History of gambling in Ireland

1) Pre-industrial roots: fairs, taverns, "forty-five"

The Irish tradition of excitement goes into the rural everyday: betting at fairs, playing in pubs, trapper competitions and impromptu running races. Folk card games like "Forty-Five" (known as "forty-five") have taken root in rural communities and the west of the country. Excitement was not an "industry" - it was part of the social fabric: friendly bets, an argument for a mug of ale, small winnings on a fair field.

2) The 19th century: horse racing, sweepstakes and the horse's cultural code

With industrialization, excitement "takes shape" around racetracks and races. The Irish horse is a status symbol and a matter of national pride. Curragh, Punchestown, Galway - names that become synonymous with the betting calendar. Horse racing brings together the aristocracy, farmers and the urban class; betting infrastructure is formed, and Irish horse racing festivals are social events of the first order.

3) The turn of the 20th century: bookmakers as urban everyday life

By the beginning of the 20th century, bookmakers emerge from the subfields and become part of the urban landscape. Street "betting" traditions are gradually being replaced by stationary offices, where by mid-century betting on horse and dog racing (especially in Dublin and Cork) is turning into a working-class routine. Gray practices are giving way to permissive regimes, and the culture of "betting at lunchtime" is firmly embedded in city life.

4) The second half of the 20th century: lotteries, dog racing and family rituals

After the war, Ireland developed legal channels of excitement around horse racing and greyhound racing; stadiums like Shelbourne Park are becoming popular venues. In the late 1980s, a national lottery appeared - a regular, socially approved format that tied lottery revenues to charitable and public projects. A lottery ticket on Wednesdays or Saturdays is a new family "ritual" that brings generations together.

5) 1980s-1990s: the Celtic Tiger era, brands and professionalization

The economic recovery of the 1990s (the "Celtic tiger") gives the market liquidity and risk sentiment. Irish betting brands of the European level are coming to the fore, betting points are being modernized, television broadcasts, express betting coupons, and new betting formats are being introduced. In parallel, the culture of responsible play is strengthening - hotlines, charitable initiatives, the first talk about "healthy boundaries" of excitement.

6) 2000s: the Internet changes everything - remote bets and mobile jump

With the spread of broadband, the bookmaker is literally moving into the pocket. Online betting on horse racing and football, live markets, streaming broadcasts - all this makes the market European modern. Smartphones accelerate the trend: push notifications, cashout, bet designers. In parallel, online casinos and slots are fixed as a "second pillar" next to sports.

7) 2010s: Regulation catches up with technology

To align the rules for offline and online, Ireland is updating the regulatory framework: licensing remote operators, controlling advertising practices, strengthening KYC/AML and restrictions on vulnerable groups. Clear frameworks are introduced for remote acceptance of rates and taxation, socially responsible gambling campaigns receive institutional support. The market is maturing: less improvisation, more compliance, auditing content and payment providers.

8) North and South: two regimes on the same island

The island historically lives in two legal circuits. The Republic of Ireland develops its own laws and regulatory approaches; Northern Ireland is part of the British system with its traditions of bookmaking, certification of games and advertising codes. This created an interesting "laboratory" for comparison: different modes - a similar culture of horse racing, pubs and betting, common media interfaces and sports leagues.

9) Culture and symbols: the pub as a "social terminal"

An Irish pub is more than a bar. It is a "social terminal" where lines are discussed, the form of "shamerock" at derbies is argued over and the legendary Gaelic Games races and wagers are recalled. Excitement in Ireland is rarely isolated: it is about communication, stories, music and a sense of local patriotism - to support "your" jockeys, trainers, clubs.

10) Modernity: Omnichannel and Responsible Play

Today's Ireland is an omnichannel: offline offices, mobile applications, web platforms and media integrations (streams, statistics, tips). At the same time, responsible play is intensifying: self-exclusion, deposit and time limits, age verification and geolocation, stricter advertising rules. Provider audit practices, RNG and RTP certification, transparency of bonuses and communications have become entrenched in the market.

11) What sets the Irish way apart

The horse at the center of the myth. Horse racing is not just a sport, but a cultural code that sets the tone for the entire history of excitement.

Smooth transition from "pub to app." The social nature of excitement has persisted in the digital age - the scene has simply changed.

Brands with Irish character. Local bookmakers have learned to speak to the player in a trademark ironic tone, combining show and neat compliance.

Regulation as maturation. The path from "customs and fairs" to the normative, technological industry passed without losing local flavor.

12) Looking ahead

Further - more data integration (statistics, video streams, personalization within the responsible game), as well as modernization of the legal framework for mobile and live formats. Ireland will continue to cherish "old" symbols - horse racing, the pub, communal feeling - while maintaining "new" standards: transparency, payment security, protection of vulnerable gamblers and honest advertising.

• The history of gambling in Ireland is an evolution from rural fairs and card nights to a high-tech, regulated and socially responsible market. At its centre remain the people, their stories and culture - it is they who transform betting and gaming from "just fun" to part of Irish identity.