Irish Casino Sites – All You Need to Know about Online Casinos in Ireland
Online casinos in Ireland
Gambling in Ireland dates back centuries and is a popular activity in the region. Specifically, horse racing and card games were the most popular before online gambling became a thing. As the gambling industry progressed and found its place online, so did Irish casino gamers.
Once online gambling became a thing, different casino in Ireland joined the market, providing residents with classic games and sports betting options.
According to reports from Statista, the Irish online gambling industry is set to reach over 1.146 billion euros in 2024. The sector also supports a significant workforce that powers sports betting platforms, online casinos, customer support, and related services.
In addition, the gambling industry provides a constant income stream for the country. In 2019 alone, it contributed 90 million euros in taxes.
Considering the growth of the gambling market, the country’s Revenue Commissioner has overseen its activities. However, the Irish government has proposed to make the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) its official regulatory body. The department will handle licensing, responsible gambling, and anti-money laundering.
Irish Casino Online Regulation
The gambling industry in Ireland has gone through a long but gradual journey to reach its current regulatory status. Here’s a breakdown of the journey so far:
2013 – The Emerald Isle passed the Gambling Control Bill to regulate its gambling industry. The bill covered both online and land-based gambling activities, also intending to legalize the gambling market.
2015 –The Betting Act 2015 made online gambling legal. It required all operators, local or international, to apply for a license before serving Irish players.
2018 – Three years after the Betting Act of 2015, the Irish Gambling Control Bill was released. It monitors all Ireland casinos, both online and land-based.
2022 – The Irish Gambling Bill, intended to change the industry’s framework, reached parliament. This bill provided for the formation of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland.
Irish Slots
Games at the Best Online Casino Ireland
Whether you join an established or new online casinos in Ireland from our top list, you’ll be spoilt for game choices. All the best Irish casinos provide a mix of classic table games, online slots, and even live dealer options. Aside from the sheer variety, quality is also a main factor, so you can expect to find games from trusted software providers.
Here are some niches you’ll discover when you join any of the top 10 Irish online casinos listed on this page:
Slots Games – The Top 10 Irish Slots
Online slots are the only casino game with the most diverse options. You can choose what to play based on genre, theme, mechanics, or software providers like Playtech and NetEnt. The best online slots for each player will ultimately depend on their preference. Say you want to play slots at Irish casino sites; these titles are some popular ones to try.
- Gonzo’s Quest
- Starburst
- Book of Dead
- Rainbow Riches
- Lucky Leprechaun
- Irish Luck
- Shamrockers
- Fortunes of Ireland
- 9 Masks of Fire
- Finn and the Swirly Spin
Considering how risk tolerance differs from player to player, you can choose based on variance. Slots that are highly volatile pay off less often but deliver larger sums when you hit a win. Those with lower variance have more winning spins that pay out small amounts. Assuming you choose to play a high-variance title, these 10 games are some to try:
| No. of Slots | Irish Slot Game Title | Description |
| 1. | Finn and the Swirly Spin | This popular Netent slot has a 96.62% RTP, medium to high variance, and innovative in-game features. |
| 2. | Racetrack Riches Megaboard | iSoftBet’s Racetrack Riches Megaboard features the software provider’s flagship Megaboard mechanics. It is a highly volatile release with a fair RTP of 95.96%. |
| 3. | Luck O’ The Irish Fortune Spins | Blueprint Gaming’s Luck O’ The Irish Fortune Spins comes with a 95.32% RTP, high variance, and a 50,000x potential max win. It also presents a Wheel of Fortune-styled spin. |
| 4. | Shamrockers | IGT’s Shamrockers has a beautiful Irish theme and exciting bonus features. |
| 5. | Leprechaun Riches | Released in 2019, PG Soft’s Leprechaun Riches has a high RTP of 97.35% and exciting gameplay. |
| 6. | Rainbow Ryan | With a high RTP of 96.3%, Rainbow Ryan from Yggdrasil Gaming is a medium-high variance slot released in 2017. It also features a fun base game and a free-spins feature. |
| 7. | Leprechaun’s Fortune | WMS Leprechaun’s Fortune has customisable bets to accommodate casual players and high-rollers. It is an Irish-themed release with an RTP of 96.14%. |
| 8. | Shamrock Lock | Top Inspired Gaming slot for free spins and bonuses |
| 9. | Celtic Goddess | This is a high-variance slot with a solid base game. |
| 10. | Lucky Emeralds | High variance slot release. Perfect for both players with a small bankroll and high rollers. |
If you’ve never tried these games, understanding the different options you can explore is always a good idea. You may want to start with free to play slots, usually the demo versions of real money titles. These give you a chance to play the games and get first-hand experience of how they work before placing real bets.
Classic Casino Games at the Best Online Casino Ireland
Aside from the popular casino games that people know and love, new ones have begun to appear over time. However, the classic table and card games remain a staple at casino Ireland online sites. Now, you can relish the classic gameplay of popular casino games on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Many of these classic games also have modern variants, with speed roulette being a popular example. You can play these and more at a reputable online casino Ireland:
Irish Online Gambling Trends
Europe has experienced rapid growth in its online gambling space. England, Scotland, and Wales already have strong regulations and a strong gambling culture among online players. At the moment, Ireland is doing its best to catch on as it adapts quickly to the following trends:
Mobile Gambling
Studies from 2020 reveal that smartphones were the most used device for gambling in online casino Ireland. That means the best online casino Ireland sites are mobile-optimised to ensure visitors can play on the go. With over 90% of the country’s population owning a mobile phone as of 2024, mobile gamblers will continue to increase. So will the best Irish casinos.
Land-Based Casino Limitations
Online casinos in Ireland are more flexible with the kind of games they can offer compared to their land-based counterparts. That explains one of the reasons why Ireland online casino operators are embraced by modern players. They provide more options like crash games, slingo, and game-show styled games that can’t be found at physical venues.
Current Online Gambling Legal Landscape
Inspite of the Irish government legalizing online gambling, many gaming operators in the country are licensed overseas. Some of the top 10 Irish online casinos are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gambling Authority. Others may even hold licenses from Gibraltar, Sweden, Alderney, or Isle of Man.
These regulators are more established, but once the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) gains ground, they’ll be more locally licensed operators.
Live Dealer Online Gaming
Live dealer games help to achieve two things: they provide the feel of playing physically and save travel time. Irish players can now interact with human dealers while playing games in real time. They can watch every single activity in real-time, bringing more people seeking a realistic gaming experience to the Irish casino sites.
Crypto Gambling
The world is moving away from fiat-dependent payments, hence the need for the best crypto casinos in Ireland. These operators cater to players seeking alternative means of making deposits and withdrawals. Besides, crypto payments are instant, so players don’t need to wait long to confirm their deposits and access cashouts.
Gambling Taxes
Ireland has friendly tax rates, which attracts those looking to operate an Irish casino online. It benefits those who prefer to run their casinos in an EU member state. However, it is also worrisome for some operators since the country’s gambling legislation is still evolving.
The Future of Irish Online Gambling
As the online gambling space progresses, its future in Ireland will be technological advancement. The noticeable changes will improve gambling security, support, and overall gaming experience. Currently, many Irish casino sites use one form of high-tech feature or another.
If you’re curious about the possible future and what is already available in the future-forward Ireland online casino sites, here are a few:
Fintechs Re-defining Casino Payments
Every online casino player considers the available payment methods at a gambling site before they sign up. Before now, most people would opt for bank transfers, even though they have a longer processing time and can be monitored. Fintechs like Trustly have made payments easier, faster, and more secure.
An added advantage for casino Ireland online operators is that players outside the Emerald Isle can use fintechs for payments. If the casino doesn’t support their local currency, these players will only need to pay a small currency conversion fee. The best part is that payments with these apps are seamless and can be made from the same mobile phone used for gaming.
Crypto Gambling
There are no laws specifically targeting gambling with cryptocurrency in Ireland. In that case, it is currently a legal activity in the country. Players can now use different virtual currencies for their casino payments.
Along with offering safe and instant payment options, most crypto casinos have provably fair games. With these, Irish players can change a game’s RNG (random number generator) seed number to guarantee fairness. That adds an extra level of transparency never seen before in the online gambling world.
AI-Powered Personalized Gaming Experiences
Casinos can now monitor a player’s gambling habits and use the data to create personalised experiences for each person. First, this works for tailoring game suggestions or casino bonus offers, which are a big deal for players. It also helps the casino identify suspicious activities and potentially vulnerable players.
Essentially, these Irish gambling platforms can prioritise responsible gambling as their respective regulators require. Conversely, players can benefit from helpful game suggestions instead of browsing through loaded game lobbies.
Virtual Reality
Live dealer games are real-time streams from real casinos that participants enjoy remotely. However, virtual reality puts you in the casino even when you’re sitting in your living room. This technology is designed to make online gambling more immersive so players can interact as if they were in the same location.
With this technology, there will be Irish VR online gambling platforms. However, players must own a VR headset to play on these platforms. VR casino games might not completely outshine live dealer games, as the needed gaming gear is not cheap. However, they will become a major competitor.
AI-Powered Customer Support
Chatbots will provide all the help players need regarding basic and complex online casino queries. Many casinos already have these chatbots, which helps cut the cost of hiring multiple customer help staff. Ultimately, there’ll be no need to wait a long time for support personnel to be available to answer your questions.
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing allows online casinos to serve players worldwide. While this functional technology connects players to gambling platforms, its use cases continue to improve. Players no longer need an expensive or high-end device to play casino games online.
Before its use, players must download bulky software on a computer with high specifications to play games. An internet connection is all it takes to connect a smartphone or any device you choose to an online casino.
While the future of online gambling in Ireland remains to be seen, it will definitely benefit players.
Summary
The Emerald Isle has enjoyed a long online casino gaming history, which won’t change anytime soon. With the online casino scene growing rapidly and new regulations coming up, the best online casino Ireland are in fierce competition. This benefits you as a player, as you can be picky with where you gamble.
Rather than surf the web for hours, consider any of the best online casinos in Ireland we’ve listed. These have competitive bonus offers, vast gaming portfolios, and tight security measures. You can also explore a range of payment methods to find one that suits you.
Overall, Ireland promises an interesting online casino gaming experience for those who dare. Besides, there’s something about the luck of the Irish. It seems to make Ireland an appealing gambling destination, whether you visit or play in online casino ireland.
