck. The initiatives aim to entice less people into entering the market, making them less likely to face any serious consequences down the line.
So far, the GRA haven’t set a date to implement the ban on inducements, so it may be a good idea to check out any offers now before things change in the not-too-distant future.
5. The Ban on Gambling Advertisements
Although this essentially does what it says on the tin, its implications are rather vast, and expand to many areas.
Firstly a ‘watershed’ ban on any gambling advertisements between 5:30am and 9pm will be implemented to ensure that minors aren’t encouraged to bet illegally.
Any sports team made up of youth players is prohibited from having any sponsors and partnerships with betting companies – any form of betting advertisements will also be prohibited during Irish sporting events.
Lastly, non-Irish broadcasting services are banned from promoting any betting companies during their advertising sections on Irish TV. While there is a loophole regarding stadium sponsors outside of Ireland (which can still be broadcast), this will be nearly impossible to regulate without halting broadcasting altogether.
Choosing a Good Irish Betting Site
When choosing a site to bet online with in Ireland, it is wise to look for all the usual factors of the best bookies to make sure you are playing on a quality platform. The usual checklist would consist of market selection, promotions, odds fairness and other games, as well as security, licensing, customer service, payment options and, as we have already touched on, certification.
Thankfully, you can find all this information and more in our detailed bookmaker reviews of the most popular betting sites out there. The new laws in Ireland will help ensure that the regulated betting sites are actually reliable, safeguarding you even further.
Paddy Power, who formed through a merger in Dublin in 1988, are today part of the Flutter Entertainment group, which also owns the likes of Betfair, among others. This means that today, this Irish bookmaker is part of the world’s biggest gaming company and an absolute powerhouse in the world of betting.
To that end, they dominate the Irish betting horizon and control 17% of the Irish gambling market. You can read more about them in our detailed Paddy Power review.
Meanwhile, although Ladbrokes are one of the most iconic British operators, they are another great option for any Irish punter. And we can't not mention bet365, one of the largest and most popular betting companies in the world, who are perfect for betting nomads in the community.
Popular Payment Methods for Irish Customers
Irish punters are in the fortunate position of being able to select from a wide range of payment methods to fund their betting entertainment. Of course, Ireland uses the euro as its official currency, which means conversions are unnecessary as it is accepted at many top bookies. Because of this, all that there is left to do for Irish bettors is to choose from the most popular betting deposit and withdrawal methods online.
Punters in Ireland are free to choose from debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, NETELLER, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and paysafecard, as well as bank transfers and a whole range of newer options.
If you're from the UK and looking to bet in Ireland, making payments should not be an issue, as virtually all of the top international bookies accept both euro and the British pound.
Credit Card Ban for Irish Customers
It is important to note that there is currently a ban on credit card payments for Irish customers as per the Irish Bookmakers Association's Safer Gambling Code, which came into effect on 1st January 2022. This applies to bookies subscribed to the Irish Bookmakers Association Social Responsibility Fund (SRF).
With the new regulations this ban will, of course, remain in effect to ensure that punters don’t fall into credit card debt. From now on, the Irish public won’t need to solely rely on the betting site to keep them safe.
Live Betting in Ireland
Many online betting sites in Ireland offer live in-play betting as an option, adding an extra level of excitement to watching an ongoing event. However, your options here will usually depend on the sport in question and your chosen bookmaker.
When it comes to livestreaming, broadcasting rights might not be so different from those in the UK; however, you should always check what options are available at the site you're registered with to be absolutely sure.
How To Bet Online in Ireland
Placing a bet in Ireland is no different from placing a bet anywhere else, and most sites, whatever their domain, are structured the same, be they on mobile or desktop.
Of course, there are different rules and regulations in place, but the basic essence of online betting remains identical even with the new updates. Punters simply need to open an account before making a deposit and placing their bet, after which, if they have been lucky, they can withdraw their winnings.
Gamble Responsibly
If you are unsure whether you have a gambling problem or not, you may find some of the information on GamblingCare.ie, along with contact details for service providers.
In addition, if you are really struggling, you can opt into the National Exclusion Registry that we described earlier in this article.
Sports Betting Legal Countries
Best Irish Betting Sites FAQs
The main ones to take note of are the removal of all free promotions and the implementation of the National Exclusion Registry.
Yes, online betting is legal in Ireland, and it has become much safer with the new regulations.
So long as you stick to regulated sites, yes.
The most popular payment methods for online betting in Ireland are debit cards, PayPal, NETELLER, Skrill, Trustly, and paysafecard.
The easier question is: what sports aren’t popular? Like so much of the rest of the world, football is always popular, but the Irish also love their rugby, horse racing, Gaelic football, and hurling.
The euro is the official currency of Ireland; however, top bookmakers accept a wide range of other options too.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
As you can see, Ireland provides a thriving gambling environment to accommodate all your betting needs. The new regulations have been set to safeguard today’s punters, with many incentives revolving around problem gambling. There may be some changes afoot, but if you keep in mind everything we have mentioned in this guide, you're bound to have a good experience anyway.
Looking to bet somewhere new? Check out our detailed article on betting in different countries.