It seems incredible to think that – as of 2015 – online betting wasn’t even a factor in the sports-mad country of Ireland. Since gambling laws were relaxed however, both bookies and bettors have been making up for lost time. The Irish bookmakers list contains dozens of names now, all of whom are looking to sign up Irish punters, and the revenues being generated are already estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of euros.
In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about Irish betting sites. We’ll reveal your top five options, explain how we made those rankings, tell you which sports you can bet on, and plenty more besides. Let’s get started.
MIN. deposit : 10
Outstanding track record
Fixed odds & spread betting
MIN. deposit : 10
Wide range of offers
Price boosts each day
MIN. deposit : 5
Free daily odds boost
Highly prestigious brand
MIN. deposit : 5
Extra places and BOG
Correct4 football game
MIN. deposit : 10
Boosted specials on football
Various free bet offers
MIN. deposit : 10
Money-Back football deal
Exceptional mobile apps
MIN. deposit : 10
Very well-regarded bookie
Fantastic range of offers
MIN. deposit : 5
Worldwide football coverage
Mobile apps are very good
MIN. deposit : 20
0% margin on football bets
Betting loyalty program
MIN. deposit : 10
Innovative social features
Free soccer betting tips
MIN. deposit : 10
Excellent track record
New Bet Boost each day
MIN. deposit : 10
Regular Rewards Boosts
Live global racing streams
MIN. deposit : 20
Huge range of promotions
Daily Power Prices
MIN. deposit : 10
Deep in-play section
Widespread racing streams
MIN. deposit : 10
Increasingly popular site
Free bet refunds on racing
MIN. deposit : 5
Famous Free Bet Club
#BetYourWay for football
MIN. deposit : 10
Acca protection & boosts
Wide range of deals
MIN. deposit : 10
New specials bets each day
Multiple acca promotions
Our experts consider a variety of things when they rate sports betting sites. Some factors carry more weight than others, but each one plays a major role. Here are a few of the most critical areas we scrutinise.
✔️Safety & Licenses – We don’t recommend sites which aren’t regulated by a reputable authority, such as the UK Gambling Commission or Malta Gaming Authority. A license from one or more of these bodies ensures that the bookmaker operates to the highest standards.
✔️Reputation – We would never knowingly steer you toward an online sportsbook that offered an inferior product, or which may try to cheat you out of your winnings. In addition to our own experiences with bookmakers, we also consider what customers and other experts have said about a particular brand.
✔️Welcome Bonus – High wagering requirements and other unfair conditions can make it virtually impossible to actually get value from certain welcome offers. We’ve carried out a thorough assessment of what the best sign up offers really are, and which – when you study them closely – aren’t so wonderful.
✔️Ongoing Promotions – Online sportsbooks provide welcome bonuses to entice new customers, but they also run regular promotions to keep those customers coming back. Again, our experts have analysed the likes of reload bonuses, free bets, enhanced odds, and other deals to assess their genuine value, and the extent to which they can boost your bottom line.
✔️Mobile Betting Apps – Today’s punter expects to have full access to their bookie while they’re on the go. It’s not a deal-breaker if online betting sites don’t have actual betting apps, as long as their main sites have been correctly configured for mobile devices.
✔️Live Betting & Streaming – In-play wagering and live streaming go hand-in-hand. Punters who want to make informed in-play bets need to know what’s going on in real-time. In addition to broadcasting the matches, many live streams also provide viewers with helpful betting information, often including constantly-updated statistics.
✔️Market Variety – Football, horse racing, and hurling are some of the top names to wager on, but many Irish punters like betting on a variety of other markets too. Offering odds on the widest range of sports is a must for any respectable bookie. On top of this, bettors should be able to choose between multiple bet types for any given game.
✔️Payment Options – While debit cards and electronic bank transfers are among the most commonly-used methods, many people prefer to use eWallets, vouchers, or wire transfers. Some even find it more convenient to use cash at brick-and-mortar betting shops. The more such options a bookie offers, the better.
✔️Customer Support – Our experts look favorably upon bookmakers that offer instant access to customer service agents 24/7, via live chat or phone. High quality indirect help – whether through an FAQ or help centre – is also highly important.
By using the aforementioned criteria to examine dozens of online betting sites, we have narrowed the list down to our top five bookmakers. Let’s take a quick look at each one in turn.
Bet365 has been in business for over 20 years, and possesses all the top traits our experts look for in a sportsbook. Punters can enjoy an outstanding mobile app, fast payouts, a wide variety of promotions, and highly competitive odds on an extremely wide range of sports. Sign up now and you can claim up to £100 in bet credits, which can be used to place either pre-match or in-play wagers. You can then watch your bets unfold live, with Bet365’s excellent streaming feature. Read Full Review >>
Paddy Power isn’t just one of the top betting sites in Ireland – it’s one of the best in the world. Gaelic football fans will be particularly impressed with Paddy Power’s coverage, as they offer great pre-match and live odds on every major GAA competition. Punters can also earn a £10 free bet every week, and even get instant access to their winnings when using Paddy Power’s Cash Card Plus. Read Full Review >>
There are many reasons why Ladbrokes is one of the most respected and well-known sports betting brands on the planet. Great odds, fast withdrawals, and plenty of betting markets are just the tip of the iceberg. The welcome offer also has a pleasingly low barrier for entry – new members must only place a £5 wager in order to get a bundle of four £5 free bets. Read Full Review >>
Betway might be the youngest bookmaker on our list, but their status as one of the best Irish betting sites is well-deserved. Betway met all of our criteria and even earned a few bonus points along the way. To start with, you can immediately cash in on a welcome bonus of up to £30, and only need to meet the low 1X wagering requirement to convert it into real money. Thereafter, you can receive a £10 token every week via Betway’s famous Free Bet Club. Read Full Review >>
Founded in 1982, BoyleSports has evolved into one of the top Irish sports betting sites. As you would expect from an Irish bookmaker, BoyleSports provides extensive coverage of Gaelic football, hurling, rugby, and almost any other sport you can think of, also featuring an impressive virtual sports section. Finally, BoyleSports pride themselves on offering competitive odds and making sure you get paid quickly. Read Full Review >>
The five bookies we’ve looked at above are all extremely well-known brands. There are also plenty of new Irish betting sites you can choose from though, which can also deliver an enjoyable gambling experience.
In fact, new Irish bookmakers carry some major benefits. For starters, as their need to attract new business is so high, the size of the bonuses they offer in sign up deals can be much bigger. The odds for major markets are often superior too, as new betting sites in Ireland are more willing to take risks in order to drive action.
Overall, one approach isn’t ‘better’ than the other, but we’d encourage you to consider newer alternatives to the older, bigger bookies. Specifically, these are the brands we’d recommend checking out first.
Like those elsewhere, Irish sports bettors wager on a wide range of sports, although some are undoubtedly more popular than others. Here are the most popular sports to bet on in Ireland.
Gaelic football is the most popular sport in Ireland, and one of the best things about Gaelic football betting is that you can do it pretty much all year long. In addition to the NFL season, which runs from January until late October, there are several other high-profile Gaelic football competitions, including the All-Ireland Football Championship, Connacht Football Championship, and Munster Championship Football.
Whilst some teams have struggled to meet their backers’ expectations over the years, other sides have treated GAA football betting fans pretty well. Teams with multiple All-Ireland Titles include Down, Tyrone, Roscommon, Meath, Cavan, Cork, Galway, Dublin, and Kerry.
The All-Ireland Football Championship is the sport’s flagship event, and Dublin has been the tournament’s dominant force in recent years, having won the last six consecutive championships. It shouldn’t be too surprising to learn that Dublin is favored to win it once again in 2021. Paddy Power has the Boys in Blue listed at 4/6 to win outright, while other contenders include Kerry at 7/2, and Tyrone, Donegal, and Mayo all set at 12/1.
With over 4 billion fans worldwide, soccer is generally considered to be the most popular sport on earth, and soccer betting is also obviously immensely popular. Whilst the English Premier League may be regarded as the most popular soccer league, there are a few top-notch Irish football leagues too.
The League of Ireland Premier Division generates a huge amount of betting action at sportsbooks in Ireland. Dundalk had won the league title an impressive five times between 2014 and 2019, before Shamrock Rovers won the championship in 2020. At 5/6, Shamrock is currently favored to defend its title at the time of writing. Don’t count out Dundalk, Bohemians, or St. Patrick Athletic, however – bookies have their odds set at 21/10, 8/1, and 14/1 respectively.
Hurling is another Gaelic sport that garners a massive following in Ireland. As a GAA sport, it has a lot in common with Gaelic football. Hurling also features 15 players per side, for example, and the league and tournament structures are almost identical. Both sports are even played on the same field, using the same H-shaped goalposts.
As far as major events go, the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship is the cream of the crop. This is preceded by other qualifying tournaments though, including the Connacht Senior Hurling Championship, Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, and Munster Senior Hurling Championship. There are also several other tournaments such as the Christy Ring Cup, Nicky Rackard Cup, and Poc Fada. In fact, the hurling betting season never really ends!
Rugby is another sport that holds appeal around the world, and this rough-and-tumble sport is even more popular than Gaelic football and hurling in some Irish regions. Several rugby leagues and competitions operate throughout the country, including the All-Ireland League, Irish Rugby Football Union, and Guinness Pro14.
Rugby betting really heats up when the Six Nations rolls around. This tournament commences on the first weekend in February and culminates on Super Saturday in mid-March. Of course, international events like the Rugby World Cup keep the sportsbooks rolling too.
In general, one of the best things about betting on rugby is that you have such an abundance of options to choose from. You can wager on everything from money lines and spreads, to a variety of team and player props. If you like longer-term outright betting instead, Ireland is currently listed at around 15/1 to win the Rugby World Cup in 2023.
Golf is another extremely popular sport in Ireland, holding mass appeal among both men and women. Bookmakers don’t only look forward to major men’s tournaments – LPGA events attract a boatload of betting activity as well. On a global scale, the biggest annual golf events are naturally the US Open, British Open, PGA Championship, and Masters, with the US Women’s Open and Ryder Cup also being big betting events.
Elsewhere, there are dozens of annual golf tournaments held in Ireland itself that bookmakers offer odds on. The K Club Newstalk Irish PGA Pro-Am, Heritage Challenge Pro-Am, and Shell Pro-Am are just some of the highlights of the Irish golfing calendar. Adare Manor Golf Club in Limerick will also play host to the Ryder Cup in 2027.
Playing the Irish National Lottery is a staple in many people’s lives. Even though the chances of hitting all six numbers are about 10.7 million to one, millions of tickets are sold every week.
You can choose to play the online Irish lottery or the in-store version, and BoyleSports, Paddy Power, Ladbrokes, Betway, and Bet365 are all top-notch online Irish Lottery bookies. They also feature several other popular lotteries that are held throughout the world. In addition to 6/49 draws, the Irish Lottery also offers an assortment of scratchcards and other instant win games.
Debit cards and instant bank transfers are among the most commonly used methods for Irish sports bettors, with both being convenient options for deposits and withdrawals. However, withdrawals typically take a little longer than they do for punters who use eWallets like Skrill, PayPal, and Neteller. In fact, many Irish bookies will process eWallet withdrawals within a couple of hours or less.
If you don’t have a debit card or a bank account, you can still deposit into, and withdraw from, your sportsbook account using a variety of vouchers and other prepaid options. Some bookies that have land-based betting shops will also let you conduct transactions in person, then use those funds online.
It is perfectly legal to place wagers with bookmakers in Ireland, as well as licensed offshore operators. Lawmakers modernized the gambling laws in 2015 to specifically address online gambling. Oddly enough, land-based casinos are technically not allowed to operate in Ireland, although you won’t have much trouble finding one of the many private gaming clubs that operate in places like Dublin.
Irish online gambling laws also permit Irish citizens to play digital poker, casino games, bingo, and most other online gambling activities. This includes betting on eSports, virtual sports, and current events like politics and entertainment. The only real requirement is that you must be at least 18 years old. Irish punters are also not taxed on gambling winnings, although bookmakers in Ireland pay some hefty taxes, including 1% on every bet they accept.
Yes. Wagering with registered online sportsbooks in Ireland has been perfectly legal since 2015.
Bet365 is an excellent all-round bookie, and has arguably the best mobile features of any betting site in Ireland. Both its mobile website and apps are outstanding.
Debit cards are the most widely-supported payment option, but eWallets – like PayPal and Neteller – will let you make faster withdrawals.
Absolutely. All our recommended bookies allow Gaelic football betting, with most offering both pre-match and in-play markets.
Despite only being available a little over half a decade, the popularity of online sports betting in Ireland is already sky-rocketing. Given the passionate nature of sports fans in the country, this isn’t exactly surprising. Credit must also go to the Irish bookmakers though, who got some seriously impressive betting platforms up-and-running in a short space of time.
If you’ve been waiting to jump into the action, there’s never been a better time. Simply pick one of the top Irish betting sites listed earlier in this article, sign up and make a deposit, and – if possible – trigger the welcome offer. Balance your risk and reward thereafter, and mix up your bet types nicely, and you’ll give yourself every chance of making a long-term profit.