Best 10 eSports Bookmakers in Ireland 2022 🇮🇪

For a long time, sports betting topped the charts as the most popular gambling form in Ireland. However, over the last decade, casino games, slots, and virtual sports games combined have become the top choice for most punters in the country. In the 2019 reports, €4.7 billion of the €9.8 billion gambled was on casino games and gambling machines. €4.3 billion was on sports betting, including eSports betting, and only €808 million was spent on scratch cards and lottery tickets.

Apart from the numbers, the generally more accepting attitude towards gambling of the Irish people is another indication of the growing popularity of gambling. The Irish society is a lot more accepting of responsible gambling, and so is the government.

History of eSports betting in Ireland

Esports betting in Ireland is relatively new. That is mainly because very few online casinos in the country used to offer eSports betting markets. The online casinos also did very little marketing on eSports as they focused their marketing budgets on the more popular traditional sports betting and casino games. Most punters were even unaware that such betting markets existed. However, all that changed within the last three years.

The Covid-19 pandemic came with many devastating effects on the sports world. Most sporting events were canceled around the globe, leaving bookies with almost nothing to offer. ESports events were not affected as much, as most of the events continued online. Bookies took advantage of that and started offering more eSports betting markets, marking the beginning of eSports betting popularity in the country. Currently, nearly all major online casinos in Ireland offer eSports betting markets.

The future of eSports betting in Ireland

ESports betting is more than likely going to continue growing in popularity in Ireland. One of the main reasons for that is eSports events are increasing in popularity, attracting more and more fans with time. Hundreds of thousands of players globally register for major eSports tournaments, with millions of fans participating as spectators.

The enormous numbers of fans and players will most likely translate into an increased number of punters who bet on the events. Additionally, eSports are known to have very attractive odds. Punters are usually searching for the best odds and will thus always keep eSports as an option.

History of gambling in Ireland

History shows that gambling in Ireland started long before the arrival of the Romans and Christianity. The evidence supporting that came from artifacts such as glass beads and dice that were discovered. The first written gambling records date back to between 110 BC and 60 AD. The people used to bet on chariot races.

Ireland became England's colony in the 17th century. That resulted in most of the customs of England being adapted in the country. That resulted in structured horse racing being established on which people used to place bets. Soon after that is when bookies started to emerge, facilitating the betting activities. That marked the beginning of institutional gambling in Ireland. By 1751, horse racing had expanded to 409 different locations, all of which punters could bet on.

Significant historical changes in gambling in Ireland

The first gambling regulations were passed in 1922 when the Irish Free State was established. The Betting Act was adopted in 1926, designed to eradicate all illegal bookies. The government began to collect taxes from bookies after that.

In 1931, the government made several changes to the Act. Among the main changes was the development of the licensing system for betting. In 1956, the government adopted a new Lotteries and Gambling Act to regulate casinos and lotteries. The Act prohibited all casino operations apart from charity-associated lotteries. However, it had a loophole that the elite Irish punters exploited.

Are eSports legal in Ireland

In the mid-1986, the Irish parliament approved the National Lottery Act, allowing the state to sell lottery tickets. In the 1990s, a digital revolution began, shaping the modern online gambling that has grown so popular. Traditional casinos started to become digitized and slowly but swiftly crept into the online world. In 2015, the government amended the Betting Act, officially making online gambling legal in the country. Currently, there are hundreds of online casinos offering thousands of games in the country. The traditional casinos also still exist and are a significant tourist attraction in Ireland.

Esports legislation in Ireland

Under Irish Law, eSports are typically considered competitions. There are no particular laws that regulate e-sport competitions. However, if operated from the country, an e-sport competition is subjected to data protection and consumer protection laws. In some instances, the laws can be enforced against some entities operating from abroad, in which Irish citizens participate.

The Irish law requires no specific certifications for e-sport tournaments. The only condition is that the computer games must be certified for public use. There are also no specified requirements applicable regarding eSports tournaments sponsorship agreements. Regarding selecting winners in an e-sport event, the general contract and consumer protection laws must apply.

Betting acts and policies in Ireland

There are five main different Acts regulating gambling in Ireland. Below is a highlight of each of them.

Betting Acts 1931 to 2015

The Betting Act was first passed in 1931 to address the country's gambling problems at the time. It provided for the control and regulation of the people engaged in bookmaking. The Act introduced licensing of bookmakers, which was to be issued by the government.

The 1931 Betting Act did not address the online betting industry, which exploded in the 2000s. Consequently, the Irish government amended it in March 2015. The Betting (Amendment) Act 2015 was signed into law by Michael Higgins, the Irish president. With the Act's core being licensing, the 2015 Act required all remote betting operators and bookmakers that provided their services in Ireland to have a license issued by the Irish government.

Totalisator Act 1929

The Totalisator Act 1929 was designed to make provision for the control and regulation of totalisators. It also controls and regulates the setting up and working of totalisators by the Revenue Commissioners and other relevant matters.

Gaming and Lotteries Acts 1956 to 2019

The main purposes of the Acts were to modernize and streamline the application processes for lottery and gaming permits and licenses for local lottery and gaming activities. It also protected underage people from gambling by standardizing the minimum gambling age at 18 years. Other key purposes of the Acts were to increase the amounts of lottery proceeds that go into charitable causes, update the prize and stake limits for gaming machines, and better promote lotteries and gaming to enhance consumer protection.

This Act underwent amendments in 2019, which came into effect in December 2020. The amendments improved on the previous legislation but have widely been described as interim measures before a more significant overhaul of the gambling legislation.

National Lottery Act 2013

The National Lottery Act 2013 allows for the legislative framework needed to hold a national lottery on behalf of the Public Expenditure and Reform Minister. The Act was signed into law to replace the National Lottery Act 1986. It also established the new Regulator of the National Lottery Office.

Finance Act 1975 (As Amended)

This Act helps with the regulation and imposing of certain custom duties and Inland Revenue, such as excise duty, to amend the laws relating to Inland Revenue and customs, and make other additional provisions related to finance. It was signed on the 14th of May 1975. It is applied to both local and offshore casinos.

Gambling regulatory authorities in Ireland

Currently, there are five different government bodies responsible for the supervision of gambling in Ireland. The five bodies are the Office of the Regulator of the National Lottery, the Department of Justice and Equality, Revenue Commissioners, the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland, and the district courts.

Top eSports games in Ireland

DOTA 2

Dota 2 is an easy game to learn but quite challenging to master. It usually hosts one of the biggest international e-sport tournaments annually, which offers massive crowdfunded prize pools. The game is also usually featured quite often in eSports news, increasing its exposure. As a result, it attracts a majority of the Irish eSports punters.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

This game is among the biggest eSports game in not only Ireland but also the entire world. It is played by millions of people globally. It is also commonly featured in numerous eSports events and tournaments, attracting millions of spectators.

League of Legends

This game has been around for over a decade now, growing in popularity all along. It has well-established leagues in Europe, North America, and Asia, with worldwide viewership. Some Irish players use LOL for a living, which is an indicator of how popular it is.

Call of Duty

This game was a major hit right from when the first version was released. It is a fast-paced first-person shooting game that offers quite a lot of fun. It quickly got into the professional scene and attracted quite a large following.

Rainbow Six: Siege

Rainbow Six is another all-time favorite of many eSports players. It has a huge and loyal following of players who spend hours every day playing the game. The game is not so forgiving to newbies, which probably is why those who master it end up being loyal to it.

Payment methods in Ireland

Credit Cards

The most common method of payment in Ireland is credit cards, and more specifically, visa cards. More than 70% of all Irish adults have had a credit card at some point, regardless of how often they use it. Nearly all major online casinos accept credit card payments and even offer bonuses for deposits made via credit cards.

E-Wallets

E-wallets are also quite popular in Ireland, especially those who often make payments internationally, such as those who play in offshore online casinos. Among the main reasons for the popularity of e-wallets are fast transaction processing and convenience. Among the most popular e-wallets used in Ireland are Skrill, PayPal, Neteller, and ecoPayz.

Cryptocurrencies

The cryptocurrency payment method is relatively new but gaining popularity quite fast in Ireland. It is particularly preferred by individuals who transact large sums of money, such as high rollers in online casinos. The most common cryptocurrencies used are Bitcoin and Etherium.

Prepaid cards

There are several prepaid cards that the Irish people usually use. Such include Paysafecard, Hyperwallet, and ecoPayz card. Prepaid cards are usually available in physical or virtual form.

Mobile payments

Irish players use several mobile payment services for casino payments. According to statistics, 78% of Irish people use their mobile phones to make payments.

FAQs about betting in Ireland

Is it legal to gamble online in Ireland?

Yes. Online gambling in Ireland is currently legal. The primary condition is that punters must bet from betting sites that the Irish government has licensed. The punters must also be above the age of 18 years.

Who regulates the gambling sector in Ireland?

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland is the main body responsible for regulating gambling in the country.

How popular is eSports in Ireland?

ESports are undoubtedly popular in Ireland. There are tens of thousands of eSports players and numerous eSports events organized within the country each year. Several Irish eSports companies are pretty successful in the country, such as Legion Sports.

How should players choose an online casino?

The most obvious factor to consider is licensing, given that the law limits Irish players to licensed casinos. Other common considerations include the range of betting markets offered, including eSports, and available promotional offers. User experience and payment method options also matter.

What types of games are included in Esports?

There is a wide variety of games covered in eSports. The most popular are multiplayer online battle arenas, first-person shooters, real-time strategy, fighting, and sports games.

Most Popular eSports Bookies in Ireland