Best Betting Sites Ireland & New Irish Bookmakers
Which are the best betting sites in Ireland? We have our own opinion on the matter, but you don’t have to believe us — we’ll prove our position with facts. We won’t decide what’s best for you. Instead we’ll give you all the information you need to make your own choice, even if you’ve never placed a bet online before. With Match.Center you really will choose the best betting site in Ireland — the one that’s right for you.
Online betting sites in Ireland are prohibited for people under 18 years old. Gamble responsibly and choose a safe operator licenced by the Revenue Commissioners.
List Of Irish Betting Sites – April 2024
The reviews on Match.Center are as honest and objective as possible, so we mark them as “Not for Sale” to make it clear that they are based on merit.
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Page Contents
- Best Betting Sites by Category
- 10 Best Betting Sites in Ireland
- Best Free Bets for Month
- How Do We Evaluate Bookies
- New Betting Sites in Ireland
- Best Football Betting Sites
- Best Horse Racing Betting Sites
- Best Betting Apps
- Free Bets & Betting Offers in Ireland
- How We Evaluate Bonuses
- Betting Sites with Live Streaming
- Payment Methods Available At Ireland Best Betting Sites
- Online Betting and Gambling in Ireland
- Betting Sites Frequently Asked Questions
Best Betting Sites by Category
Best online betting site | bet365 |
Best Horse Racing Betting site | Quinnbet |
Best Football Betting site | William Hill |
Best Live streaming | bet365 |
Best betting app | BoyleSports |
Best support | Betiton |
Best odds | Betiton |
Best site for live betting | William Hill |
Best bonuses | Quinnbet |
TOP 10 Betting Sites in Ireland
To take everything from betting, you need to make sure that online bookmakers Ireland can give it to you. You don’t have to limit yourself to one online bookmaker, you can choose to play on several online betting sites in Ireland. However, you need to know which Irish betting sites even worth considering.
Therefore, we have analysed all legal bookmakers in Ireland on a number of factors and compiled the TOP 10 best options for Irish punters of all levels, both novice and experienced.
Note, we only review fixed odds platforms here, but if you are looking for a betting exchange in Ireland, check out the corresponding selection.
Bet365
Bet365 is one of the first online bookmakers in the world. The company launched the online betting site in 2,000.
Bet365 offers the greatest online betting experience with over 40 sections that contain thousands of sports betting events. Football, tennis, basketball, politics, and non-sporting events are available for staking. In addition, the bookmaker provides one of the widest Esport selections of betting events, with more than 15 cyber sport disciplines available to wager on during the peak season. The selection of horse racing betting events is great too, covering competitions on every inhabited continent.
However, the choice of markets is not always impressive. It is cool when 300-500 outcomes are available for a top Esports match, but 500-800 options for top football fixtures is an average level.
Besides live streaming, radio streaming is offered for football , cricket, horse racing and greyhound betting. In our rating of online sports betting sites, Bet365 is the leader in the live streaming service. The sports betting site has elaborated the deepest Cash Out technology with full and partial bet buyout that you can set up automatically.
Bet365 runs promotions for new customers and existing sports bettors on a regular basis. This best sports betting site is the leader in early payouts and injury insurance offerings.
The customer support service of Bet365 is 24/7 although it is very difficult to get to the live chat, and you often have to wait in a queue.
Novibet
The Novibet betting site was founded in 2010 and initially operated in South Europe before a legal launch in Ireland in 2022.
The continental origin of the sports betting site is evident in its selection of betting events: more than 30 sports are available, but the horse racing choice is very weak (only a few UK and Irish races), and there are no greyhounds at all. However, the list of major events for other traditional sports is huge: more than 2,500 markets on football, 1,000+ on the NBA and almost 500 on tennis.
Live streaming is a weak side of Novibet. The bookmaker is behind most of its competitors from the top 10 Irish betting sites in terms of live streaming. You can only watch some horse racing events and E-football. The betting site has a detailed section with team and athlete statistics, which is useful for both pre-match and live betting markets. Cash Out is on the board.
The bonus programme of the Irish betting site is quite strong. A solid Welcome bonus, Free bet club (you can get up to 10 euros every week), early payouts and injury insurance promotions.
Punters can contact the customer support team in several ways — in the online chat on the official sports betting site, by phone, email or by messengers.
Sky Bet
The Sky Bet bookmaker is amongst the best Irish betting sites offering over 25 sports to bet on including football, ice hockey, basketball, and tennis. Horse racing, greyhounds, darts and other traditional sports are also among the highlights, though Esports are poorly represented.
The number of outcomes for one top football match, such as a Champions League or EPL one, can exceed 2,500. You can combine offers for one match into a combination with a Bet Builder and even order your own personalised bet via Twitter. Cash Out is available for most markets (marked with a green arrow).
SkyBet punters can watch plenty of events and they know about future streams in advance, thanks to a green “Play” button in the event preview.
The Welcome offer is small in amount, but the terms and conditions are just perfect: a low deposit threshold, a 5p bet as a trigger, no wagering is required.
Sky Bet is one of the best betting sites that has the widest Free bet club promotion where you can get weekly bonuses for turnover of funds. You can choose among several offers: Free bet for football or horse racing, or Free spins for online casino games. The AccaFreeze tool allows you to freeze one outcome in the accumulator if you doubt it will go in, and win the bet if that outcome loses. There are numerous odds boosts for football, horse racing, basketball and other sports on this best betting site. The Welcome offer is small in amount, but the terms and conditions are just perfect: a low deposit threshold, a 5p bet as a trigger, no wagering is required.
William Hill
This is one of the biggest traditional sports betting grands in Ireland and the UK. The bookmaker offers more than 30 sports and non-sports destinations, including virtual sports.
In terms of horse racing, only Bet365 can compete with William Hill. All possible Irish and UK races, most European races, as well as races in Asia, Africa, North and South America, Australia and New Zealand are covered.
As one of the best football betting sites, the bookmaker’s focus on football is equally strong.You can expect more than 2,000 outcomes for a top match. The selection of tennis events is good both in pre-match and live. The sportsbook also offers a Bet Builder for combining bets.
William Hill gives some of the best odds on basketball, both the NBA and Euroleague. The margin is 3.5-4% for betting on 1/X/2 and 4.5% for totals. In football and tennis, things are noticeably worse. The major football tournaments at William Hill have margins of at least 6%, while in tennis, it is usually between 5.5 and 7%.
William Hill streams about 3/4 of horse and greyhound races. There are also many live videos for top tennis events, although you can’t watch second- and third-tier tournaments.
William Hill provides many Enhanced odds and Price boosts. To get the sportsbook’s Welcome offer you need to enter a promo code during the registration.
The customer support service can be contacted 24/7 via a chat or e-mail. This is one of the top bookies online that is active on social networks responding to common questions from users.
Betfred
The Betfred bookmaker is known in the UK and Ireland as a sponsor of many major sports events and as a betting operator with many land-based clubs. Today, the company has over 1,600 betting shops. In the early 2000s, Betfred launched its online betting site.
The bookmaker covers around 25 sports with strong emphasis on traditional disciplines: football, tennis, horse racing and greyhounds, darts, cricket, rugby. Occasionally Esport events are included in the selection of betting events, but don’t be surprised by their complete absence. Lotteries, casino, bingo, poker and tote are among other gambling activities.
Although the selection of football betting events is quite broad, the range of outcomes is average — around 300 per top match. You can use the PickYourPunt (Bet Builder) option to create a unique bet on the betting site.
Horse races are separated into two tabs: “UK and Ireland” and “International”, although we would have preferred a more detailed division by country. You can use the Bet Finder feature to find a horse to bet by activating various search parameters.
Live streaming is available mostly for horse racing and greyhounds in both video and audio formats.
Betfred attracts punters with a Welcome offer that includes a Free bet award (up to €30), but its bonus programme is mainly notable for many horse racing and greyhounds promos, making it the strongest in that aspect.
LiveScore Bet
In Ireland, the bookmaker’s official website livescorebet.com went online in December 2021, so the bookie is quite young. Nevertheless, it entered the market with a sufficiently high quality service, which deserves a place in our list of the best sports betting sites.
The main destinations of LiveScore Bet are football, horse racing and tennis. The bookmaker offers over 600 outcomes for top football matches, also you can make combinations with a Bet Builder.
The horse racing coverage spans over dozens of competitions in the UK, Ireland, the USA, France, South Africa, etc.
The tennis line is also impressive. In pre-match, the selection of betting markets is limited due to the lack of several options for totals and handicaps, but in live, these outcomes appear and the tennis betting picture becomes almost perfect.
In the context of the LiveScore Bet streaming, it is one of Bet365’s biggest competitors. You can watch first and second class tennis matches as well as many popular football leagues: La Liga, the Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, etc.
The bonus programme is a huge advantage of this best betting site. The Welcome offer is one of the biggest among online betting sites Ireland and easy in the context of terms and conditions (up to €50 in Free bets). There are two Free bet clubs with weekly rewards: one bonus (€5 Free bet) is awarded for a turnover of €20, the other bonus (€5 Free bet) is for a Bet Builder bet of €5. Another thing is “Squads” — a kind of fantasy football game offering cash prizes with free entry.
Betfair
Betfair is among the best sports betting sites Ireland thanks to the unusual approach. Along with the fixed odds markets, you can find an exchange betting on the website. In the exchange section, the betting process is mainly done by customers: Betfair defines the types of markets, but sports bettors make their own betting propositions by offering and responding to them.
There are about 30 sports, including football, golf, horse racing, ice hockey, Esports and many more in the fixed odds section. However, if you use the betting exchange, you have to deal with less than 20 sports.
In most cases only, Betfair tells you the TV channel where to watch a match. Live video is mainly available for horse racing and tennis.
The bonus programme is ambiguous. On the one hand: there are a good sportsbook Welcome bonus for newcomers with a small qualifying deposit (Bet €5 Get €20) and a great referral programme (up to €10 for a referred friend and €50 maximum). There are also Free bet promotions, but they are short-lived or the rewards are given for betting on a specific match, depriving Irish bettors of choice. In addition there is no Welcome bonus specifically for the exchange, and you won’t be able to use the Welcome sportsbook Free bet there.
Quinnbet
QuinnBet specialises in traditional sports like horse racing, football, tennis, darts, snooker, rugby, etc. The choice of events is large, but the range of markets is rather modest. In popular football matches, users can bet on 200+ variations, and in niche events, the list of options may be limited to 1/X/2 options. The same applies to tennis: in pre-match, the number of outcomes for one top match can be up to 100, but a good selection of markets on tournaments of the second and third tiers will be only in live.
Quinnbet broadcasts horse and greyhounds racing from the UK, Ireland and, sometimes, the USA and France, but nothing more. Most of the top Irish online bookies can give you much more in streaming.
A huge number of bonus promotions are available for placing bets on the sportsbook. New Irish bettors can get up to €50 in Free bets, as well as 10 Free spins. For everyone else, there are special bonuses for betting on horse and greyhound racing, football, golf, tennis, virtual sports, Esports, as well as other types of gambling activities. Punters are offered a daily Free bet club, acca bonus, cashback on lost bets and other promotions. Very few can match Quinnbet in terms of bonuses.
Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes’ selection of sports betting events is rather extensive, covering over 40 different sports, including football, horse and greyhound racing, tennis, rugby, snooker, and even less commonly wagered on sports such as fishing, although there are currently no upcoming events for the latter.
For prominent football matches, the bookie presents over 2,000 outcomes. Their horse racing line is admirable, accepting stakes on races in the UK, Ireland, France, South Africa, India, the USA, and Australia. Also, we found matches with elevated betting odds on football, snooker, golf, and cricket.
Ladbrokes currently offers live streaming for football, tennis, basketball, snooker, horse and greyhound racing across various countries. Live video is available for top-tier events like football’s La Liga and Serie A, basketball’s NBA and Champions League and so on. The functionality of the sports betting site is sound, featuring a Bet Builder and preset combinations.
The strong bonus package has over 15 current sports promotions. This includes a Welcome bonus of “Bet €5, get €20 in Free bets”, free prediction promotions with cash prizes, along with bespoke deals for horse and greyhound racing.
A primary drawback of Ladbrokes is the poorly situated live chat support contacts. There is no direct access from the main page. One must first visit the FAQ section, select a query, and then request additional help.
Coral
Coral provides players with a choice of over 40 sports to bet on. They feature all the sports popular in Ireland, ranging from football to pool and snooker. The bookie also impresses with its market offerings in football betting, providing over 2,000 outcomes for popular football matches. Horse racing line covers all Irish and UK competitions as well as many international ones.
Coral’s live streams are well-developed, encompassing football, tennis, snooker, horse racing, hockey, and handball. You can watch videos of events at every professional level, including the best sport leagues in the world: La Liga (football), the NBA (basketball), Grand Slam tennis tournaments and the Masters. These can be located in the separate Live Stream tab. Additionally, Coral maintains a News & Blogs page, where sports bettors can find analytical articles on football, tennis, and horse racing.
Support is provided through a live chat, FAQ section, social networks (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook), and by email. However, the lack of a live chat support button on the main page may cause confusion for customers.
Coral is home to a number of bonus programmes. They host special offers for football championships, boosted odds for horse and greyhound racing, and many more. The Coral Racing Club is particularly noteworthy, giving clients the opportunity to win tickets to horse races and engage with trainers and jockeys.
Key Features Of The Best Betting Sites in Ireland
Let’s briefly go through the features of Irish betting sites. Almost all legal bookmakers in Ireland support In Play betting and Cash Out. All participants of our TOP 10 also integrated the trendy Bet Builders — tools for merging the outcomes of one match into a combined bet — as well as live streaming, but this is the prerogative of the best betting sites Ireland. Of a particular mention are the Free bet club (with weekly or daily rewards for turnover of funds) and no-entry promos with cash or Free bet prizes.
In-Play Betting | Live Streaming | Bet Builder | Cash Out | Promo with free entry | Free bet club | Minimum Deposit | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bet365 | + | + | + | + | – | – | €5 |
Novibet | + | + | + | + | – | – | €5 |
Sky Bet | + | + | + | + | – | + | €5 |
William Hill | + | + | + | + | – | – | €5 |
Betfred | + | + | + | + | – | – | €5 |
LiveScore Bet | + | + | + | + | + | – | €10 |
Betfair | + | + | + | + | – | – | €5 |
QuinnBet | + | + | + | + | – | + | €10 |
Unibet | + | + | + | + | – | – | €10 |
Betsafe | + | – | + | + | – | – | €10 |
Best Free Bets for April 2024
18+. Play Responsibly. http://www.begambleaware.org
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18+. Play Responsibly. http://www.begambleaware.org
How Do We Evaluate Bookies
The Match.Center team has developed a rating system based on nine core criteria to evaluate Irish betting sites as objectively as possible. We want to provide an unbiased ranking that relies mainly on factual data rather than subjective evaluation. You can read more about our rating system in the special feature: How we evaluate.
To achieve this goal, Match.Center has identified nine key parameters that form the basis of our best Irish betting sites ranking. Here are the nine criteria that comprise our bookmaker rating methodology. We will also name online bookmakers that received the highest score for each criterion.
Sports and markets
The Match.Center experts evaluate the number of sports, pre-match markets, and betting margins offered. 10 points are awarded for 30+ sports disciplines, 1,000+ markets for major events like football, and low margins not exceeding 3% for top football fixtures. More betting options in popular markets are prioritised over niche sports.
Live streaming
We score online bookies based on the number and variety of live streamed events across different sports. More live streams means a higher score in our rating. We check if registration or a deposit is required to access streams. We also award points for streaming schedules and infographics.
Mobile apps
The Match.Center team will award 5 points for each of the dedicated iOS and Android apps. It must be a real native app with full functionality, not just a website shortcut. The availability of apps shows online bookmakers’ intentions to provide convenient mobile access.
Payment systems
We award 1 point for each type of payment options supported by an Irish betting site. A greater variety of payment systems supported results in a higher score in our rating of the best online betting sites Ireland. We count methods like cards, e-wallets, and mobile payments separately. PayPal gets one point as an exception, being the most popular electronic method.
Welcome bonuses
The Match.Center experts assess the amount and wagering requirements for the online bookmakers’ Welcome bonus. No deposit bonuses of €10+ get the most points from us, as do lucrative promotions like “Bet €10 Get €50 in Free bets”. We also consider if separate sports betting and online casino bonuses are offered.
Existing customer bonuses
Free bet clubs that reward customer loyalty earn high scores in our rating of the best betting sites Ireland. We also consider regular enhanced odds, price boosts, acca insurance, extra places for racing, and tiered loyalty programmes.
Registration and customer support
We evaluate the simplicity of the registration process on sports betting sites and information required to open an account. High priority is given to the availability of support for prospective customers via a live chat, phone, email, etc.
Legal information
Links to terms & conditions, rules, and regulations must be visible and clickable according to the Match.Center experts. Settling bets fairly is a legal requirement, so bet settlement rules are important.
Ease of navigation
The interface should allow quick and easy bet placement in our view. We also check for search functions, bookmarking, notifications to help find events on sports betting sites. Clarity and organisation earn high points.
Comparing Irish Betting Sites
Here is the ratings table. We have evaluated nearly 50 legal betting sites Ireland, and if you’re interested, we will publish the full list of the online bookies.
Of course, we review the ratings from time to time, with the most frequent changes occurring in Welcome offers, the number of streams, and payment methods, so they need to be revised.
Rating | Quotes (Odds) | Apps | Streaming | Payouts | New client bonus | Old bonus | Sign-up & support | Rules & Regulations | Navigation & UI | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bet365 | 8.4 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 10 |
William Hill | 8.1 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 9 |
Sky Bet | 8.0 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 10 |
Ladbrokes | 8.0 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 10 |
Coral | 8.0 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 10 |
Betfred | 7.7 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 9 |
LiveScore Bet | 7.7 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 9 |
Novibet | 7.6 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
Betfair | 7.4 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 9 |
Quinnbet | 7.3 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 |
New Online Betting Sites
There are well-known old brands like William Hill and Unibet as well as many new betting sites that have only recently entered the Irish sports betting industry. We consider ‘new’ betting sites that have been operating in the country for no more than 5 years. In this section, we will look at the top 10 new betting sites in Ireland.
Bookmaker | Year launched in Ireland |
---|---|
LiveScore Bet | 2021 |
Bethard | 2020 |
Fafabet | 2021 |
Casumo | 2019 |
LVbet | 2021 |
Hollywoodbets | 2020 |
Betdaq | 2020 |
BetUK | 2020 |
Kwiff | 2020 |
Bar One Racing | 2020 |
- LiveScore Bet: This is a newcomer that only launched in 2021, but so powerfully that we had no hesitation in including it in our 10 best betting sites Ireland, and have also made a detailed review of it.
- Bethard: This is a new online bookmaker that started operating in Ireland in February 2020. Bethard is focused on Esports, offering high and competitive betting odds. Live streaming is available only for Esports. You can look at the statistics provided by SportRadar to make more accurate predictions.
- Fafabet: This online sportsbook started operating in the winter of 2021. The Fafabet sports betting site offers an average but solid service, while competing favourably with many of its rivals in the size of its Welcome bonus. The betting platform offers a good range of sports betting markets in case you’d like to bet on popular events. You can make your own bet slip with the help of a Bet Builder.
- Casumo: This is one of the “oldest” new betting sites in Ireland that was launched in 2019. Simplicity is something Casumo has made a priority. The Irish version of the website started to work in October 2021. It is worth noting that Casumo primarily promotes online casino services, and only then sports betting.
- LV Bet: Started in Ireland in 2021, LV Bet presented a good combination of impressive design and functionality. It’s particularity great at football with competitions from over 70 countries available. Good live infographics with statistics are provided for many events on the sports betting site.
- Hollywoodbets: This is a South African bookmaker that has been operating for over 45 years, but got the Irish licence only in November 2020. Racing and football are what this new betting site is primarily focused on.
- BETDAQ: This is a betting exchange launched in Ireland in October 2020. Users bet against each other, and BETDAQ charges a small 2% fee as an intermediary, and only if the sports bet wins.
- BetUK: The betting site started to operate in the coutry in November 2020. BetUK is mainly an online casino, but online sports betting is offered too. BetUK is seriously focused on football. There is a distinctive section that contains a sports blog. There you can find news, tips, and other information for sports bets.
- Kwiff: This is one of the best online betting sites that legally accepts bets from Irish punters from November 2020. It presents an interesting feature: the bookmaker may randomly increase a bettor’s winnings or the odds. But customers have to pay the price for such unusual tricks — the odds range from average to poor.
- Bar One Racing: The platform joined the list of new sports betting sites with Irish licences in early November 2020. As it might be obvious from its name, the bookmaker’s specialisation is horse and greyhound racing betting.
Most Popular Betting Markets In Ireland
Ireland has a well-established sporting culture, complemented by a significant betting market. The country offers a range of betting opportunities, from racing to rugby. These betting markets serve both experienced bettors and those new to the scene.
Sport | Key Betting Events |
---|---|
Football | FAI Cup, League of Ireland Premier Division, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship |
Horse racing | The Irish Grand National, Galway Races, Punchestown Festival, Curragh Races, Leopardstown Christmas Festival, Fairyhouse Easter Festival |
Rugby | Six Nations, Pro14, European Rugby Champions Cup, Rugby World Cup (when applicable), Autumn Internationals, British & Irish Lions Tour (every 4 years) |
Gaelic Football & Hurling | All-Ireland Senior Championships, National Football League, National Hurling League, Munster Championship, Leinster Championship |
Golf | Irish Open, The Open Championship (when held in Ireland), Ryder Cup (when applicable) |
Greyhound Racing | Irish Greyhound Derby, Easter Cup, Laurels, Oaks |
Boxing | National Elite Championships, various international bouts featuring Irish boxers |
Best Football Betting Sites
Football, being the most popular sport, is a key area of betting for almost all bookmakers. In this direction betting companies compete in the number of betting markets and outcomes, promotions, technical features and so on.
This is what we evaluated when we compiled our list of the five best betting sites Ireland. We counted the number of football tournaments, the number of outcomes for matches of different tiers, checked the availability of streaming, found out what technical tools are available (Request-a-Bet, a Bet Bilder, Cash Out, detailed statistics on the site). Read our big article on football betting sites for more details.
And now here is a brief top 5 of the best football betting sites Ireland.
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Best Horse Racing Betting Sites
Horse racing is one of the most popular sports in Ireland, and with its rich history and exciting races, it’s no wonder that many Irish punters enjoy betting on it. With the rise of online betting, there are now numerous betting sites for horse racing available to Irish punters. We will have a look at the top 5 best racing betting sites in Ireland that offer a decent selection of betting markets for this sport.
18+. Play Responsibly. http://www.begambleaware.org
18+. Play Responsibly. http://www.begambleaware.org
18+. Play Responsibly. http://www.begambleaware.org
18+. Play Responsibly. http://www.begambleaware.org
18+. Play Responsibly. http://www.begambleaware.org
Best Betting Apps
The point of a mobile app is not just to provide access to a service. The best mobile software encourages you to want to use it by being more convenient than the desktop version.
We talk about our evaluation criteria in detail in our article on betting apps in Ireland. In short, we evaluate ease of navigation, the speed and size, user ratings from the Google Play and App Store, as well as our rating of the betting product.
And for the top 5 best betting apps, we have chosen these bookmakers:
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Betting Odds Explained
The easiest way to explain the essence of margins is to use an example. Let’s say there’s a football match. The betting site estimates the probability of Team A winning at 50%, a draw – at 20%, and Team B winning at 30%. To convert these probabilities into decimal odds, you’d take the reciprocal. For Team A, the odds would be 2.0 (1/0.50), for a draw it would be 5.0 (1/0.20), and for Team B, the odds would be 3.33 (1/0.30).
In an ideal world without bookmaker margins, these odds would represent a full 100% payout. However, to ensure they make a profit, bookmakers will typically offer odds that amount to a payout of less than 100%. If we include a 6% bookmaker margin, the payout would be 94%, and the real odds will be lower than the ideal ones. The lower the bookmaker’s commission, the higher the odds and payouts.
Two types of odds display are mainly used on betting sites in Ireland:
- Decimal Odds:
- Represent the total payout (stake + winnings).
- Example: Odds of 2.0 means you get €2 for every €1 staked (€1 profit).
- Fractional Odds:
- Represent potential profit relative to the stake.
- Example: 3/1 odds mean you win €3 for every €1 staked.
Here are the odds for a specific match on three betting sites: Crystal Palace — Tottenham (October 27, 2023) in the English Premier League.
Crystal Palace (W1) | Draw | Tottenham (W2) | Margin (%) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
LiveScore Bet | 3/1 (4.00) | 3/1 (4.00) | 10/13 (1.77) | 6.10% |
QuinnBet | 3/1 (4.00) | 29/10 (3.90) | 5/6 (1.83) | 5.02% |
Ladbrokes | 16/5 (4.20) | 27/10 (3.70) | 4/5 (1.80) | 6.01% |
As you can see, QuinnBet has the lowest margin among the presented bookies. However, low margins do not always mean better odds. For example, QuinnBet has the most competitive odds for Tottenham, but Ladbrokes has the most competitive odds for Crystal Palace and LiveScore Bet rates draw higher than the other betting sites. Therefore, it is advisable to have several betting accounts and view the selections of betting events of several bookmakers to catch the best odds on the desired outcome.
How To Place A Bet On Bookies Sites
Placing a bet online has become a streamlined process. Whether you’re a seasoned punter or someone taking their first steps into this domain, the digital platforms of bookmakers have made things straightforward.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to placing a bet on an online betting site (illustrated with BoyleSports):
- Registration. Begin by choosing a reputable online bookie. Navigate to the sign-up or registration page. A button called “Sign up”, “Registration” or “Join now” is usually found in the top right corner of a betting site or app. Click it and fill out the required details in the registration form: your name, address, email, and date of birth. Confirm your email address if necessary.
- Depositing funds. Once registered, go to the “Banking” or “Cashier” section. Select your preferred payment method – this could be a credit card, bank transfer, an e-wallet, etc. Enter the amount you wish to deposit and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Navigating to the sports section. On the homepage, you’ll often find tabs like “Sports”, “Casino”, “Poker”, etc. Click on “Sports” or its equivalent.
- Choosing your event and market. Browse through the available sports categories. Once you find your preferred sport, click on it to view upcoming matches or events. Beside each match, you’ll find odds for different outcomes – win, lose, draw, etc. Choose the specific outcome you want to bet on.
- Placing the bet. Once you click on an outcome, it will be added to your bet slip, usually located on the right side of the screen. Enter the amount you wish to wager. The potential payout or return will automatically be calculated and displayed. Review your selections and stake. Click “Place Bet” or its equivalent to finalise your bet.
- Confirming the bet. After placing your bet, you should receive a confirmation message on the betting site. You can also check your active bets in the “My Bets” or “Bet History” section.
- Await the outcome. Once the match or event concludes, if your prediction is correct, your winnings will automatically be credited to your account.
Free Bets & Betting Offers in Ireland
Quinnbet — Daily Free Bet
- Place qualifying bets before 23:59 today on greyhound racing: In Play betting options, ACCA’s, or Create-a-Bets.
- Bets must have 2.50+ odds and max €10 stakes per selection. Use your own funds, not Free bets.
- Based on 5% of your total stakes, you’ll receive a Free bet up to €5 tomorrow.
Only 1 daily Free bet per 24 hrs across promotions. The Free bet expires in 7 days. QuinnBet general terms apply.
Betmaster — 100% Deposit Bonus Up to €150
- Click the “Play!” button on the promo page between Friday 00:00 and Sunday 23:59 UTC to opt in.
- Within 24 hours, deposit €20+ to get a 100% bonus of up to €150.
- Wager the bonus 10x on at min odds of 1.70 within 72 hours.
The bonus will be credited automatically after the deposit. The max bonus is €150. The max bet with the bonus is €50. Complete wagering requirements to withdraw the bonus. One bonus per week. Betmaster terms apply.
BoyleSports — Money Back if Your Horse 2nd to SP Favourite
- Place a bet on an Irish/Northern Irish horse race outright winner.
- If your selection finishes 2nd to the SP favourite, get a refund of up to €20 in Free bets.
- Free bets will be credited within 24 hours and expire in 7 days.
Singles only. Named runners. Online bets. A max of 1 bet per race. BoyleSports terms apply.
Bet365 — 2 Goals Ahead Early Payout
- Place a pre-match bet on the Full Time Result market for selected football competitions (listed on the promo page).
- If the team you back goes 2 goals ahead, your bet will be paid out early as a winner.
- The promo applies to 80+ leagues including the Premier League, La Liga, the Champions League. Paid out bets will be settled within 15 minutes.
Singles and multiples qualify. Bet365 terms and conditions apply.
10bet — €5 Free Bets for betting on football, cricket, and more
The 10bet betting site frequently offers short-term promotions that provide Free bets for betting on various events. The mechanics are often similar:
- Opt in for the promotion during the specified timeframe.
- Place qualifying bets totaling a certain amount, usually from €25 to €40, on selected betting markets.
- Receive a Free bet to use on future bets.
Specific terms like qualifying bet requirements, Free bet stakes, and expiration vary. 10bet terms and conditions apply. Check the Promotions section for current offers with full details.
How We Evaluate Bonuses
Bookmaker’s promotional offers serve a dual purpose: they attract new users and retain the existing ones. With an array of bonuses on the market, it can be challenging to discern which ones provide genuine value. There may be a myriad of bonuses, but their types are limited, and some common factors determine their worth.
When selecting the best bonuses, our Match.Center experts evaluate them according to several key parameters. The easier the bonus is to get and the fewer restrictions there are on its use, the better. Here’s a breakdown of what to look for when choosing a bonus:
- The bonus size. This is an obvious and nevertheless sensible factor, indicating the potential reward a player might get. Larger bonuses might seem tempting, but they can come with strict conditions, making it challenging to extract real value from them.
- The qualifying period. This pertains to the duration within which you can avail of the bonus after signing up or making a deposit. Some offers might be valid for 7 days, while others might extend up to a month or more.
- The qualifying requirements. These are the specific actions you must undertake to trigger the bonus: just register (for no deposit promos), make a deposit, place a bet, etc. For instance, in a Bet & Get promotion, you might need to place a bet of at least €10 at min odds of 1.50 to qualify for a Free bet.
- The bonus usage. Not all bonuses can be used everywhere. Some might be restricted to specific sports, events, or bet types. For instance, a bonus might only be applicable to Premier League football matches or only to accumulator bets.
- Wagering requirements. This is about the number times you need to bet the bonus amount before you can withdraw it. Note that withdrawals may be suspended for your entire account: this applies not only to bonus funds, but also to your personal funds. For instance, a €10 bonus with a wagering requirement of x5 means you need to place bets totaling €50 before cashing out. Additionally, there might be conditions on which bets count towards this wagering requirements, such as bets at min odds of 1.50 or only on specific sports.
- The wagering period. Once the bonus is activated, there’s a timeframe within which you must meet the wagering requirements. It could range from a few days to several weeks. A longer duration is generally more player-friendly as it gives you more time to meet the requirements.
Criteria | Good Bonus | Bad Bonus |
---|---|---|
Type | Bet & Get | Deposit Bonus |
Qualifying Requirements | Deposit €5 and bet €5 | Minimum deposit of €50 (high amount) |
Bonus Amount | €20 in Free bets (4x the initial deposit) | 100% of the deposit (up to €50) |
Bonus Usage | No specific restrictions (Flexible) | Only football markets |
Wagering Requirements | None for the Free bets | High 5x wager (total bets of €250 to release the bonus) |
Wagering Time | No wagering | Just 7 days from receiving the bonus |
Conclusions:
- A good bonus. This bonus is user-friendly and offers a low entry threshold, making it easy for newcomers to avail. The absence of any Free bet wagering requirements is an enticing feature. Players stand to gain a sizable bonus (4 times their deposit), all without too many strings attached. This can motivate more players to try out the betting site and place bets.
- A bad bonus. While the 100% match might initially seem appealing, the high deposit requirement combined with the stringent 5x wagering condition makes this bonus less attractive. Additionally, the short 7-day window to meet these wagering requirements can be challenging, especially for recreational bettors. This might deter many from availing the bonus or could result in the forfeiture of the bonus due to unmet conditions.
Betting Sites with Live Streaming
Many customers prefer In Play betting for several practical reasons:
- In Play betting stakes are settled much faster.
- The gamble excitement of betting on current matches is higher.
- In Play betting odds change constantly and quickly, which at some point stimulates brain activity.
It’s convenient for any bettor to have a chance to watch the match on the same betting site where they place a bet. That is why live streaming of sporting events is a substantial benefit for any bookmaker. Not all Ireland betting sites are ready to allocate funds for developing a streaming service, and therefore the value of bookmakers with live streams is exceptionally high.
Here are the best online bookmakers in Ireland offering live streaming:
- Bet365. It’s one of the betting sites in the Irish betting market regarding the number of events with video streaming.
- BoyleSport. Most streams cover horse racing and football betting.
- Unibet. The bookmaker will delight not only with streams but also with a variety of live betting markets for each live match.
Payment Methods Available At Ireland Best Betting Sites
Before we move on to the list of popular payment methods, we would like to emphasise two points:
- From January 1, 2022, there is a ban on credit card payments in Ireland. This regulation applies to all betting sites that signed up for the Irish Bookmakers Association Social Responsibility Fund (SRF). The ban does not affect debit cards, which remain one of the most popular payment methods.
- Some payment methods are excluded from betting promotions. Very often this applies to e-wallets like PayPal, Skrill, Neteller and prepaid cards (like paysafecard). This means that if you make a qualifying deposit using an excluded payment method, you will not receive the bonus. Be sure to check the list of allowed payment methods when you are going to participate in the promotion.
The best Irish betting sites offer many ways to deposit and withdraw money that Irish customers can use. The most popular ones are:
- Debit cards. This is the most popular payment method. All online betting sites in Ireland support it. Deposits from debit cards are immediately credited to your account. Withdrawals can take from 3 to 5 days but usually you can withdraw your money much faster.
- Bank transfers. It’s classic. And this is one of the safest methods of financial transactions. Betting companies in Ireland usually offer only withdrawals via bank transfers. However, deposits through this method are sometimes available. There’s only one disadvantage this method has. This is a low speed of transaction.
- PayPal. A leading e-wallet service, PayPal offers instant deposits and quick withdrawals. It’s user-friendly and maintains a strong reputation for safety and customer protection. Do you think PayPal deserves a separate article? Nothing is spared for you — here is a large selection of PayPal betting sites to your attention.
- Skrill. Another popular e-wallet, Skrill provides instant transactions and is often favoured by those who engage in frequent betting due to its ease of use.
- Neteller. Similar to Skrill, Neteller is an e-wallet that facilitates quick deposits and withdrawals on betting sites. It’s widely used in the online gambling industry and has a robust security framework.
- paysafecard. A prepaid card solution, paysafecard allows Irish punters to deposit funds without the need for a bank account or debit card. We must say that this is quite a distinctive payment system, so we recommend you to read the article “paysafecard betting sites“, where we tell in detail about its peculiarities.
- Revolut. A digital banking alternative, Revolut offers fast transactions and real-time notifications. It’s rapidly gaining popularity due to its flexibility and array of features beyond just payments. Read more in the material “Betting sites that accept Revolut“.
- Trustly. This payment system allows customers to use fast money transfers from bank accounts. Trustly is positioned as an alternative to bank cards. The list of bookmakers in Ireland that support this payment method includes 10bet, Mr. Play and many other betting sites.
Don’t expect even the best betting sites to support all these payment methods. As an example, here are some popular platforms and the list of payment options supported for deposits:
Bookies Ireland | Cards | PayPal | Bank Transfer | Neteller | Paysafecard | Trustly | Skrill | Revolut |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
888sport | ✔ | X | X | ✔ | X | ✔ | ✔ | X |
William Hill | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | X | ✔ | X |
Bet365 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | X | ✔ | X | X | X |
BoyleSports | ✔ | ✔ | X | ✔ | ✔ | X | ✔ | ✔ |
LiveScore Bet | ✔ | ✔ | X | X | X | X | X | ✔ |
Betting sites and the best payment methods:
Bookies Ireland | Minimum Deposit | Minimum Stake | Withdrawal Speed | Max Payout |
---|---|---|---|---|
888sport | €10 | €0.01 | up to three days (PayPal) | €250 000 |
Sky Bet | €5 | €0.05 | up to 2 hours (Visa debit) | €1 million |
BetVictor | €5 | €0.05 | 30 minutes (Visa Direct) | €500 000 |
Betfair | €5 | €1 | 1-4 hours (PayPal, Skrill, Neteller) | €1 million |
bet365 | €5 | €0.10 | 24 hours (e-wallets) | €2 million |
Online Betting and Gambling in Ireland
State regulation of gambling in Ireland started in the 19th century. The first version of the law was accepted in 1856. The legislation changed many times covering betting agencies, lotteries, totes, and casinos.
The Betting Act was introduced in Ireland in 1931. It covered betting, horse and greyhounds racing. The Irish state adopted the Gaming and Lotteries Act in 1956. It banned all forms of gambling except betting. Owners of some small companies started to evade the ban in 2000s. Virtual platforms were introduced. The legislation had to be revised again. As a result, online betting in the Republic of Ireland became legal as most of the other forms of online gambling. But it is strictly regulated. Currently, Irish bookmakers online are legal, as well as brick&mortar shops. They are regulated by the following acts:
- The Betting Acts.
- The Totalisator Act.
- The Gaming and Lotteries Acts.
- The National Lottery Act 2013.
According to the HRB data, over 49% of Irish citizens over the 15 years participate in gambling. The most popular forms are:
- Lotteries and scratch cards.
- Sports betting.
- Horse and greyhound racing betting.
Online betting companies in Ireland must be licenced to legally operate on the market. The licence is valid for 2 years. The document confirms that a betting company is legal and supervised by the government. Offline and online bookmakers in Ireland are licenced and regulated by the Revenue Commissioners.
Match.Center reminds you to gamble responsibly and place bets only via licenced Irish online betting sites.
Conclusion
We hope we have helped you choose the best betting sites specifically for your needs. At the end we would like to give you some tips and summarise the article:
- Don’t look for one perfect site in everything. There is simply no such thing, and this applies even to the betting giants. Bet365, for example, is without a doubt a great service. It does have the most broadcasts and cyber sports disciplines. However, the welcome bonus is worse than BoyleSports (from our link), there is no Free bet club which Sky Bet has, less outcomes for top football matches than Novibet. And there is nothing stopping you from signing up to all of these sites and getting everything they can give you.
- Try to increase your bank through bonuses. As we’ve just mentioned, you can sign up to every legal betting site in Ireland and receive a welcome bonus from each, as long as you’re happy with the terms and conditions. Take advantage of bonuses for registered customers too: Free bet clubs, loyalty programmes with cashbacks, bet on outcomes with increased odds, take part in free competitions.
- Read our other content. We make selections by sports and payment methods, reviewing specific bookmakers on a variety of criteria. We are not infallible and sometimes we cannot extract information (usually because the needed info is not presented correctly and the support team of a betting site sometimes doesn’t know much about that betting site). However, what we can say for sure is that we put a huge amount of effort into gathering and providing you with reliable information.
Betting Sites Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Best Betting Sites in Ireland?
Our experts agree on bet365 as the best betting site. Regarding the others, each betting site offers its own advantages: innovative technologies, a large selection of betting offers, appealing bonuses, Esports betting, fast payouts, and more. It’s up to you to choose a betting company that you think fits you best. Analyse betting sites to specify their strengths and choose the one that suits your interests.
Which Betting Site Has the Highest Payout?
We think you can squeeze the most money out of bookmakers Betiton, Betsafe and Unibet. The first two offer excellent odds, which will increase your income from winning bets. Unibet also has low margins, plus Boosted odds promotions.
Which One is the Best App for Betting?
We believe that the best betting app in Ireland today is offered by BoyleSports. It has excellent navigation to make betting as quick and convenient as possible, as well as an attractive design and a well-structured statistics section.
How Many Bookies Are in Ireland?
There are more than 50 betting sites in Ireland. Although we don’t count all of them, Match.Center only writes about licensed bookmakers. At the time of publication, there are 54 licensed bookmakers in the country.
Are Betting Sites Legal in Ireland?
Yes. Betting in Ireland is completely legal. Revenue Commissioners issue licences for bookmakers.
Are Online Betting Sites Safe?
Online betting sites can be safe if they are licensed and regulated by reputable authorities. These sites use advanced security measures such as encryption technologies to protect users’ personal and financial information. Additionally, they have robust responsible gambling policies, which ensures that users have a positive and secure betting experience.
What Sports are Popular for Betting in Ireland?
The most popular sports among Irish bettors are football and horse racing. Online betting sites put particular emphasis on them.