Ireland has lagged somewhat behind other English-speaking / European countries in promoting online gambling. Despite this there’s been considerable growth in this niche over the past 10 years.

It’s estimated that more than 2% of Irish adults gamble online regularly, with ~12% visiting bookmakers weekly. As a result major gambling brands have entered the Irish market. This benefits online users as more competition means better Irish-specific bonuses and betting tips for users.

Is Online Gambling in Ireland Legal?

Thanks to passage of the Betting (Amendment) Act  (2015), online gambling in Ireland is entirely legal. Remote site operators doing business in Ireland – regardless of whether online or not – are now subject to Irish licensing and taxation. If interested you can easily find current listings of approved establishments at online-casino.ie/

Even before Ireland decided to legalize online gambling people were already actively placing bets on a daily basis; spending almost €14 million at betting shops and gambling halls.

Gambling companies took notice and some of the the biggest players formulated strategies to expand in Ireland, capitalizing on an already established physical market that boasts high numbers of bingo players, horse racing fans and casino visitors.

The Soaring Online Gambling Industry – Some Caveats

1- It’s hard to control online users through regulations

For regulators and individuals working with gambling addicts the internet poses serious headaches. Many controls that apply to traditional gambling establishments are absent, controls such as opening / closing hours, bans on alcohol, supervision by trained personnel, and checks against money laundering. Controls against gambling by under-18s and consumer protection laws are also hard to enforce.

2- Long term land-based gambling establishments experience declines

The Irish Times notes that online gambling is “a two-edged sword for the traditional betting sector. On the one hand, it threatens to eat into market shares enjoyed by bookies’ shops and other long-established forms of gambling. On the other, it is likely to contribute to a massive increase in the types of gambling available and the amounts involved . . .”

“Professional poker player Andrew Black believes online gamblers can get “very unobjective, very quick” because of the lack of human contact and other reference points. Players operate in isolation in a stigma-free environment, but when things go wrong, he says, “it’s like space; no one can hear you scream”.

So while there is much growth in interest concerning online gambling in general, and Ireland in particular, be aware that the same pitfall of addiction looms, regardless of where you gamble.  So while it’s certainly fun to visit online casinos remember not to go overboard, as that can result in financial ruin.

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