Online Casinos in Ireland

What’s the background of casinos in Ireland

Ireland has long been a country where gambling is as much a part of the culture as soda bread and boxty, and today it’s easier than ever to place bets online and on the go.

The online gambling market in the Emerald Isle is a multi-million-dollar industry, and Irish players can safely and legally gamble on casino games, sports, bingo and lotteries. It’s also perfectly legal to play at offshore licensed casinos.

There is one “but.” Players can only legally play in Ireland on websites that hold a valid Irish gambling licence or valid remote gambling licence from a respected regulatory body.

A Brief History Of Gambling In Ireland

Gambling in Ireland can be traced back to the 1850s when the pastime was controlled through the Betting Act of 1854. Since then, the Act has been amended many times, continuously bringing legislation in the country up to date.

Unlike plenty of other European countries, Ireland actually doesn’t have a clear-cut history with casinos, other than in private members’ clubs. The 1956 Gaming and Lotteries Act prohibited commercial casinos, but members’ clubs were still allowed to operate, with poker being one of the most common games.

The unstoppable surge of the internet, though, has resulted in many Irish gambling laws being outdated.

Casinos in Ireland And The Laws Today

The debate around the 2013 Gambling Control Bill has been going on for some time. It’s set to lead to further regulation of the industry – both offline and at Ireland online casinos. It could also result in brick-and-mortar casinos becoming fully legal. Introducing offline casinos could raise a huge amount of revenue for the Irish government.

Right now, the casino industry in Ireland is self-regulated. In 2019, the Gaming and Lotteries Act tweaked things slightly, permitting low stakes offline gambling.

Today, you can play at the best casinos in Ireland both at home and offshore, and in fact, the 2015 Betting Act made it illegal to offer gambling to Irish players without one of three licenses: for bookmakers, betting exchanges and casino operators.

The good news is that whatever you win playing at Ireland online casinos is yours to keep and winnings are not subject to tax.

Are online casinos in Ireland regulated

As long as an Ireland online casino has a license, it’s safe and legal to play at. Players must be 18 years or older to gamble and the Office of the Gambling Control in Ireland is the official regulatory body that grants licenses for both land-based and online casinos.

On this page, we only recommend legal, safe operators. If you’re looking to play at online casinos in Ireland, be sure to check out our in-depth casino reviews to find locally licensed operators or those that hold offshore casino licenses from respected authorities like the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association, the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority.

To register with one of the online casinos on this page, you’ll need to provide your personal information and pick a payment method that works for you.

Which are the best games at Ireland online casinos

One of the first things we look at when reviewing casinos is the game selection. After all, there’s no point picking a casino that only offers a handful of games or one that has no variety at all.

If you enjoy spinning the slot reels, you’re in luck. Irish online casinos offer up a smorgasbord of options, themes and ways to win. But it’s not just about online slots, it’s also about where they come from. Online casinos are created by software providers, like Microgaming, NetEnt and Evolution Games, to name just a few.

Each software developer offers different types, categories and styles of casino games. It’s important to check the reputation of game suppliers before you sign up at Ireland online casinos, as some are just a little bit better when it comes to creating immersive games.

The best providers are regularly audited for fair gaming, too, which means they use random number generators and algorithms to ensure games are working smoothly and the outcomes are random and provably fair.

What’s more, providers know that Irish players enjoy slots, which is why you’ll find plenty of appropriately themed games out there, such as: Leprechaun Goes Egypt (Play’N Go), Finn and the Swirly Spin (NetEnt), Slots O’Gold (Megaways), Racetrack Riches Megaboard (iSoftBet), and Lucky Clovers (Nucleus Gaming).

Besides the slots, Irish gamblers have access to loads of classic casino games, like video poker, roulette, craps, keno, baccarat, blackjack and more.

Live Casino games are also available, bringing the excitement and sounds of a land-based casino to your screen with real dealers, real opponents and real-time gambling action.

Poker Is A Whole Other League

Poker in Ireland is massive. You’ll find it being played socially in just about every pub or social club, which has led to the Irish excelling at the game. In fact, some of the best tournament players hail from the Emerald Isle and some world-class tournaments are held in Dublin during the European Poker Tournament. Online poker has become just as lucrative, though, with all the best Ireland online casinos offering both table and video poker variations such as: Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi, Aces and Faces, Joker Poker and Deuces Wild.

Can I bet on sports at online casinos in Ireland

Horse racing is a big deal in Ireland, so it’s no surprise it makes up a large portion of online sports betting in the country. The good news is that online sportsbooks are 100% legal in Ireland and have been since 2015 when the Amendment to the Betting Act was passed. The change to the act means that it was legal to run offshore sportsbooks for Irish punters.

Despite local bookies being perfectly above board, local bookmakers are still the most popular in the country, with some big brands coming out of Ireland.

Which are the bonus T&C’s at casinos Ireland

Before you accept any offer at Ireland online casinos, you need to read the terms and conditions – and pretty much all promotions and bonuses come with fine print, which includes wagering requirement, maximum cash out bet limits, time, game and payment method restrictions.

Are Ireland casinos safe and secure

A truly golden online casino is one that offers superb customer support and security. It’s important that casinos operate securely since they have access to your private data and hard-earned cash.

We always make sure that online casinos in Ireland are licensed and follow strict rules and regulations. It’s also important to us that these sites offer full security. While SSL encryption is the main method to protect your data and keep third parties at bay, if a casino doesn’t have additional layers of security, we recommend looking elsewhere.

Customer support is also essential. There’s nothing worse than needing help and finding that no one is available. We endorse Ireland casinos that offer live chat, and usually email, phone and contact forms, too, or a combination. We test out the support to see what the response time is like and to make sure they are friendly, helpful and professional.

Can I gamble responsibly at online casinos in Ireland

Gambling at online casinos in Ireland is supposed to be fun. But since real money is required to play, entertainment can quickly cross the line and become addictive, with very serious consequences.

To protect players in Ireland, licensed online casinos must have Responsible Gambling measures in place, such as limits on gambling sessions, limits on deposits, reality checks and even self-exclusion.

What’s more, online casinos in Ireland are compelled to include the terms and conditions of each and every bonus, so you know exactly what’s required of you to claim any winnings. They’ll coerce players into spending more money than budgeted.

Casinos Ireland also ensure that minors cannot access their sites, by implementing strict security checks.

Finally, the best Ireland online casinos include links to external sites that help you identify problem gambling behaviour and provide measures to help you get your activities under control. Some of the external sites include the Department of Justice and Equality Ireland, Ireland Gambling Laws and Regulations, the Isle of Man Government – Gambling and E-Gaming, GambleAware, Problem Gambling Ireland and the National Casino Forum UK.

So, whether you’re battling to keep your gambling and bankroll under control, or know someone who needs help, there are plenty of options out there.

How to choose the best online casinos in Ireland

Irish players definitely have all the luck, with access to the best Ireland online casinos and sportsbooks, along with plenty of brick-and-mortar casinos. The gambling market in the country encourages new online casinos in Ireland to acquire licenses and we’re seeing more and more Irish options popping up.

While we can’t predict the future, it seems that the Irish gambling market is on the up, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of options. To make it a whole lot easier, we present you with our top list of online casinos in Ireland right here, giving you the pick of the best EUR online casinos and mobile platforms in Ireland and abroad.

You can play all your favourite slots, table games, Live Casino games, Bingo, Keno and more from the comfort of your computer screen or mobile device while enjoying access to the best bonuses and promotions and secure, convenient payment methods. You can try games out for free in demo mode until you’re ready to wager real money, call on customer support if you have a problem, and enjoy access to all the latest releases.

It’s as comforting as Guinness pot pie on St. Paddy’s Day, and we look forward to watching the Irish online gambling market flourishing.