More about online gambling in Ireland
The online gambling industry in Ireland is not only well-established but thoroughly regulated. When you’re ready to choose an online casino to play at, it’s important to choose one licensed by the government under the Irish Gambling Act.
Irish gamblers can also play at online casinos with licensing from other gaming authorities, such as the respected UK Gambling Commission. This gives you a large selection of top online casinos to choose from.
Changes in legislation
In October 2021, the government published its General Scheme, which will, in many ways, change how gambling is regulated in Ireland. The new bill sees to the creation of Ireland’s own Gambling Regulatory Authority, a new body established for regulating the provision of gambling services that will start a new regulatory regime coming into force by 2023.
This body has power over issuing and revoking gambling licenses from online casinos within the region. It is also responsible for advertising and sponsorship issues within the gambling industry. Other matters the regulatory body covers are developing safeguards against problem gambling and enforcing all anti-money laundering financing procedures.
Responsible gambling focused
All online casino operators with an Irish gambling license must contribute to the ‘Social Impact Fund’, which is in place for problem gambling measures. The regulatory body will also be able to enforce these regulations by any means necessary. Operators will undergo tests and audits without any notification, and access to servers can be blocked at any time.
With the rise of gambling addiction, the regulatory body is focused on implementing strict measures to curb the problem and keep operators in line while implementing the necessary safety measures to help players enjoy quality gaming in a secure gaming environment.
How to choose a top Irish online casino
When choosing the best possible Irish online casino, there are a few things you need to consider. Here are 5 things you need to look for:
Licensing and Security
First, you need to see if the casino is licensed and regulated. If the casino is not licensed, it is best to steer clear. If licensing is in place, ensure it is properly secured and encrypted.
All games should be independently tested, and SSL data encryption should be used.
A variety of games
As a real-money player, you don’t want to get stuck at an online casino where you are limited in terms of entertainment.
This is why it’s important to find an online casino with ample Irish games to choose from. Whether you enjoy slots, table games, progressives, or live dealer variants, make sure the casino has plenty to enjoy. It’s always a plus if the casino uses multiple software providers, as there are more games, and new games will be added to the library more frequently.
Bonuses and promotions
With the casino secure and the game library promising, your next stop should be the Irish Bonuses and Promotions section. There’s no point in a good gaming library if there are very few bonus boosts in your future.
You want to be assured that the casino knows how to award players for loyalty and that they are generous with rewards.
Check that there is a regular flow of promotions and that the terms and conditions are reasonable. Make sure there are various offers, including deposit match bonuses, free spins, cashback offers, and more.
Support
You might be the type of player who enjoys only playing throughout the day, or you could be one who only has time to play at night.
Whatever the case, you will need to know a support team is available at all hours of the day or night. You don’t want to wait days or weeks to resolve issues that could’ve been resolved in a few minutes, and then your gameplay has to be delayed unnecessarily.
It’s always a bonus if the customer support team is available 24/7 via multiple support options.
Responsible gambling
Unfortunately, problem gambling is a growing concern across the globe and a risk that many face when playing online casino games.
For this reason, it has become extremely important to have access to tools and resources that will assist you in staying in control of your gaming activities. You want to know the casino has your best interests at heart.
Check that a responsible gaming page provides tools, tips, and resources you can access. Tools like deposit limits, loss limits, time limits, and self-exclusion can come in handy with setting up your account and staying in control.
And if you’re not sure where to start searching, don’t fear; we’ve got a list of pre-selected top Irish online casinos that tick all these boxes. You can browse our list of top recommended Irish online casinos and choose the one that you find the most enticing.
The future is mobile
One notable thing among Irish gamblers is that they like to game while on the go. About 59% of the 5 million people in Ireland participate in online gambling regularly, making Ireland the ninth most popular gambling destination across Europe.
The number of gamblers in Ireland continues to grow with mobile gambling. This is thanks to the low cost of mobile devices and ease of access to internet connectivity.
According to research, about 44% of online bets are placed using mobile devices. The prediction is that by 2025, most players will be using mobile devices for online gambling activities. This is based on the fact that today, six out of ten online bets are made by mobile devices.
Irish Online Casinos Summary
We, at CasinoWow, took the time to prepare for you a detailed list of online casinos available for players in Ireland while also explaining everything you need to know about the iGaming market in the country. There has been increased interest in Irish online casinos over the last few years, and that's why we've taken the time to review them thoroughly! On this page, you'll find everything necessary before you start playing at your favourite online casino!