Gambling in Ireland is big business, and this hardly comes as a surprise when you consider that so many Irish people are true sports lovers. The government regulates all forms of online gambling and frequently updates its regulations to ensure that everyone continues to receive fair treatment from online casino and sports betting platforms.
This has created an online gambling environment that is flourishing throughout the country, and the best online casinos for Irish players are often aggregated by online casino listing sites targeted for Irish players. In this article, we look at the current culture of gambling in Ireland starting with sports betting in Ireland.
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Sports betting in Ireland: a deep-rooted tradition
Sports betting is mega popular in Ireland and is almost considered to be running through Irish veins. This isn't surprising given the very strong influence from all over Europe.
Even though Ireland sits out on the edge of the continent, it still gets heavily involved in European sports betting and particularly loves football and rugby, with some of the best rugby markets existing in Ireland simply because of the locals' love of sport.
Sports betting is probably one of the oldest types of gambling in Ireland, and it's very common and accepted as part of the culture today. This is why you can find bookies on every corner and lots of online sportsbooks catering to the Irish market.
This trend is most likely going to continue as plenty of popular sports are played in the country. Additionally, an increasing number of Irish folk are starting to play at online sportsbooks due to their practicality, convenience, and the speed at which you can place a bet on a game or a race without the need to leave your home.
The love for horse racing in Ireland
Arguably, one of the biggest and most popular sports to bet on in Ireland is horse racing, which has been a huge part of Irish culture for centuries. It has not only shaped generations but also created an almost nationwide obsession. Simply visit any of the big horse racing events in England, particularly in the north of England, and you are likely to come across thousands of Irish horse racing fans.
👉 The Irish can really get into horse racing and go to great lengths to learn about upcoming events, races, horses, and trainers. They make sure to keep their ears to the ground when it comes to tips, and all these factors contribute to their betting decisions.
As mentioned above, you will find tons of Irish people at all the major horse racing events throughout Ireland and beyond. Their knowledge of horse racing and their love of the sport take them to even further-flung places around the world to follow their interest in the sport. The Irish have been a massive part of horse racing for a very long time, and as a result, they breed lots of successful jockeys, horses, and horse trainers.
The rise of online casinos in Ireland
This brings us nicely to online casinos, which are fast on the rise in Ireland. This growth is partly due to the Irish culture of embracing betting and gambling, but also due to the regulation and transparency that the government insists on, combined with the convenience of being able to quickly and easily bet and gamble online.
The practicality of being able to gamble online on your smartphone or desktop computer, as well as the ease with which you can digitally transfer money to and from your account, adds to the attraction of gambling online.
Additionally, the number of online casinos available to Irish players is growing all the time, as are the bonuses that the casinos offer to entice new players onto their platforms.
These include promos, free spins, cashback offers, sweepstakes, and deposit bonuses.
Lottery and bingo in Ireland
Last but not least, lottery and bingo are also very popular in Ireland. At the end of the day, who doesn't love the chance to win tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions of pounds, for a very small cost?
The trend in mega lotteries is growing globally, and you have sites like Lottoland and LottoGo offering you the opportunity to be part of, or at least bet on, the outcomes of lottery syndicates around the world that have been known to reach into the billions of dollars.
In addition, all this can be done from your smartphone, making the trip down to the shop for a lottery ticket a thing of the past. You can also grab scratchcards and other lottery-related games, all from the comfort of your own home and your smartphone.
Depositing and withdrawing are getting easier and faster by the day, which just adds to the attraction of playing lottery and bingo online rather than in physical premises.
The luck of the Irish
You are no doubt familiar with the phrase “the luck of the Irish,” and this could well be a stereotype that really does exist. The gambling culture of Ireland is very present in the population today, with different types of the gambling spectrum appealing to players.
Horse racing leads the way, but sports betting and online casinos follow closely. This is a clear indication that the online gambling industry is where the action is headed, as players seek out easy and convenient ways to satisfy their gambling hobby.
With a well-regulated and fair online gambling and betting industry, it looks like Ireland is set to become one of the leading regulated markets in the world, similar to the UK. This creates a free, safe, and enjoyable gambling environment for everyone, which we think is a very positive thing.
