Top 7 Best Betting Sites in Ireland

Where can we bet securely and which are the leading bookmakers in Ireland?

Irish bettors will be pleased to find out that they can place bets at some of the best online bookmakers in the world. In the table below, we provide our choice for the leading betting websites in Ireland.

Introduction

Betting is incredibly popular in Ireland and has been for a long time. The government is relatively lenient compared to some others, and all forms of gambling are legal, making it easy and safe to access. Although the country is turning more and more to online gambling, brick and mortar establishments still enjoy relative popularity.

Top Online Betting Sites in Ireland

The market for online betting sites in Ireland is so vast, and it can be difficult for newcomers to know what sites are good, and which to avoid. Here are some of the safer, more popular options for punters:

Visit 10BET

Visit Bet365

Visit Betway

Competition between Operators

Due to the relatively lenient legal status surrounding gambling, there are no monopolies when it comes to the provision of these services. There are over 299 online betting sites that offer their services to the Irish population, and although the number of physical casinos is small, they independently owned.

The only monopoly to exist is that of horse racing. Almost all horse race betting done in brick and mortar establishments is done through Tote Ireland Limited. This monopoly has existed since 1929 but does not exist for any other form of sports betting.

Available Payment Methods

Some different approved payment methods can be used to make deposits and withdrawals from betting sites. Irish punters can use all major credit cards and debit cards, such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Many websites also offer a range of different e-wallets, such as Skrill, Neteller, and PayPal. Since there are numerous various e-wallets on the market, if punters are interested in using any of these to gamble, they should check specific sites to see which ones can be used, and which ones cannot. All of these payment options are generally instantaneous and free, however many sites will also offer payment methods such as bank transfers, that can take up to a few business days, and may incur a charge.

Punters should note that the majority of sites state that money must withdraw the same way that it deposited, it cannot be withdrawn using a different form.

The main form of currency in Ireland is the euro (EUR). Almost all reputable sites will accept EUR as a form of currency which used to bet. Therefore punters do not need to go through the struggles of having to exchange it and pay extra fees.

Mobile Betting in Ireland

Mobile betting is one of the fastest-growing forms of betting, and most large sites are catering to the demand from punters. Almost every site offers mobile apps to download for free on both Apple and Android devices so that punters can bet anywhere, any time. Some websites will also provide some different apps, depending on what you wish to bet on, for example, there might be a specific sports betting app, and another one just for casino betting, both from the same company. That allows users only to have to navigate through betting markets that they are interested in, and nothing unnecessary.

As already previously mentioned, many sites also offer bonuses and promotions for downloading the apps or placing bets on them instead of using the desktop version of the website. If bettors know that they are likely to bet using mobile devices, they may wish to register with a site that will offer them bonuses and promotions for doing so.

Leading Sports for Betting in Ireland

Sports betting has a long history in Ireland and continues to be one of the most common forms of betting to engage. Here are the sports that the Irish market bet on the most:

• Football
  Because football is so popular internationally, almost all reputable bookmakers offer extensive coverage of the site, including local Irish games as well as international ones. Some betting sites also provide coverage of Gaelic football, which is more popular than traditional football within the country. Punters can enjoy betting on the sport in all of its popular forms.
• Horse Racing and Greyhounds
  Some of the oldest forms of sports betting, horse racing and greyhounds remain popular sports to bet. Many sites offer betting on both local and international competitions, ranging in size and importance.
• Basketball
  Ireland is part of FIBA Europe, the governing body that manages the sport for the continent. FIBA Europe games receive full coverage on betting sites both local and international, but so do other national, professional games.
• Tennis
  Tennis is popular within Ireland, and betting on the sport increases the most during Wimbledon. Some national tournaments within Ireland receive extensive betting coverage on local betting sites, as well as sites that are from the wider Great Britain.
• Rugby
  With the national team currently ranked at number three in the world, the Irish have long been fans of the sport. The national team participates in Six Nations Championship each year, a tournament they have won 14 times. Betting sites fully cover these games, as well as offering bets on provincial games, so that punters can support their favourite teams at all levels of the game.
• Boxing and MMA
  With the meteoric career of MMA fighter Connor McGregor, it is no surprise that the Irish demonstrate their patriotic love of the sports star. Because the sport is gaining traction internationally, Irish punters have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to finding sites that offer betting on MMA, as well as other contact sports.

The Profile of an Irish Bettor

Irish punters are most likely to be male, and younger rather than older. As with most other countries, online gambling is the sector of the market that is growing the fastest, with people engaging on desktops as well as on mobile devices. As well as engaging with the international market, some punters exclusively bet on local sports and matches. That is seen most obviously with the popularity of betting on Gaelic football, but also with local horse races, due to the country’s long history with the sport and the animals.

FAQ

Our Verdict

Ireland has a large betting culture, but it is easy to see why. The government has made the pastime accessible, while still ensuring that it is safe. As a result of this, there are some reputable brick and mortar establishments as well as online sites, that offer all forms of betting possible. There are no taxes on winners, and the market is diverse enough to encourage competition from vendors, who work hard to maintain their audience by providing consistently high-quality services.

Some might say that the betting industry in Ireland is too lenient, which is leading to an increase in cases of gambling addiction, especially in younger demographics. The losses in Ireland are also some of the worst in the world, suggesting that there is some issue. However, the government and several betting sites dedicated to ensuring that all of their players are safe, and arguably the vast majority of punters continue to gamble responsibly.