Legal Online Casinos in Ireland
Due to Irish Licensing laws any online bookmaker that wishes to have Irish Citizens as members needs a licence. Until 2026 this was one of three different types of licence (bookmaker, remote bookmaker or remote betting intermediary) issued by the Revenue Commissioners; since 1 July 2026 the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland issues remote betting and remote betting intermediary licences instead. By September 2026 more than 30 remote betting licences had been granted, including to bet365, Paddy Power and Betfair, Ladbrokes, William Hill, Sky Bet, Betway, BoyleSports and 888. Licences for online casino games are not yet available: the GRAI plans to open applications for gaming, lottery and B2B licences during 2027 and 2028, so online casinos that accept Irish players currently operate under licences issued in other jurisdictions. There are a large amount of online casinos that players from Ireland can use to play their favourite online slots or casino table games. The most visited brands among Irish players are the big bookmakers with casino sections – bet365, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power, William Hill, Betfair, Sky Bet and Betway – alongside casino and bingo sites such as Sky Vegas, Gala Bingo and PlayOJO.
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Irish Slots - Most Popular
Irish themed slots are some of the most played at online casinos, after all everyone knows about the Luck of the Irish!! Players in Ireland enjoy playing Starburst, Gonzo´s Quest and Twin Spin by NetEnt, Age of the Gods - Fate Sisters, Age of the Gods - Furious 4, Circus Cash and Beach Life by PlayTech and of course Lucky Irish slots, Charms and Clovers by BetSoft, Rainbow Riches by Barcrest (now part of Light & Wonder) and Leprechaun goes Egypt by Play ´n Go. In recent years Pragmatic Play titles such as Big Bass Bonanza and Gates of Olympus, as well as Megaways and jackpot slots from Red Tiger and Playtech, have become fixtures in the lobbies of Irish-facing casinos.
Irish Casino Games - Most Popular
Poker is extremely popular throughout Ireland with Cyberstud Poker by Microgaming and Three Card Poker by BetSoft appearing among the most played casino table games online. Other popular online games include Classic Blackjack by Kajot, European Roulette by Realistic Games, Baccarat by R. Franco and Craps by BetSoft.
You can also find many versions of these Casino Games with Live dealers that really give you the feeling of playing in a land based casino and sometimes the ability to talk to other players and the dealer.
Casinos in Ireland
As casino gambling is not licensed in Ireland, you won´t find regular casinos, this is due to the restrictions laid out in the Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1956. However, there are a number of Private Members Clubs that operate gambling activities. You will need to apply for membership which includes proving your ID and in some cases you will also need to confirm your address, before you can enter. Under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, in-person gaming will in future also require a GRAI licence; applications for gaming licences are expected to open in 2027–2028.
The game of Poker also has a long history in Ireland and it does not come under the remit of the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956. You can therefore find Poker Clubs all over Ireland. In fact, one of the largest worldwide Poker events held in Europe is the Irish Open. Bingo has a large following in Ireland and there are numerous bingo halls throughout Ireland.
Gambling Laws in Ireland
Gambling in Ireland was made legal by the Betting Act of 1931 and the Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1956. in 2015 they were updated by the Betting (Amendment) Act which also included regulations about online betting in Ireland, bringing remote bookmakers and betting exchanges into the licensing system. Online gambling games are all legal and growing in popularity. However, Casinos in Ireland are illegal, but thanks to a loophole in the Law there are a number of private clubs who offer casino styled facilities. The most popular form of gambling in Ireland is betting on horseracing, greyhound racing and football.
The law is now being modernised step by step:
- 23 October 2024 – the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 is signed into law. Once fully commenced it repeals the Betting Act 1931 and the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 and introduces a single licensing regime, a National Gambling Exclusion Register and a Social Impact Fund to finance treatment and prevention of gambling harm.
- 5 March 2025 – the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) is formally established.
- 9 February 2026 – the GRAI opens applications for remote betting, remote betting intermediary and in-person betting licences.
- 1 July 2026 – the first GRAI remote betting licences take effect; in-person betting licences follow later in 2026.
- 2027–2028 – applications for gaming (including online casino), lottery, B2B and charitable licences are scheduled to open.
