Looking for a safe site to play online casino games for real money in Ireland? We explain more about the Irish online gambling laws, the best offshore casinos accepting players from Ireland and the EUR deposit options available for Irish punters.
Best online casino websites for Ireland
Is online gambling legal in Ireland?
Gambling is a huge industry in Ireland, with an estimated €5 billion spent on gambling in the country each year, so it’s no surprise that many online casino operators target their services towards Irish players. As more punters turn to the Internet to place real money bets, the Irish government has done its best to keep up with the changing market and has updated laws accordingly to take online gambling into account.
Until recently, all forms of gambling in Ireland were covered under the Betting Act 1931 which obviously failed to address the then non-existent advent of the Internet. This changed when Irish president Michael D. Higgins signed the Betting (Amendment) Act 2015 which included legislation to help regulate the online gambling industry. Under the Amendment, all online operators offering their services to Irish players, regardless of their location of operation, are subject to Irish licensing and taxation.
The Act makes it illegal for an online gambling operation to service Ireland without one of three gambling licenses: a license for retail bookmakers, a license for operators offering remote betting to customers based in Ireland or a license for operators who facilitate Irish customers making bets like betting exchanges. Any vendor servicing Irish players without one of these licenses is subject to hefty fines and possible imprisonment.
So, what does this mean for Irish players? It means you are legally allowed to gamble for real money at any online casino, provided it has gained licensing from the Irish Government. If an online casino accepts Irish players, it is the casino that will face persecution if it is acting unlawfully, not the player. We recommend Irish players stick with licensed, secure online casinos like the ones recommended on our site, but be aware that it is your own responsibility to understand the online gambling laws that apply to you and to understand how to identify whether an offshore casino is safe.
Best EUR casino sites for Irish players
Given that Ireland has some of the more lenient online gambling laws, many of the world’s leading online casinos accept Irish players. If you are looking for a reputable casino site with offshore licensing that accepts payments using EUR, these top-rated casinos get our recommendation. Irish players can sign up using our links to get access to some exciting new player welcome bonuses:
Leo Vegas – Leo Vegas is one of the most vibrant, comprehensive casino sites on the Web, with highlights that include the biggest selection of live dealer games and a multi-award winning mobile casino. You will find games here from all the biggest names in online casino software, including NetEnt, Microgaming, Evolution Gaming, Play’n Go and Felt Gaming, with one-off promos happening regularly.
Jackpot City – Jackpot City hosts games exclusively by Microgaming, which is one of the most respected names in online casino software. Along with a wide selection of table game variants, live dealer games and slot titles, Jackpot City also offers a promo calendar to registered players with different daily deals up for grabs on a regular rotation.
32Red Casino – 32Red has players covered with all facets of online gaming, with dedicated sites for casino games, bingo and poker rooms. This site is also powered specifically by Microgaming, although you will also find live dealer games available from Evolution Gaming, the premium provider of live casino software. 32Red offers the option of instant-play directly over your Web browser or by downloading the premium 32Red casino software.
BGO Casino – This star-studded online casino is the place to go if you are looking for a little extra glitz and glamour with your online gambling experience. BGO offers games from two of our favourite software studios, Net Entertainment and Playtech, with a wide range of slots, table games and live casino games to choose from, all which are available for free in practice mode or real money bets.
Many other fantastic web-based casinos accept Irish players. Look to the table at the top of this page for a full list of the top-rated casino sites for Ireland and follow our links to read comprehensive reviews of each venue or sign up for an account to claim a bonus.
Irish online gambling payment methods
The EUR is widely accepted at leading online casinos, so Irish players will have no trouble making deposits and withdrawals using local currency. When registering for an online casino account, make sure to select EUR as your chosen currency method and all payments from there on will be made using Euros. Deposits can be made using the following trusted payment methods:
- Visa credit, debit and prepaid cards
- MasterCard credit, debit and prepaid cards
- EntroPay Virtual Visa
- Neteller web wallet
- Skrill web wallet
- Paysafecard e-Vouchers
- EcoPayz web wallet
- Direct bank transfer
The EUR payment options vary between venues, so if there is a particular payment method you are hoping to use you should always check that it is accepted by a site before signing up for an account. Withdrawal methods can also vary, as can the minimum and maximum amounts that can be cashed out at any time. Check the FAQ section of an online casino or contact the customer service team using live chat if you require specific information about a casinos payment methods.