The Best Sites for Online Gambling in Ireland

Written By Scott Lawson Published on 07.10.2020 Last Updated on 17.07.2024

There are so many different online gambling sites out there offering many forms of entertainment. This guide will help you find the best operators across all gambling categories for players in Ireland.

The ten operators in the table above are all selected as the best online gambling sites for not only a single category, but also hold fantastic combinations of gambling types. They are also alike in the sense that they all are safe and licensed operators for Ireland.

Ireland’s Best Gambling Sites

As the table above are the best options for overall gambling experiences, it doesn’t necessarily reflect which operator is the best online gambling sites by type. The following list highlights each of Ireland’s most popular types and provides the number one operator for each type of gambling.

• PlayOJO – Best Casino Gambling Site
• 888casino – Best Bingo Site
• bwin – Top Novelty Gambling Site
• NetBet – Best E-Sports Gambling Site
• Lottoland – Best Lottery Gambling Site
• Grand Ivy – Top Live Casino Site

Of course, these operators likely have other types of gambling available, however that isn’t always the case. Some of the best online gambling sites focus purely on one niche, in an effort to be a master of one, rather than a jack of all trades.

Casino Gambling – Enjoy Slots, Blackjack, Poker and Roulette

Online casinos are among the most popular online gambling websites. Since 2005, the casino gambling industry has been formally regulated, and continues to grow each year. There are dozens of great sites and thousands of games from all sorts of talented software providers.

The games cross many different genres, from the simple slot machines and video poker titles to the more complicated and exciting card games like blackjack, poker and baccarat. Of course, you’ll also have plenty of roulette options, as well as lottery, bingo, scratch cards, keno, craps and sic bo.

Each different gaming category gives you the chance to enjoy totally different types of gameplay with distinct rules and setups. But you will also notice massive differences between the products of the various software providers on the Irish casino gambling market, particularly for slots.

Our top choice for an online casino for Irish players is PlayOJO, which stands out for its fantastic collection of games, generous welcome bonus and superb customer service. Online casinos are one of Ireland’s preferred types of gambling, as you can see by the enormous number of operators. Check out our best online casino reviews page for more options.

Sports Gambling – Bet on Your Favourite Games

Sports betting is an integral part of watching sports, with the vast majority of the adult audiences participating in sports gambling such as horse racing, football, tennis and golf. There are lots of sites that allow you to bet in-play, so the options are ever increasing. In Ireland, you can bet on lots of sports, including:

This is in addition to the emerging and rapidly growing e-sports markets. In general, in the bigger and more popular sports, like football and horse racing, you will find that there are hundreds of betting options, with each event allowing you to place lots of different types of wagers.

Bingo – Enjoy the Community Feeling

The move from bingo halls to online sites has massively suited the game, with lots of different operators enjoying massive success as players are given the chance to enjoy the social aspects of bingo along with greater convenience. In terms of different games, at the bingo gambling sites in Ireland you should find:

You can also often find branded games based on TV or slots – such as Coronation Street Bingo, Rainbow Riches Bingo, Deal or No Deal Bingo and The Chase Bingo – at the best Ireland bingo sites, not to mention the inclusion of casino games at the top operator websites.

Online Poker Gambling – Learn the Ropes

If you like poker, there are lots of different options for gambling online Irish users have. You can play live casino poker, video poker or automated casino poker, all from online casinos. But if you want to play against other players online, there are also lots of options for you. In Ireland, these include:

The beauty of playing these games is that you can enjoy the challenge of playing against real opponents while playing from the comfort of your own home. The best online gambling websites also specialise in organising tournaments and events to keep players engaged and enjoying their betting experience.

Betting Exchange – Take on Other Wagers

Betting exchanges have been around for a while, with some of the largest names in the business offering them. The thing that sets exchanges is apart is that players can lay odds and can bet on options set by their fellow punters. Like sports betting, there are lots of markets at the best gambling sites, in betting exchanges for sports such as:

The only real issue that you will encounter when choosing to gamble through a betting exchange is that the sports gambling markets are more limited than at a traditional bookie. This means that you are probably best to stick with the major sports and most popular events if you’d like to give yourself the most choice and biggest chance of someone betting against your odds.

E-Sports – Wager on Video Game Tournaments

E-sports are gaining popularity rapidly in the world, and in Ireland, more and more people are turning to them as a source of entertainment to accompany sports gambling. Whether you are a gamer yourself or not, you can now also wager on the outcome of professional or semi-professional tournaments and back your favourite teams. Here are some of the most popular markets to bet on in Ireland:

As with any sport, each of these different games comes with its own selling points and if you immerse yourself in the industry, you will begin to learn the personalities and gaming styles of the big teams. This can make your viewing far more enjoyable, and you can follow the teams as closely as with any of the biggest sports stars through the wonder that is social media.

Lottery – Massive Cash Prizes

The lottery has been a part of life for decades. In recent years, players have been given the chance to access international lotteries as well. This massively increases the choice that players have at their fingertips. Here are some common markets:

The thing to remember is that you aren’t buying tickets for the actual draws. You are betting on the outcome of the draw, and any winnings are paid by the operator and not by the official lottery company itself. This means that you need to check that the lotto operator you are using guarantees to pay out the win in full according to the official jackpot amount.

Live Casino Gambling Online – Meet Real Dealers

Nowadays, the Ireland’s live dealer casinos are full of quality, high-definition gaming, provided by experienced dealers. They offer atmosphere, class and convenience all at the same time. The most popular live dealer games in Ireland are:

The most common provider to see in casino gambling live suites is Evolution Gaming, which has dominated this particular section of the industry for a number of years. You will also find excellent quality games from Playtech.

Novelty Gambling – Wager on TV and Awards Nights

When it comes to novelty/special bets, there are always more options than you could possibly list in full. Whether you want to bet on television shows, on whether it will be a white Christmas or on the colour of The Queen’s hat at the next official event, you will be able to do so at many bookmaker’s sites. Popular markets include

For these sorts of events, the odds can fluctuate pretty drastically, as current events unfold. It is also worth shopping around to check that your operator of choice is giving you the best odds on the market, as these can vary more widely than with traditional betting markets.

Daily Fantasy Sports – Build Your Own Teams

Daily Fantasy Sports are an extremely popular form of gambling in the US, where laws prohibiting sports betting in many states has led to the growth of alternatives. In Ireland, where we have lots of sports betting options, the DFS industry is slowly growing.

However, fantasy leagues are extremely popular, and some operators have offered players the chance to up the stakes in daily, weekly or season-long tournaments. It is still restricted to football, however. You can play daily fantasies in Ireland on:

The more players who compete in your tournament, the higher the prizes will go. Obviously, the temptation would be to wait for lots of competition to chase the big wins but remember that your chances of success are higher when fewer players are competing against you.

There are not as many options for DFS as for sports gambling sites yet, and we don’t anticipate it to grow enough for that to change.

Judging Criteria – How We Compare Gambling Sites

In each gambling online Ireland category, a different approach is needed to find the best online gambling sites. This is because each type of betting brings with it a different player perspective and has its own pros and cons. There are, however, some things that all share in common.

Firstly, it is essential that any operator has a legal right to market its services in Ireland. To do so it must hold a full and valid licence from the Gambling Commission. Once this has been confirmed, it is a case of comparing the various operators in each category and looking at the number and quality of the products or markets that it offers for its members.

The mobile compatibility is also checked, as is the software and security measures that are used on the site. Before we recommend any site, we also make sure that it has generous promotions and bonus offers that come with fair and reasonable terms and conditions.

Licences and Regulations for Safe Gambling

Having a licence to offer remote gambling services to Irish players is not required, but highly sought after. Irish casinos and gambling sites must meet a high level of strict selection criteria from the United Kingdom’s Gambling Commission in order to get our seal of approval

You can trust that we have checked all operators on this site that we recommend, though it’s useful to know what to look for yourself. All licensed, safe online gambling sites will have the regulator’s logo in the footer of their website, and the URL address bar will show a small padlock, proving encryption is in place.

Another facet to safe gambling sites is their inclusion of responsible gambling services and resources. All licensed operators will promote BeGambleAware, and offer self exclusion options as well as betting limits to help people stay within their limits.

Types of Player Bonuses

When signing up for a new player account, players at gambling sites are often offered a welcome bonus of some sort. These vary wildly depending on the type of gambling you want to do, and the best bonuses in Ireland will not be the same as the best sports betting bonuses. Here are a few options to give you an idea:

Regardless of the type of site you’re patronizing, there will be bonus wagering conditions that apply to any free bets, bonus spins or other types of offers. Casino gambling promotions often force you to wager a deposit and bonus amount a number of times, while free bets can only be used in certain markets.

Mobile Gambling App Availability

Being able to access mobile gambling sites through an operator is a hugely important criteria these days, with the majority of Irish players preferring to use their smartphone for gambling. Many of the top mobile casinos for Ireland are available these days as both a downloadable app and a mobile-optimised website.

Trustworthy and Safe Payment Methods

Having many different payment methods from global financial institutions is a requirement for all gambling websites. You must be able to choose between the various options to find the best one that suits you. Here are the most common payment methods at gambling sites:

• Credit Cards: Credit cards are a common form of payments in Ireland.
• Debit Cards: Maestro and Visa Electron options are often only for deposits.
• eWallets: Top options like PayPal, Neteller, Skrill are the fastest methods.
• eCheque: One of the rarest and slowest payment methods.
• Bank Transfer: Slow, but steady and common method for deposits and withdrawals.
• Bitcoin: Cryptocurrencies are becoming more commonly accepted.
• Apple Pay: Ideal for mobile gamers, Apple Pay offers often instant payments.
• Pay-by-Phone: Add your deposit to your phone bill with this method.

Globally recognised brands like Visa Electron, Maestro and PayPal are all examples of companies with enormous levels of trust. More than any of the others, they boast fast processing times and low fees, plus additional layers of security features for increased protection.

PayPal for Gambling Transactions

The most popular payment method for Ireland gambling sites is easily PayPal. There are many fantastic Ireland PayPal sites that make excellent use of the service’s incredibly fast processing times. Customers everywhere love that there are usually no fees charged for using the service in deposits or withdrawals.

The most important things to watch out for when making a PayPal transaction at online gambling sites are if any currency exchanges will be required, and if there are any limits. Sites choose their own deposit limits, both in minimums and maximum amounts.

Bitcoin Gambling Sites

Though by no means the most common transaction option, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are becoming more readily available. They provide insurmountable levels of security through the use of blockchain technology, making payments effectively untraceable. Bitcoin casinos are still difficult to find, though we have identified our favourite gambling sites with the cryptocurrency here:

Aside from the security features, Bitcoin transactions also are exempt from fees, in most cases. There are some downsides to the payment method, including that it is complicated to use, and cannot generally be used for withdrawals. It’s also very unlikely that Bitcoin deposits will be able to trigger deposit bonuses.

Great Gambling Software

Just as all forms of gambling differ, the games that you can play even further vary on their graphics, gameplay and soundtracks – even within one game type. This is because they are sourced from a number of different software developers, each of which with their own design styles.

Some developers focus purely on one niche, like slots or bingo, only making gambling games that fall into that category. These firms are usually new companies, and often turn out some of the most exciting and ground-breaking new titles. Other developers have been providing to the industry since the beginning, earning them powerhouse status across many gambling types.

The developers in the table above are some of the most widely recognised brands of software in Irish casino industry. They all produce enormous quantities of high-quality titles for the most popular online casinos. Well-known games like Starburst and Gonzo’s Quest are just two examples of the hugely popular titles you can find.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hopefully this guide to the best gambling sites has provided all the information you need for online casinos, sports gambling, and various other types of popular gameplay options for Irish residents. If you have any additional questions, first check to see if they are answered below.

Conclusion

Players in Ireland are spoiled for choice when it comes to the huge variety of gambling types. Our best advice for choosing from the best online gambling sites is to take a close look at what type of gambling you wish to do, then ensuring that your selected site excels in that area.

Though it can be confronting to make this choice, we can guarantee that you will have a fantastic experience at any of the options we have recommended here. Never go off-book when it comes to selecting safe and trustworthy sites, as there is always one perfect for your needs.

Importantly, there will be plenty of Irish sites that offer a fantastic collection of various types of gambling. The increased variety may be more important for some players than choosing a specialist site. Again, take your time when choosing to look through the full portfolio.

As long as you are sticking to online gambling sites that hold a licence, you are guaranteed to have a good time. You can sign up for many sites, so if there is no single perfect site, perhaps the right combination will be suitable instead.