Top Online Casinos in Ireland

Some historical experts claim that gambling in Ireland began even before Christianity came about in the country. The evidence to back the claims can be found from various artifacts such as glass beads and dice discovered in ancient grave sites and scientifically dated to the pre-Christianity era.

Archaeologists found some gambling games, such as the 'bone games,' as part of the burgeoning Irish culture that began during that period. Centuries later, during the Roman period, gambling on chariot horse racing became a thing, as evident in the historical manuscripts of as early as the third century AD.

Modern gambling in Ireland started taking root back in the 16th century. The two main drivers behind it were the establishment of horse racing sports and the English rule. When Ireland became a colony of England, property owners mostly governed it.

The landlords were more concerned with making money over regulating the behavior of the locals. There was no prohibition or regulation of gambling, which helped fuel gambling activities. The Irish Free State was established in 1922 after the War of Independence. Among the first issues tackled by the newly independent government was regulating the gambling industry. Licensing of betting providers first became a legal requirement in 1926.

Gambling nowadays in Ireland

The online gambling scene has greatly revolutionized modern gambling in Ireland. Online casinos have become a lot more popular than traditional casinos, as evident by the number of casinos and punters they attract.

The digital gambling revolution began in the 1990s and created numerous controversies with its increasing popularity. It even led to the amendment of the Irish Gaming and lottery Act as the outdated one did not have any provisions for online gambling.

The new laws did not prohibit online gambling, mostly because of the government's high revenue collected from the industry. The laws mostly focused on regulating the casino operators in the country.

Here is a list of some of the most popular online casino games among Irish punters:

Blackjack - Blackjack, also known as 21, is one of the top all-time favorite online casino games among Irish punters. Some reasons why the game is so popular are it is easy to learn and play, requires basic skills and strategies and is quite exciting. It also offers very lucrative wins.

Online Slots - Slots are also quite popular in Ireland, as in nearly all other countries globally. Online slots are popular because they give punters opportunities to win substantial amounts for minimal wagers. Slots are also easy and fun to play.

Poker - Poker is quite popular among punters who rely on skills and strategies instead of wagering based on pure luck. It is a common game among the elite Irish punters. Most online casinos offer a variety of poker versions.

Roulette - Roulette is another easy and entertaining game to play. Punters rely mostly on luck to win, but they can utilize various strategies to maximize their overall winning chances. There are numerous versions of roulette, such as European roulette, French roulette, American roulette, Progressive roulette, and mini roulette.

Baccarat - Baccarat is a favorite among Irish players who do not like to bother themselves with gaming rules and strategies. Punters only need to choose between betting on a player or the banker. The fast pace of the game also makes it quite exciting.

Legal casinos in Ireland

Ireland has had a complete overhaul regarding its approach to gambling. By doing so, it now allows some great opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy their favorite casino games. These are available at both on-land casinos, and on several online casino platforms.

The actual laws of Ireland, as of 2015, still technically and legally ban commercial casinos. However, exceptions have now been made, and as a result, numerous land-based casinos are operating legally. This is partly due to the new approach which Ireland has taken when it comes to the gambling industry.

Licensed casinos in Ireland

With Irish residents now being able to enjoy online casinos, there is less risk for them being drawn to unlicensed establishments. There are many online casinos which are approved for offering their products to the residents here. Some unlicensed casinos do market to the residents of Ireland.

It is unwise for any online player to become a member of an unlicensed casino site. Even if they are offering more games than some licensed ones. These unlicensed casinos do not have to follow any rules. The rules which are imposed on licensed online casinos are there to protect players.