Gambling in Ireland is, above all, a betting culture — and specifically a betting culture built on horses. From chariot races on the Curragh some two thousand years ago to the roar of Irish punters at the Cheltenham Festival, wagering on sport is deeply woven into national life. Alongside horse racing sit GAA, football and rugby betting, a hugely popular National Lottery, and a fast-growing online scene. Ireland is home to global bookmaking brands like Paddy Power and BoyleSports, and while betting is socially accepted, rising concern about gambling harm has driven landmark 2024 reforms.

A history rooted in horses

Gambling in Ireland is ancient. The medieval text Togail Bruidne Da Derga records chariot racing on the Curragh of Kildare during the reign of the High King Conaire Mor — believed to have been sometime around 110 BC to 60 AD, though his exact dates are disputed. The Curragh is still one of Ireland’s most famous racecourses today, and horse racing has been central to Irish life ever since.

Modern statutory regulation arrived in the 20th century. The Totalisator Act 1929 and the Betting Act 1931 put bookmaking and the tote on a legal footing, introducing compulsory licensing of bookmakers and betting duty collected by the Revenue Commissioners. That framework governed Irish betting for the best part of a century — until the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 replaced it with a single modern regulator, the GRAI.

The games Irish players love

  • Horse racing — the beating heart of Irish betting, from the Curragh and Leopardstown to the Cheltenham and Punchestown festivals.
  • GAA (Gaelic football and hurling) — betting on the All-Ireland championships is enormously popular.
  • Football and rugby — Premier League football and Six Nations rugby draw heavy betting.
  • The National Lottery — operated by Premier Lotteries Ireland, with draw games and scratchcards played by a large share of adults.
  • Online slots, casino, poker and bingo — a growing share of play, much of it on internationally licensed sites.

Famous Irish bookmakers

Paddy Power was founded in 1988 through a merger of three Irish bookmakers — Stewart Kenny, David Power and John Corcoran — combining around forty shops to counter British competition. In 2016 it merged with Betfair, and the group rebranded as Flutter Entertainment in 2019, now one of the world’s largest betting and gaming companies.

BoyleSports, founded by John Boyle in 1982 (his first shop was in Markethill, Co. Armagh), grew into Ireland’s largest independent bookmaker, with a large chain of shops and an online business. Ladbrokes also has a long-standing high-street presence in Ireland.

Attitudes and reform

Betting is socially accepted in Ireland and woven into big cultural moments — Cheltenham week, All-Ireland finals, the Grand National. But that acceptance now sits alongside serious public concern about gambling-related harm and the volume of gambling advertising. That concern is exactly what drove the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 and the creation of the GRAI: a shift from a light-touch, revenue-focused system toward one built around consumer protection, advertising controls and safer-gambling measures.

You must be 18+ to gamble in Ireland. Gamble responsibly — set limits, never chase losses, and reach out for help if you need it (GamblingCare.ie national helpline: 1800 936 725).

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