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Gambling Industry Overview in Ireland

The following approaches will be presented

Gambling legislation in Ireland
Gambling authorities in Ireland
Online casinos in Ireland
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Gambling has long been a favorite pastime of Irish citizens. It has been integrated deeply into the culture of the country and it is considered a pro-gambling region. Currently, the country's law supports the regulation of various forms of land-based casinos and online gambling within its island borders.

Flag of Ireland Although Ireland is primarily known for the horse and greyhound racing activities organized there, other forms of gambling are also popular. For example, bookmakers and adjusting premises, as well as wagering, have been subject to regulation in the country since the 18th century by different statutes and common law.

Billions of Euros are spent on both land-based and online gambling activities by the local citizens, annually. Irish players are currently able to choose from a decent selection of gambling opportunities throughout the country; from pari-mutuel wagering to lottery, casino games, and poker (Ireland is home to a thriving poker gaming industry), among others. Remote interactive gambling is also available in the country via domestically licensed gambling sites as well as legally licensed online gambling sites that are regulated offshore.

Overview

Gambling in Ireland was not subject to much regulatory oversight for many years until 1956 when the Gaming and Lotteries Act was established. The law made it illegal for commercial casinos to operate in the country. However, a loophole in the law helped so-called 'private members clubs' to be established by creative business owners.

The clubs, which are not prohibited in Ireland, are more or less mini-casinos that offer a variety of games including slots, video poker, blackjack and poker games, among others. In 2020, some 14 of these destinations were operating in Ireland, the majority of which were in Dublin and surrounding areas. They require a membership to partake in. It is perfectly legal to play casino games for real money at these clubs as doing so does not violate the 1956 law.

The Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1956 lies at the very core of contemporary gaming and gambling legislation in Ireland.

Relevant Legislation and Legal Framework

In 2013, an effort to make casino gambling legal in Ireland was made. The Gambling Control Bill of 2013 would see Ireland's antiquated gambling laws completely overhauled, resulting in the lion's share of gambling being regulated by a single piece of legislation. However, it has yet to be passed by parliament.

More recently, the Irish Gambling Control Bill 2018 was introduced and reportedly consider updates in the gambling industry since 2013. The bill's primary purpose is to control and monitor all types of gambling facilities including land-based and online casinos that offer their services and products in Ireland. It would also establish the Office of Gambling Control Ireland (OGCI), which would be responsible for the aforementioned, as well as the fair treatment of players, the protection of vulnerable groups, e.g., children, etc.

To the dismay of many, the bill also limits the number of brick-and-mortars to 40 licenses for the entire country at any one time. There is no provision in the bill for 'supercasinos.' And each casino is limited to operating a maximum of 15 tables and 25 gaming machines.

Also within its scope is betting, which if the bill is enacted, approximately five separate gambling and betting licenses will be offered by the OGCI, including betting, gaming, personal, temporary and remote licenses. The latter would cover both betting and gaming. However, betting on horseracing and greyhounds would still be regulated by Horse Racing Ireland and the Greyhound Board, respectively.

Lotteries and Gaming

Gambling Legislation in Ireland This category is mainly subject to the Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1956. The Act, in general, makes gaming illegal, unless it is included in certain exemptions.

The latter is also divided into two types. One is associated with gaming that takes place at carnivals, circuses, or traveling shows. The second type of exemption is related to the way in which gambling activities and games are operated.

The Act of 1956 cannot be directly related to online gambling, but some provisions are considered technically applicable to such types of operations. Still, some serious legislative changes are needed in order to transform the Act and make it more flexible in order to cover online gaming, too.

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According to the Gaming and Lottery Act of 1956, lotteries are currently legal in Ireland, though there are some restrictions. The Irish National Lottery, which is the largest lottery in the state, is governed by the National Lottery Act 2013.

In addition, the national lottery games are subjected to the rules approved and imposed by the Minister of Finance.

Betting

Until 2015, all sports and betting activities were regulated by the Betting Act of 1931, the implementation of which came after the repeal of its predecessor, the Betting Act of 1926. Among the country's citizens, bookmaking remains the most popular form of gambling. Signed into law in 2015, the Betting Amendment Act established specific licensing requirements and procedures and paved the way for offshore sportsbooks and betting exchanges to merge with Irish licensing policies and taxation requirements. The bill made it so online betting businesses looking to offer their services to Irish citizens must first acquire a remote bookmaker or betting intermediary license. To do so without one was illegal.

Online Gambling

Internet Gambling in Ireland Online gambling is currently legal in Ireland, which is one of the first countries considered to be the most liberal when it comes to making Internet-based gaming operations legal.

Web-based gambling operations were officially legalized in 2003, and the first bookmaking website was launched in 2004. Soon, it was successfully followed by other gambling operators in Ireland.

To date, the Irish Government is the one that issues licenses to web-based gambling operators that allow them to run their activities in the country. It is also legal for Irish citizens to engage in interactive casino games at domestic certified online gambling sites as well as through legally licensed offshore sites.

There was no tax or regulatory framework that would exclusively apply when it comes to online gambling in Ireland. After a certain period of consideration, the country's government made the decision to change the status quo. The Irish Betting (Amendment) Bill was published in 2012 and focused especially on filling the gap of the online gambling legislation left by the existing Betting Act of 1931.

According to the provisions of the Bill, all bookmakers that accept bets from local residents are required to obtain an Irish betting license. In addition, a “remote bookmakers” license is required from operators that accept wagers over the Internet and generate more than €200,000 or 10% of their overall turnover online, no matter if they are based in Ireland or outside the country. Bookmakers and online casino operators that do not hold a license are subject to criminal charges.

As of 2020, a 1 percent turnover tax applies to bets taken from Irish customers by both retail and remote bookmakers. Additionally, a 23 percent VAT (value-added tax) charge applies to any gaming revenue supplied electronically to Irish customers.

There was also a proposal for increasing the taxation of online gambling activities in the country. However, authorities revealed that the proposal will not be developed any time soon. The delay was announced by the country's Minister of Finance. Still, the move has found a plausible explanation, as it was a chance for bookmakers to take advantage of a grace period before the new taxation rules come into effect.

The new rules of taxation have been planed by the local authorities for several years now, but the legislation procedure was put off until it was brought to a dead end.

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Ireland Online Casino Guide

Gambling Industry Overview in Ireland

The following approaches will be presented

Overview

Relevant Legislation and Legal Framework

Lotteries and Gaming

Top Rated Online Casinos for Ireland

Betting

Online Gambling

Online Casinos that Welcome Players from Ireland

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