Irish Bookmakers

Top 5 Betting Sites in Ireland in 2024

• Velobet
• Housebets
• Royalfortune
• Betswap
• 31bet

Regulations

As an Irish, you are probably aware that gambling has been part of your culture for a long time. However, the advent of the internet changed the way Irish players gamble. Today, it is a lot easier to place your wagers on the move using your smartphone or tablet. As a result, the current regulations allow residents in Ireland to place their wagers on licensed offshore and onshore betting sites.

It is worth pointing out that the only way you can legally gamble online in Ireland is via a betting site that has a valid gambling license from Ireland or a license from a reputable authority like the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Although Ireland does not have a regulator equivalent to UKGC, in 2019, the government authorized the creation of a gambling regulatory authority. Drafting of the bill that will set the framework for the gambling regulatory authority is currently underway.

Before the Gambling Regulatory Authority becomes operational, the Irish Revenue Commissioners have the task of licensing and maintaining public registers of betting sites licensed in Ireland. Also, in the meantime, the Department of Justice and Equality has the task of awarding certificates personal fitness certificates to applicants from overseas. If you are currently residing in Ireland, you can get a personal fitness certificate from a superintendent of police.

On the other hand, the Regulator of the National Lottery regulates the Irish National Lottery to ensure the lottery runs in line with the set regulations. This includes making sure that the interests of participants are protected and safeguarding the long-term sustainability of the national lottery. Gaming products such as slots, bingo, and casino are regulated by the Gaming and Lotteries Acts even though it is yet to be updated to include online gaming.

How to Find the Best Betting Sites in Ireland

As you gamble online in Ireland, you should consider a few things to ensure you are as safe as possible. Fortunately, you do not have to worry about it since our experts have your back and recommend the best sites. That said, if you are ready to do the leg work on your own, you need to be much more careful about who you trust. To get youd, here are the ways you can test if an online betting site in Ireland is legit. These are the benchmarks on which our experts assess Ireland's gambling sites.

Operating Licenses

One of the first things you should always look out for in online betting sites is their operating licenses. As you try your luck in Ireland, check if the offshore betting site in your sights is licensed by the best licensing bodies like Curacao Gaming and UKGC. That said, establish if the sports betting site has a license from the Ireland Revenue Commissioners.

The best online betting sites are licensed. Therefore, establishing that an online sportsbook has a license makes it easy to believe it is trustworthy. Since you will be adding some of your personal details, such as credit cards, establishing if a bookmaker is licensed will put your mind at ease.

This is the only way you can be sure that an online bookmaker will release your winnings from your bet. If a bookmaker in Ireland does not meet the conditions governing its license, its license will be revoked and the site blacklisted. If you place a bet and the bookmaker does not pay your winnings, you can report the betting site to the licensing body.

Security and Support

As you bet online, you should make sure you go for a bookie who values your security. This also applies to how they treat your financial information and personal details. The online betting site should have an easy way of getting in touch with customer service when the time comes. Top sites provide customer service 24/7 via Live Chat, an email address, and a toll-free phone number.

The best Irish betting sites embrace the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) to secure your debit cards. This ensures you can place your bets without worries about your financial information getting into the wrong hands.

Betting Odds and Payout

Another crucial factor you should take into account as you choose a bookmaker in Ireland is its odds. Luckily, the best Irish sites we feature not only offer good odds across their sporting events but also remarkable deposit bonuses and free bets. With competitive odds betting, you increase the amount you win if you have better odds. Betting odds do not change regardless of whether you are betting on your computer or using the best betting app Ireland has to offer.

When all is said and done, every punter is always on the look out for the best odds. At this point, you should be aware that finding value is the only way you can win this game in the long term. So, if that is your goal, prices will play an important role. Therefore, you should never settle for a poor price because you only have a single betting account. With the online gambling industry growing in leaps and bounds, you can always give yourself more options.

Game Selection

As the saying goes, variety is the spice of life. This is certainly true in the world of online betting. The more games, sports and markets a bookie has the better for you if you like variety. Of course, the reason you will be signing up for a betting site is to watch your favourite games and place bets. To make sure you have variety, our experts look for betting sites that offer multiple betting markets.

A wide selection of games is arguably one of the most important factors to consider regardless of whether you are a casual punter or an experienced bettor. As a punter, you will find that betting sites that offer markets unavailable in others tend to sway you if you like variety. All the bookmakers that feature in our list include major sports most Irish players wager on such as horse racing, football, tennis, golf, greyhound racing and boxing among others.

Deposit & Withdrawal

Bookies provide you with different methods of withdrawing and depositing funds. You can judge each bookmaker using several criteria. For instance, you look for an Irish site that supports the lowest deposits, faster transactions and a wide selection of payment methods such as eWallets.

One of the most popular payment method is Revolut. It is a quick and easy way to manage multiple currencies and lightning-fast transfers of funds. To learn more about the advantages of using this payment method, Check out our best Revolut betting sites in Ireland.

So, look for a bookie that allows you to deposit and withdraw your funds safely and easily. These are some of the common problems punters raise in the sports betting industry. The things to consider include the period of waiting before you receive your winnings and the betting site that offers you the lowest withdrawal limit. This is important if you wish to have the funds you withdraw in a very short period. In this regard, some payment techniques are faster than others. Therefore, taking these into account will make your online betting experience worthwhile.

Player Friendly T&Cs

Every punter wants to try their luck on a betting site whose terms are user-friendly. This includes not only the terms of use and general terms and conditions but also the terms and conditions for bonuses. Often the terms of the best betting sites tend to be similar. That notwithstanding, you should thoroughly review the terms and conditions of the various betting sites you are considering. Fortunately, the betting sites our experts recommend are trustworthy and have fair terms while promote "Responsible Gambling".

User Experience

For a punter, few things are as frustrating as using a betting site whose menu is poorly thought out and a jarring colour scheme that makes for an irritating experience. Although this may not be quantifiable as the other factors, it is equally important. So, you should establish if you like the betting site by checking how easy it is to navigate and use. Also, make sure you check out if the mobile version of the site is intuitive. Sure, you get the drift. If you have concerns to any of these, it will be a turnoff and rightly so.

Features

As a punter, the features you look for in a betting site depend on how you place your bets. For instance, a good number of punters may not look at an online bookie twice if it does offer live streaming for their favourite sport. Some consider a good cash-out function that allows fractional cash-out to be much more important. If you feel all the top bookies are providing the same odds on similar events and markets, then look for special features such as enhanced odds, in-play betting and Acca insurance.

Betting Offers

If you are a recreational bettor, then selecting a bookie that offers a decent promotion or welcome bonus will significantly boost your betting bankroll. Promotions in the betting industry offer great value not only when you sign up but also over time. Most Irish betting sites will award you free bets as part of the welcome offer. This is perfect forng your account, especially when the offer does not place wagering requirements on your winnings.

Although deposit bonuses can benefit you, they always have wagering requirements attached. Also, as you look for a betting site make sure you get to benefit from promotions as an existing player. For instance, the betting site should have offers such as free bets, odds boosts, accumulator promotions and money-back offers among others.

Taxes

Thanks to the Betting (Amendment) Act 2015 brought remote bookmakers and remote betting intermediaries in line with the then-licensing regime that cut across the brick-and-mortar betting establishments in Ireland. The 2015 Act extended the 1% turnover on bookmakers on online activities while introducing a 15% commission tax for betting exchanges. However, the rates in 2019 were raised to 2% and 25% respectively.

Bookmakers operating in Ireland are required to pay a 2% duty on turnover. As well, offshore bookies are required to pay similar duty on bets they get from players residing in Ireland. currently, remote betting intermediaries pay a 25% betting intermediary duty on their commission charges. The Finance Act 2002 defines commission charges as the funds that parties in Ireland to bets they make using a remote betting intermediary, regardless of whether it is through deducting winnings or otherwise.

Unlike European jurisdictions, Ireland does not exempt gaming services from VAT. Therefore, online betting sites with overseas licenses but providing gaming services to Irish players should have a license and charge 23% VAT on such players. Usually, the operator charges VAT on the amount received from the player. However, for non-pooled gaming such as casino games and slots, VAT will be on the net revenue the operator receives. In the case of pooled gaming like poker, VAT calculation depends on the amount the gaming operator receives.

Popular Betting Features in Irish Bookmakers

As Irish bookmakers look for ways to improve their offers and customer experience, they constantly update their features. The best platforms to play betting in Ireland set themselves apart by including the latest features and options. Also, as a savvy punter, you can take advantage of the fierce competition in the industry to find new betting sites you feel more comfortable playing in. The popular features best online betting sites Ireland has on offer include:

Bonus Available in Ireland

Betting websites in Ireland offer betting bonuses, rewards and promotions. Online bookmakers tend to offer better bonuses compared to brick-and-mortar bookies. A decent deal will significantly contribute to the overall value of your online wagers since it increases your bankroll.

This way, you get to enjoy a prolonged and immersive gaming experience betting using a casino bonus. However, there is a caveat, you will have to meet the wagering requirements for each bonus amount before you can withdraw winnings from it. With that in mind, the most popular betting bonuses on Irish betting sites are here.

Welcome Bonus

Almost every betting site in Ireland offers a welcome bonus. The most common is a welcome deposit bonus that works on the same principle as other welcome bonuses. That said, to claim this bonus, you must first make your first minimum qualifying deposit. Once you make the deposit, the betting website will reward you with a percentage of your deposit. Of course, the bonus amount will depend on the generosity of the bookie. With this, you can go ahead and place a qualifying bet on your favourite sport or event.

Reload Bonus

As a punter, reload bonuses provide a convenient way of topping up your gambling budget after wagering all your funds. You will find this bonus in almost all Irish online sportsbooks. This bonus comes in different shapes and forms to make your betting experience much more enjoyable.

Loyalty Bonus

Do you plan on gambling on Irish betting sites for a long time? Then it is advisable that you go for an online bookie that rewards its regulars with a loyalty bonus. The offers in this bonus range from cashback bets, comp points, and tickets to luxurious trips and events. So, you should look for an Irish betting site with a well-established loyalty program. Fortunately, our experts have done the heavy lifting for you to make it easy to choose the top betting sites Ireland has to offer.

Free Bet Offer

Do you like free bets, or are they pointless, in your opinion? Well, regardless of what you think about the free bet bonus, the truth is this bonus tends to be handy for beginners as well as punters with a limited betting budget. Not long ago, free bet stakes were popular on Irish betting websites, but today they are hard to come by. That said, some of the best online bookies in Ireland boast of offering free bets to new Irish punters. However, to be able to cash out your winnings through free bets, you must meet the free bet wagering requirements. Since free bets expire, you should use them as soon as possible.

Getting a freebie is cool. Thus, some of the top betting companies Ireland has to offer free bets once in a while. Most sites provide free bets when you sign up or in some other form of promotion for existing players. Once you calculate how valuable these free bets are based on minimum odds requirements and turnover, some will stand out. In fact, if you ever come across a nice free bet that does not require you to deposit funds, then you should congratulate yourself because they are extremely rare.

Sports Offered

The best bookmakers in Ireland offer more than just betting on football. They let you stake your bets on other sports like premier league, rugby, basketball and others. You get to place your bets on local and international competitions. This way, you will always find your favourite online gambling events. These in the gambling industry are also known as sports betting markets.

Favourite Sports to Bet in Ireland

As an Irish player, you will find different categories of sports you can place bets on. Here are some of the popular sports with punters in Ireland.

Greyhound Racing

Although horse racing betting seems to be more popular than greyhound racing, the best betting site in Ireland will let you place your bets on greyhounds. If you are into greyhound race betting, you will find multiple markets, competitive odds, and enticing promotions in Irish bookies.

Horse Racing

Horse racing is a sport that is popularly associated with Ireland. The popularity also reflects in most bookmakers Ireland offers its punters. Thanks to the internet and the best online bookmakers, you no longer have to leave the comfort of your home to watch and place your bets on your favourite horse. With this sport, you get to enjoy a lot of decent promotions such as bet boosts and insurance bonuses.

Football

It is a no-brainer that football betting is popular not only in Ireland but also across the world. The sports betting market in Ireland would be incomplete without football betting. For a gambling site to qualify for the title of the best sports betting site, it must include football. The best football betting sites in Ireland adequately cover the Irish leagues. These include the IFA Premiership. So, if you like placing bets on local football, you should look for a betting site that covers the league to the highest level.

Rugby

It is the same story here. The best sports betting sites Ireland offers its punters support various leagues. So, you should always look for a bookmaker that covers the league you are interested in as you open your online betting account. Irish bettors using onshore betting sites will most likely have a problem locating huge international tournaments. That is why you should establish if your favourite league is part of the Irish betting sites online.

Gaelic Games

Even though the rest of the world seems to shun these games, in Ireland, Gaelic games are popular. No wonder online sports betting sites in Ireland include them and offer competitive betting odds to punters. As a matter of fact, Gaelic football in Ireland is second only to traditional football when it comes to participation.

It seems after being neglected in the betting industry, Gaelic games are now gaining the attention of online bookmakers in Ireland. Also, it may surprise you that some offshore betting sites are including Gaelic games in their game selection.

Betting Statistics in Ireland

In Ireland, gambling is a popular activity that ranks the Irish number four in the European Union. The latest statistics indicate that Irish gamblers are shifting to online bookmakers and away from track betting and betting shops. Almost 50% of betting takes place online compared to a few years ago when it only accounted for 36%. Approximately 49% of people above 15 years in Ireland gamble.

That said, sports betting remains the most common form of online betting, accounting for 41%. Over 44% of online bets take place via tablet or smartphone. By 2025, approximately 6 in 10 bets will be through mobile devices. Although Ireland's population accounts for 1.1% of the Europe population, it accounts for 2.6% of online gambling in Europe.

Techniques of Getting the Most from Sports Betting

Most sports punters do it for fun, while others take it a little more seriously to generate some additional income. Regardless of where you fall on this scale, you should be aware of certain rules. These will help you get the most out of the latest sports betting sites in Ireland. These include:

Maximize Your Profit Using Kelly Criterion

It is likely that you are flat betting as you place your bets on an Irish betting site. Regardless of the betting site you are using, be it one of the best online betting sites, they all put into account their winning margin. This ensures they profit whichever the outcome of an event. Therefore, you will be better off calculating your stake via the Kelly Criterion formula number after its inventor.

Suppose your bankroll is €100, and you believe Arsenal has a 45% opportunity of drawing against Chelsea. If the odds for this game are 3/1 (4.00) then the probability is 25%. Assuming this is a value bet for you, how much should you wager €1? €10? or the entire bankroll €100.

Now, this is where Kelly Criterion comes in to calculate the amount you should stake. The formula is as follows:

((probability * odds)-1)/(odds-1)

Even if you suck at mathematics, you will get used to the formula the more you use it. In this example, your probability is 45% (0.45), and the odds at your favourite betting site is 4.00. Now, plug these numbers into the equation. You will get something like this:

((0.45 *4)-1)/ (4-1)

= (1.8 -1)/3

=0.8/3 = 2.67%

Therefore, you should stake 2.67% of your bankroll which translates to €2.67. You can test this formula using a bonus you get at new betting sites in Ireland. This way, you will not risk your money.

Good Bankroll Management

If you do not consider yourself a professional in sports betting, then you are unlikely going to develop your betting skills to a point you can rely on them for income. That out of the way, bankroll refers to the amount you set aside for your gambling endeavors. This amount is separate from financial commitments like rent, mortgage payments and utility bill payments.

It is advisable that on any given day, you should never gamble over 1/10 of your bankroll, and no one bet should surpass 1/10 of that amount. Thus, if you have a monthly bankroll of €100, then you should not surpass €10 bankroll per day, and the maximum single bet credits stake should be €1.

The best part about bankroll management is that if you have a bad run and you deplete your funds, you get to cease betting until the next month when the bankroll is available. Always avoid borrowing from future bankrolls. Also, never spend the money you need for your daily expenses to bankroll your betting activities.

Bet on What You Know

Usually, the most successful bettors understand a specific betting market better than other betting markets. It can be greyhound racing or just the EPL. Better still, it can even be the Irish Women's National League provided you leave the guesswork behind and wager on what you know. Doing this will increase your chances of succeeding in sports betting.

With that in mind, the more market you have at your disposal, the better your chances of establishing better prices across events. For instance, if you are into EPL, then with time, you may want to gain knowledge of the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Serie A, and La Liga. Once you are conversant with top-flight football in Europe, you can then move to Europa League and UCL.

Payment Methods Available to Bettors in Ireland

Today, if you are an Irish bettor, you can easily transfer money into your betting account and withdraw your winnings. As a punter in Ireland, you have a lot of ways you can deposit and withdraw funds in your online sports betting account. These include:

Debit Card

If you are an Irish player, chances are you have a bank account and a Visa debit card. Apparently, Visa is the most popular payment facilitator in Ireland. Apart from the Visa debit card, you can use any other brand of a debit card to fund your gambling on Ireland betting sites.

Normally, deposits you make through debit cards are instant. However, it may take 3 to 5 business days to receive your funds if you choose this method to withdraw your winnings. Although your card may not charge when depositing funds in your gambling account, if you withdraw funds from your betting account, it may attract fees from some sportsbooks.

PayPal

Since 2002, PayPal has been the premier online eWallet. It is popular with most people who shop online. This payment method was not part of the payment methods even for the best gambling sites in Ireland. However, this changed in 2018 as most sports betting sites began accepting deposits and withdrawals through PayPal. Please keep in mind that most betting sites will not offer bonuses for using PayPal to deposit funds in your account.

Skrill

Skrill, which was initially MoneyBookers, has been the leading eWallet for online gamblers who prefer to avoid the use of debit cards. It works like other eWallets such as PayPal. To fund your Skrill account, you can move funds from your bank before transferring the amount you want to your betting account.

The process of depositing funds in your sportsbook account is easy, you only need to choose Skrill as your payment method and then provide your skrill id (usually your email). Next, provide the amount you wish to deposit. The betting site will connect you to your Skrill account to confirm your transaction. Also, you can use Skrill to withdraw funds.

Neteller

Neteller operates the same way as Skrill and perhaps is because both are owned by Paysafe. It became a popular payment method in the early 2000s. The process of signing up for a Neteller account is easy. Once you sign up, you can fund your Neteller account and use it to fund your betting account.

The top betting sites in Ireland ensure Neteller withdrawals are as fast as deposits although others may take 24 to 48 hours to process your payment. Although best betting websites will not charge you for using Neteller, Neteller may charge you fees.

Paysafecard

Paysafecard, unlike the perception most people have, is not an eWallet but rather an eVoucher scheme. You can purchase Paysafecard eVouchers from real-world vendors and use them for online payments. In essence, a Paysafecard eVoucher is made up of a special 16-digit number. Once you purchase a Paysafecard eVoucher, you can use the amount for online transactions including depositing funds in a sportsbook.

To deposit funds in your betting account using Paysafecard, you must choose the Paysafecard payment method. This will prompt you to provide the 16-digit code to transfer the funds in your eVoucher to your betting account. You cannot top-up Paysafecards. So, once you deplete your eVoucher the 16-digit is no longer useful. Therefore, you can only rely on Paysafecard for deposits.

Boku

With Boku, you can fund your betting account using your phone account. Once you select Boku as the payment method you want to use, you will be able to use your phone number to deposit funds in your betting account. Next, you will get a text message explaining how to confirm the money transfer. If you successfully transfer funds, the deposit will come as part of your phone bill.

Even though this approach is extremely convenient, it has a number of drawbacks. For instance, the fees are high at 15%, and the method limits you to deposits of approximately €30 per day. Also, only a limited number of carriers support Boku payments. as well you will not be able to withdraw your betting winnings through Boku.

Apple Pay

Ireland is quickly transitioning into a cashless society. Thanks to a range of services such as Apple Pay, you can now make payments through credit/debit card terminals. Also, you can rely on Apple Pay in Irish sportsbooks that support this payment method. Unlike Boku and Paysafecard, you can use Apple Pay to deposit and withdraw winnings in your betting account. Both withdrawals and deposits are very fast, even though some betting sites may process withdrawals in 24 to 48 hours.

Bitcoin

Today, Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency accepted by online bookmakers in Ireland. So, if you are an Irish player who cherishes anonymity and security, then cryptocurrency is the best option. Transfer of Bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies occurs without the involvement of traditional financial institutions. Apart from Bitcoin, top Irish betting sites support Ethereum and Litecoin, among other cryptocurrencies. The best thing about crypto is transactions are instant.