Online Casino Ireland

Ireland is a country with a long history of gambling, where betting, casinos and lotteries are legal and socially acceptable. Locals are actively playing both traditional and online formats, and the government is committed to creating a modern, safe and regulated iGaming industry focused on European standards.

History and legislative framework

Gambling in Ireland is governed by several historical laws, the main ones being:

Betting Act 1931 - regulates sports betting and bookmakers;
Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 - defines the procedure for organizing lotteries, bingo and gambling;
Finance Act 2002 and Betting (Amendment) Act 2015 - introduce taxation of online rates and licensing of digital operators.

Gambling is regulated by the Department of Justice in conjunction with Revenue Commissioners, the tax office that oversees licensing and tax collection.

Since 2022, the country has been in the process of legislative reform. The Gambling Regulation Bill is being developed, which will create a new regulator - the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI). It will be responsible for licensing online casinos, advertising and protecting players.

Licensing and taxation

Before the new law comes into force, gambling licenses are issued according to the old rules - through the Ministry of Justice or the tax service.

There are three main types of permissions:

Betting Licence - for bookmakers and online betting;
Gaming License - for land and digital casinos;
Lottery Permit - for charity and private lotteries.

Taxation of gambling:

15% on gross income (GGR) from betting and casinos;
1% betting duty;
annual license fees depending on the type of business.

The new reform involves the creation of a unified online licensing system, similar to the British UKGC model, with a focus on responsibility, transparency and control.

Online gambling and leading operators

Ireland is one of the most developed online gambling markets in Europe. Local players have free access to licensed international platforms.

The largest companies operating in the country:

Paddy Power (based in Dublin) is the largest Irish bookmaker and casino operator, part of the Flutter Entertainment Corporation;
Betfair, BoyleSports, Bet365, Ladbrokes, William Hill, Betsson, Betway, 888casino, LeoVegas are active brands in the Irish market;
PokerStars, PartyPoker, Unibet Poker are popular poker rooms.

Ireland is also home to a number of iGaming developers and IT companies creating platforms and slots for European operators (for example, Playtech, Evolution and Gamesys have offices in Dublin).

Land-based casinos

Although Ireland does not have large casinos in the classical sense (as in London or Las Vegas), the country has a network of private clubs that perform their functions.

They work on the "members-only" model - access only for registered participants.

The most famous:

Fitzwilliam Casino & Card Club (Dublin) is Ireland's largest poker club;
The Sporting Emporium (Dublin) is a prestigious venue with roulette, blackjack and slots;
Penthouse Casino (Kildare) and Carlow Gaming Club are regional gambling centres.

All ground operators are required to comply with age restrictions (18 +) and rules against money laundering (AML).

Popular games and player preferences

Gambling is firmly embedded in Irish culture.

Payment systems and cryptocurrencies

The local currency is the euro (EUR).

Players use modern methods of replenishment and withdrawal of funds:

Visa / MasterCard / Revolut;
Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, MuchBetter;
Apple Pay, Google Pay, Paysafecard;
bank transfers via SEPA;
cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether) are available on offshore sites, but are not yet nationally regulated.

Financial transactions are monitored in accordance with EU AMLD (Anti-Money Laundering Directive) directives.

Economic importance

Gambling has significant implications for the Irish economy.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the annual turnover of the industry exceeds €6 billion, of which:

about 45% falls on the online segment,
more than 30,000 jobs related to iGaming and betting,
tax revenues exceed €200 million per year.

In addition, large companies such as Flutter Entertainment are among the country's largest taxpayers and export online gambling technology to Europe and the United States.

Responsible play and regulation

Ireland is actively implementing Responsible Gambling programs.

Main measures:

age limit (18 +);
mandatory self-control tools (deposit limits, timeouts, self-exclusion);
creation of a national platform GAMSTOP Ireland (within the framework of the future law);
support for non-profit organizations (Problem Gambling Ireland, Gambling Awareness Trust).

Challenges and challenges

The main challenges of the market:

lack of a uniform law covering online gambling;
weak system for monitoring advertising and affiliate programs;
participation of offshore operators without local licenses;
the need to strengthen the protection of minors.

The upcoming Gambling Regulation Bill addresses these challenges by introducing centralized control and uniform transparency standards.

Development prospects

Ireland is on the cusp of a new era of legalised online gambling.

In the coming years, the following are expected:

запуск Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI);
introduction of national online licenses;
regulation of crypto payments and blockchain technologies;
standardization of advertising and responsible play;
attracting foreign investment in IT and iGaming.

With a resilient economy, strong brands (Paddy Power, Flutter, Betfair) and a liberal approach to digital gaming, Ireland is emerging as one of the most promising online casino markets in Europe - where tradition, innovation and responsibility form a solid foundation for the future of gambling.