Gambling Ireland
The online gambling industry in Ireland is 100% legal and estimated to be worth nearly 10€ billion. Currently, the Revenue Commissioners and the Regulator of the National Lottery are two of the government institutions responsible for the local control. Online gambling in Ireland has been officially legal since the passing of the Betting (Amendment) Act in 2015. Since the remote gambling industry is currently opened for both offshore and Irish operators, many gambling companies have taken the opportunity to enter the Irish gambling market. Although gambling has a long history in Ireland, the Irish authorities have recognised that the legislation governing gambling requires modernisation. As currently drafted, betting (remote, non. The Casino Regulation Committee was set up in August 2006 and its report was published in July 2008 under the title Regulating Gaming In Ireland (PDF - 2.11MB) Review of Gambling A paper entitled Options for Regulating Gambling published in December, 2010, represented the culmination of a public consultation undertaken by the Department as part. Ireland: Gambling Laws and Regulations 2021. ICLG - Gambling Laws and Regulations - covers common issues in gambling laws and regulations – including relevant authorities and legislation, application for a licence, licence restrictions, digital media, enforcement and liability – in 37 jurisdictions.
Put against a backdrop of a rapidly growing online casino industry, what’s happening with an online casino in Ireland might look like a long overdue but it’s not! The country has been in step with the progress that has been made in the industry and has plenty to offer to punters residing there. We’ll talk all things gambling Ireland in our guide so stay with us until the end. For starters, do check out the list of operators we have featured.
| Irish Online Casino | Rating | Bonus Amount | Casino Site Highlight | Secure Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 888 Casino | 5.0/5 | 200€ | Visit 888casino.com | |
| LeoVegas | 4.9/5 | 400€ | Rich Collection of Casino Games | Visit leovegas.com |
| JackpotCity | 4.9/5 | 1600€ | Visit www.jackpotcity.com | |
| Casimba | 4.8/5 | £5000 | Industry’s Leading Welcome Bonus | Visit casimba.com |
| Betway | 4.7/5 | 1000€ | Visit betway.com | |
| Casino.com | 4.5/5 | 400€ | Great Loyalty Programme | Visit www.casino.com |
| Casumo | 4.5/5 | 300€ | Visit casumo.com | |
| Mr Green | 4.3/5 | 100€ | 400+ Slot Machines | Visit www.mrgreen.com |
| Magic Red | 4.2/5 | 200€ | Visit magicred.com | |
| Spin Casino | 4.2/5 | 1000€ | Superb software developers | Visit www.spincasino.com |
It’s generally a good policy to stake your success on a versatile product as is the case with the online casino sites in Ireland. To see if they live up to the hype, we had to test what they have to offer. The way our review is laid out will allow you to soak in all the information in your own stride. We set the wheels in motion with a short introduction to our criteria and the way we perform due diligence checks. Yes, we checked quite a few things in your stead and will be happy to share the list of Irish operators that scored the highest. Find your way around quickly with the help of the navigation buttons below.
Casinos Online in Ireland – Summary of the Result of Our Check for 2020
his right here is the crux of the matter. Down below is a handpicked selection of sites with very distinct strong points. What sets each of the operators apart from the rest is detailed in the first column. Those are things like payouts, best slots for Irish players, or could even be the software running on the platform. To pinpoint the overall best-performer, we factor in all of the above while sifting through our selection. Either way, you are presented with a list of front-runners, all of which praiseworthy and it wouldn’t be a mistake to settle for what any of them has on offer.
| Editor’s Top Irish Casino | 888 Casino |
|---|---|
| Total Sites Checked | 5 |
| Top Irish Casino Bonus | Casimba |
| Best Casino Payout | 96.5% at LeoVegas |
| Best Slot Casino | LeoVegas |
| Best PayPal Casino | 888 Casino |
| Irish Casino Games | 11 of game types |
| Players’ Software Pick | NetEnt |
| Biggest Jackpot | 6,500,000€ |
| The Revenue Commissioners | |
| Legal Body | Department of Justice and Equality |
| Other Legal Gambling | Lottery |
Safety and Security – Stay Safe While Gambling in Ireland
The Revenue Commissioners – the gambling regulator of Ireland – runs a tight ship of selected brands showing the necessary commitment to be granted an operating licence. While this might be a spurious blessing for all the gaming companies wanting to get in on the act, it’s of vital importance to the customers who hope for a safe and enjoyable online casino Ireland experience. At the present moment, it’s a joint effort between the Revenue Commissioners and The Department of Justice and Equality that keeps online gambling in Ireland up to standard. When the legality of a gambling operator is concerned, both establishments play an important role, but ultimately the Department of Justice and Equality has the final word on all overseas applications.
- The first thing we are looking for in a casino is whether it has a valid licence from The Department of Justice and Equality. Secondly, we give credit to those of the operators who are working with responsible gambling organisations.
- The technologically-minded part of our team checks the availability of SSL-encryption and whether or not a suitable certificate has been issued. Here are the safety banners you can trust in the domain of Irish online gambling.
- We feel duty-bound to stay informed of the latest developments in the casino world. To that end, we follow the reforms in the gambling laws of Ireland closely. We also keep track of the news that come out daily.
Casino Game Selection in Ireland – What Can You Play?
To say that one or many of the casinos serving Irish players lend themselves to a certain playstyle would be a massive understatement because they are naturally well-rounded and support many play styles. Part of the fabric is not only games like blackjack and roulette, but also other more intricate propositions known only to the seasoned punters. With this good a mixture of games, it’s easy to find an outlet for your gaming ambitions. The visual proof for that is the handy list of categories in which you can find all casino games legally available to Irish punters. At least one of them must be right up your alley.
- Caribbean Stud
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- 3 Card Brag
- Craps, Slots
- Live Dealer Games
- Baccarat
- Scratch Cards
Judging by the number of blackjack promotions in Ireland, the famous card game has to be the popular choice for punters from the country. They don’t have a reason to look over their solder while enjoying the huge range of games of chance that’s out there because there are no category restrictions set by the law. The legal situation in Ireland is so uniquely permissive that you can find and play pretty much anything you like. Not to mention that some operators combine more than one gambling service in their platforms. That immensely increases the range of betting markets at your disposal.
Ireland Slots: Top Sites & Games
To build on previous success, often you have to switch gears. In casino lingo, that means to try another game. Based on that, you would need a gambling site with a solid foundation of slots in its selection. Ireland’s favourite slot is Starburst, so there’s a good chance you might like it as well. You can find that and other top games at LeoVegas – the best slot site for Ireland. If you haven’t decided on which game is your favourite, we have a few more propositions that might ring a bell. Each of them goes hand in hand with a recommended casino.
There are multiple reasons those slots tally with the taste of Irish punters. And we really mean there’s more beneath the HD graphics, which are immaterial to the conservative gambler anyway. We are talking about real sell9ing points like return-to-player rates, rewarding bonus rounds, and other pertinent parameters. Most of allan some cherish the functionality that allows them to play for prolonged periods with little to no effort. For example, with the help of Autospin and Turbo modes, you can make a light work of a few hundred spins and see what lady luck has in store for you in a matter of minutes.
Casino Jackpots for Irish Players
Jackpots are the meat and potato of real money online slots. The only downside is that some jackpots are geo-restricted. Those that are available though are a great way to smarten up your game because of sheer profit margins. There’s no minimum qualifying bet, so you are mostly in for all the marbles with whatever bet you decide to make. Though the majority of online casinos in Ireland would dish out jackpot money via their slot games, other game types can also put you in the race for a jackpot.
- Rise of the Pharaohs – 1,680,000€
- Millionaire Genie Scratch – 1,684,137€
- Aztec Realm – 2,150,830€
- Irish Riches Scratch – 1,690,000€
- Mermaid’s Millions Scratch 2,179, 000€
In truth, there’s nothing more incentivising for a die-hard gambler than a swelling jackpot, but true to the saying ‘what goes up must come down’ so too jackpots fall every so often. Or they might increase drastically overnight caused by a soaring interest. The best way to stay in the loop with jackpot games is to choose a top online casino in Ireland and to check in regularly. Frequently, you will be able to find supplementing slot offers that will make it even easier to have a go at big money.
Roulette, Blackjack & Other Games
Though the sites for gambling in Ireland come across as the slot casino type, their table game selections also come up to scratch. What are the categories exactly? A straight up answer would always include roulette and blackjack. If you want to cast your net wider, you will also find casino Hold’em, Dragon Tiger, baccarat, Dream Catcher, and others. It’s just a matter of going about browsing for a few minutes. Don’t get us wrong, not only blackjack and roulette are household names. The rest of what we mentioned also enjoys massive popularity and can be played both live and non-live.
It never ceases to amaze us how different nations have a particular liking for specific casino games. For example, Irish casino-lovers seem to have a scratch card slant, hence the great variety of titles in that category. It’s very understandable that tendency when you consider how easy it is to get started with scratch cards. Also called instant-win games, scratch cards make a good fist of delivering lottery and casino vibe in a single piece of gaming product. Not to mention how well they can beef up your bankroll, especially if you were to scoop in a nice payout.
The Best Bonuses for Irish Players
Claiming an Ireland gambling bonus Is one of the first things you’ll have going for you. Quite naturally such offers are not few and far between. Still and all, you should always look past the exterior of such propositions and try to work out whether the actual conditions are favourable for you or not. Those are the playthrough, available payment methods, game contribution and others. Leave it up to the inventive casino operators to add a new wrinkle in the terms and conditions. Even so, our trained eye knows how to spot a good deal, and this is what we’ve been doing. We always endeavour to keep abreast of the latest casino offers for Irish players. Our current favourite welcome bonus for Ireland is the one below.
| Casino | LeoVegas |
|---|---|
| Bonus Rating | 4.9/5 |
| Bonus | 400€ |
| Highlights | 1200+ Games ,Irish Payment Providers |
| Link | Get Bonus |
First things first, you have additional free spins to the deal. In its core, that’s a deposit match bonus which is something of a standard these days. Still, the percentage is more than fair and is enough to match a decent first deposit. Let’s talk about the free spins for a little bit. They entitle you to free games on a popular online slot, which already sounds pretty good to us. Not only that, but you are not pressed for time since they have a validity period that grants you some breathing room. Consequential deposits are also allowed for meaning that you can seal a long-term deal that guarantees a steady bonus money income over time.
The Best Irish Casino Payouts – Data for 2020
Whether you are launching a game to give it a test run or you’re hoping to lock in a nice profit, some parameters need to be looked at beforehand. The two basic concepts that you need to pay attention to are the RTP (return-to-player) and house edge. You can even narrow your research down to house edge because it’s how the casino turns the tables in its favour. What’s not house edge is added to the return-to-player percentage. We did a good deal of research before selecting the following five online gambling sites in Ireland and what they are good for.
- Grand Ivy (Best Slot Payouts) – 95.76%
- Betway (Best Roulette Payouts) – 97.31%
- 888Casino (Best Blackjack Payouts) – 98.34%
- LeoVegas (Best Live Payouts) – 97.50%
- Casimba Casino (Top Jackpot RTP) –93.86%
Breaking down the listing above requires the knowledge that those are average values. To extract that information, we’ve spent hours browsing and playing casino games. We’ll give you part of the reason why the ranking looks as it is. Those are the max RTP values for each individual category. LeoVegas offers Blitz Blackjack with an RTP of 99.5%. 888Casino’s Multihand Blackjack boasts an RTP of 99.62% The Grand Ivy’s slot Sizzling 777 Deluxe has an RTP of 96.42% The top jackpot game of Casimba in terms of RTP is Apollo – God of Sun. Its return-to-player is 97.17%. The RTP of French Roulette, as seen in Betway Casino, can be reduced to 98.65%.
Casino Software and Online Platform – Irish Players’ Top Pick
It’s not just a whim, the software is part of the fabric of a game and the experienced punters know that. For the same reason, we want to see developer companies with a proven track record of making quality games. Make no mistake, the gambling operators wish to the same, but still, some do a better job in this regard. The most popular casino software in Ireland is Playtech. There’s no need to take note of that because pretty much all Irish gambling sites feature Playtech extensively. There are, however, other options in terms of software developers like NetEnt and Microgaming so never feel obliged to go with the popular choice.
Live Casinos – Play with Real-Life Dealers
While some pin all their hopes on video games of chance, others are well-aware of the advantages that live dealer casinos in Ireland bring to the table. It’s impossible for RNG-powered software to pinch-hit for the authentic vibe of a live casino. It’s also true that a fully developed gambling site ought to have both in order to remain competitive. However, the demand for real-time gaming is o the upswing in Ireland too. The modern punter is much more likely to opt for the live dealer rooms rather than traditional online casino games. On that note, below, you can find our top live casino online for Ireland.
| Casino | Betway |
|---|---|
| Live Casino Rating | 4.7/5 |
| Bonus | Up To 1000€ |
| Highlights | Live Games: 50,Evolution Gaming |
| Link | Play Live! |
When we went about looking for the best live casino for Ireland, we had a specific vision about what the best pick would be. We selected a gambling operator with a solid welcome bonus, a sufficient number of live casino games, and a renowned gaming provider to back everything up. As is the case with other gaming operators, some tables would be open 24/7 while others (especially VIP tables) are online only for a convenient for Irish players time of the day.
Mobile Casinos – Android & iOS Apps and Direct Browser Access
In present days, there are hardly any gaming sites without a mobile analogue. That trend meets zero opposition in the world of gambling in Ireland and thus a thriving industry was born. That being said, most online casino sites will work on your phone or tablet, giving you access to full-fledged Irish casino platforms. There’s nothing like playing on the go on a wide-screen Samsung Galaxy S7. It’s quite an enjoyable experience from the standpoint of a seasoned player. In addition to the superior interface and button placement, if you are lucky, some operators will give you a shot at special offers for mobile users.
Casino Payments – How to Make Fast Deposits and Withdrawals
The payment methods you use for your gambling venture are paramount in that they are the first line of defence for your money. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that people are more reliant now on e-Wallets than they were at the beginning of the century, That doesn’t make banking cards out of the equation but forms a trend that online gambling sites in Ireland follow. It’s not a shocker that PayPal comes to the fore as the option most punters hailing from the country prefer. That can barely be described as coincidence given the roaring success of the best PayPal online casinos. Find a full list of Irish casino payment methods just below this paragraph.
- Mastercard
- VISA
- PayPal
- Neteller
- Skrill
- Wire Transfer
- Paysafecard
Fast deposits and withdrawals are absolutely in line with the high quality of customer service maintained by the online casinos in Ireland. PayPal is again a cut above the rest in terms of processing speed. It lends to quick transfers, be it outbound or inbound. You can deposit into your casino account pretty much instantly because the platform is designed to keep the wait time to a minimum. That policy also ties in with the relatively fast withdrawals – from 2 to 24 hours. Bear in mind, the pending time for withdrawals would vary depending on the casino.
Gambling Age In Ireland
Are Online Casinos in Ireland Legal? – Gambling Law Guide for 2020
| Department of Justice and Equality | |
| Legal Gambling Age | 18 |
|---|---|
| Gambling Law | Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 |
As it stands, the official bodies that handle licensing and regulation of gambling in Ireland, haven’t yet been merged in one establishment. Conversely, there are three separate establishments taking care of each individual aspect. The Revenue Commissioners is responsible for issuing licences to gambling firms based in the country. All applications of firms based abroad are reviewed by the Department of Justice and Equality. When it comes to the National Lottery, the official regulator of thereof is responsible for officialising the charitable events powered by it. As for the legal gambling age, the law is crystal clear that punters must be 18 and above.
The gambling law of Ireland delineates clear rules as to what is legal and what practices are not legal. Keeping this as our golden standard, we’ve selected our top recommendations. The online casinos featured in this review adhere to the norms specified in Ireland’s gambling legislation. The most recent changes were officialised in 2015 when an amendment to the Betting Act was passed. There’s the main piece of legislation known as the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 which is still used as the backbone of the modern-day law. Though the country constitutes different regions, all residents are on equal footing when it comes to the issue of online gambling.
| Country | Is Gambling Legal? |
|---|---|
| Galway | Yes |
| Mayo | Yes |
| Donegal | Yes |
List of Irish Casino Sites – Approved & Legal Operators for 2020
Ireland is a hotspot for gambling operators from abroad and from within the country. It’s close to impossible to stay au courant with the latest developments in the remote gambling industry of Ireland. That’s why we wanted putting on display the full list of licensed Irish casinos one more time for you.
FAQ – All Your Questions Answered
It’s only normal that your top-of-mind concerns are actually among the frequently asked questions. You don’t ever have to play catch up ever again, we are going to answer the commonly asked questions by Irish punters right here right now. Put on your thinking cap and get to reading.
🏆 Which online casinos are the best for players in Ireland?
The best casino operators in Ireland are a selection of international firms holding an operating licence for the territory of the country. They boast well-rounded online platforms with Irish payment methods, welcome bonuses in euro, and other similar perks.
💵 Do you get a bonus for gambling in Ireland's online casinos?
Welcome bonuses for Irish casino players are a big part of the reason why people join gambling sites in the first place. There are such offers, and they mostly comprise of a deposit match bonus and free spins. An account and deposit have to be made for the deal to come into effect.
📊 Are gambling winnings taxable in Ireland?
There is a flat tax of 25% on gambling winnings In the case of a really large casino payout (over $5,000) there's an income tax that withholds certain percentage of the winnings. When it comes to lottery winnings, they are not subject to taxation but giving part of your winnings away is taxable.
🎰 Can I play Ireland slots on mobile?
The best Irish online slots are also available on mobile. Mobile slots implement the full functionality and paytables of the desktop product (if there is one). Nowadays, not only slots but pretty much all newer casino games are made with a mobile-first design.
💳 What are the deposit methods for Irish casino players?
Irish punters are given the freedom to open and fund a casino account using the latest online payment technology. We listed all payment platforms Irish players can make use of for the purpose of remote gambling in our casino guide.
Conclusion – Results of Our Check and the Best Casino Site in Ireland
Gaming in Ireland has achieved currency due to the immense interest in the activity in recent years. Refresh your memory with our Irish online casino ranking for December, 2020. At the risk of saying something we’ve said already, we want to add in that those are all licensed operators with top-grade gambling platforms. Of the bunch, we picked just one, which we think has achieved the highest levels of legal compliance and customer care.
| Casino | 888 Casino |
|---|---|
| Bonus | 200€ |
| Rating | 5.0/5 |
| Link | Play Here! |
| Highlights | 25 Free Spins,Regular Promotions,Evolution Gaming Casino |
| Licences | Gamcare,www.gamblock.com,GeoTrust |
All questions
Overview
i DefinitionsMany forms of gambling have been regulated in Ireland for centuries. Irish law distinguishes primarily between three main forms of gambling: betting, gaming and lotteries.
BettingBetting is governed by the Betting Act 1931, as amended by the Betting (Amendment) Act 2015 (the Betting Acts).
The word 'bet' is not defined in Irish law. Instead, the Betting Acts state that '. . . the word bet includes wager . . .'. The scope of what constitutes a bet has fallen to be determined at common law by the courts, although case law is rare. In Mulvaney v. The Sporting Exchange Ltd trading as Betfair, Clarke J stated that:
While bookmaking is not defined in that legislation it seems to me that the term bookmaker derives from a person or body 'making a book' on an event. In other words, the person or body concerned offers odds on all or a significant number of eventualities arising in respect of the same event (for example, offers odds on each horse winning or offers odds on either team winning a football game, or, indeed that game resulting in a draw). Thus, a person carrying on the business of bookmaking is someone who habitually offers to cover a range of possible eventualities on future uncertain events. Two private individuals entering into a wager on the same future uncertain event could not remotely be said to be engaged in the business of bookmaking.
Accordingly, the general consensus arising from case law is that betting encompasses a bookmaker setting fixed odds against a future event, taking bets on that event and paying out winnings.
GamingGaming is governed primarily by the Gaming and Lotteries Acts 1956–2013 (the Gaming and Lotteries Acts).
Gaming is defined in the Gaming and Lotteries Acts as 'playing a game (whether of skill or chance or partly of skill and partly of chance) for stakes hazarded by the players'. A stake is defined as including 'any payment for the right to take part in a game and any other form of payment required to be made as a condition of taking part in the game but does not include a payment made solely for facilities provided for the playing of the game'.
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LotteriesLotteries are permitted by the Gaming and Lotteries Acts, but are heavily regulated and there are restrictions on their operation. As per the Gaming and Lotteries Acts, a lottery 'includes all competitions for money or money's worth involving guesses or estimates of future events or of past events the results of which are not yet ascertained or not yet generally known'.
The Irish National Lottery falls outside the scope of the Gaming and Lotteries Acts and, instead, is regulated by the National Lottery Act 2013 (the 2013 Act), which repealed and replaced the terms of the National Lottery Act 1986. In 2013, following a competitive tender process, the Irish government awarded a 20-year licence to operate the Irish National Lottery to a consortium involving An Post (the Irish post office) and led by the UK national lottery operator, Camelot. The most notable feature of the 2013 Act is the establishment of a new office, the Regulator of the National Lottery, whose primary functions are to ensure that the Irish National Lottery is run with all due propriety, to ensure that participants' interests are protected and to ensure that the long-term sustainability of the Irish National Lottery is safeguarded.
Tote/pari-mutel bettingThe Totalisator Act 1929 provides for the establishment and regulation of the Totalisator by the Irish Revenue Commissioners. The Irish Horse Racing Industry Act 1994 provided that the Irish Horse Racing Authority could apply for and hold a totalisator licence. This was later transferred to Horse Racing Ireland by the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, and the licence is currently held by a subsidiary of Horse Racing Ireland called Tote Ireland. Tote Ireland's current licence is due to expire in 2021. Bord na gCon (the national greyhound board) is licensed to operate a totalisator at greyhound tracks.
Financial spread bettingSpread betting on financial instruments is governed by the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (2004/39/EC) and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Prize bondsIrish Government Prize Bonds are regulated separately from other forms of gaming and lotteries. They are described in the Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1956 as non-interest bearing securities that are 'subject to such conditions as to repayment, redemption or otherwise as [the Minister] thinks fit and in relation to which chance may be used to select particular securities for prizes'.
Pool bettingThere is no equivalent in Ireland to the types of pool betting licences (non-remote and remote pool betting licences) that can be obtained from the UK Gambling Commission and that can be used by operators to provide pool betting or fantasy sports products. Instead, if an operator in Ireland wishes to provide a pool betting or fantasy sports product in which the amount of money won by the successful customers is calculated by dividing the total pool (minus commission) by the number of winners, it would be necessary to analyse the characteristics of the product to determine whether it could be characterised as a bet or a game under Irish law.
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Betting on lotteriesThere is no specific licence in Ireland for betting on the outcome of lotteries. There are a number of operators offering such products to Irish consumers under a remote bookmaker's licence. There is no prohibition on betting on the result of the Irish National Lottery.
ii Gambling policyAlthough gambling has a long history in Ireland, the Irish authorities have recognised that the legislation governing gambling requires modernisation. As currently drafted, betting (remote, non-remote and intermediary) is permitted where a licence has been issued under the Betting Acts. Gaming and lotteries (except for the National Lottery) are primarily governed by the Gaming and Lotteries Acts. However, under the Gaming and Lotteries Acts, gaming is prohibited unless it falls under one of the exemptions contained in the Acts.
Those exemptions broadly relate to gaming that takes place in circuses, carnivals and amusement halls, and gaming that is operated in a certain way. The Gaming and Lotteries Acts have not been updated to take account of internet gaming. It is, however, common for operators that are lawfully licensed overseas to offer online gaming services to Irish customers provided that the gaming contracts are not governed by Irish law.
There is a political desire to modernise Irish gambling law. On 15 July 2013, the government published the heads of the Gambling Control Bill 2013 (the Scheme), which, if enacted, would have modernised Ireland's legislative framework for all types of online and land-based gambling. However, in early 2018, media reports indicated that there are plans to scrap the Scheme and prepare and publish a new, updated Scheme, on the basis that the original Scheme is now considered outdated and no longer fit for purpose. In March 2019, the government approved the establishment of a gambling regulatory authority and the publication of the Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019 (the '2019 Amendment Bill'), which provides for the long overdue modernisation of the Gaming and Lotteries Acts. See Section VIII, below, for further information.
The Irish National Lottery is designed to raise money for charities and good causes.
iii State control and private enterpriseFor the most part, gambling in Ireland is the subject of private enterprise and the normal principles of free competition apply. Private citizens and companies, whether based in Ireland or abroad, are entitled to apply for a betting licence subject to fulfilling the various requirements to obtain a licence. The main exception to this policy is the Irish National Lottery, which is the subject of the 2013 Act, under which a single licensee is chosen to operate the Irish National Lottery following a competitive tender.
iv Territorial issuesWhere regulated, gambling is generally regulated nationally. There are generally no special states, municipalities or localities in Ireland that have separate gambling legislation. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and its gambling laws are separate to those of the Republic of Ireland.
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v Offshore gamblingOffshore gambling operators who offer betting services or betting intermediary services by remote means to Irish citizens are required to obtain either a remote bookmaker's licence or remote betting intermediary's licence from the Irish authorities under the Betting Acts. Remote in this context is described as meaning, in relation to a communication, any electronic means including the internet, telephone and telegraphy (whether wireless or not). It is clear from the list of operators who have obtained the necessary licences that there is a significant number of offshore gambling operators offering betting products to Irish citizens.
Online gaming products (e.g., casino, slots, bingo) are governed by the Gaming and Lotteries Acts, although the legislation has not been updated to take account of online internet gaming. The focus of the Gaming and Lotteries Acts is on gaming carried out in amusement halls, arcades, funfairs, carnivals, travelling circuses and slot machines and therefore quite how it is to be applied to the type of games offered online is unclear. However, it is common for operators who are licensed in other jurisdictions to offer online products to Irish customers. It is important in such circumstances that the contract between the operator and the Irish customer is not governed by Irish law. Operators should also be aware that the Gaming and Lotteries Acts prohibit the promotion, advertising and the provision of unlawful gaming products so it is important that operators are familiar with these provisions.
The Irish Revenue Commissioners actively monitor compliance by remote operators with the licensing regime that applies for remote bookmakers and remote betting intermediaries. We are aware that the Irish Revenue Commissioners have actively pursued operators who have not registered as remote bookmakers and remote betting intermediaries. In addition, we are also aware that the Irish Revenue Commissioners actively follow up with operators if they are not registered and paying remote betting tax, remote intermediary duty and VAT on e-gaming activities, and have wide-ranging powers in order to ensure compliance.
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Under the Betting Acts, the Irish Revenue Commissioners have the power to issue compliance notices to third parties who provide facilities or services (e.g., advertising, internet service provider (ISP), telecommunications, payment services) to unlicensed remote betting and betting intermediary operators requesting them to cease supplying such services to unlicensed operators. Failure to comply with a compliance notice is an offence and can lead to a fine of up to €50,000. In addition, various civil and criminal sanctions may also apply.