Best Betting Sites in Ireland (2025)

Sports Betting in Ireland: The Breakdown by Sport

Irish sports fans are among the most passionate in the world and that energy translates into a vibrant betting scene. 

Whether you’re following your local GAA team, backing a favourite at Leopardstown, or tracking top-level football, the right betting site should offer odds for all the events that matter to you.

But that's just the starting point. The prices need to provide value and there should be plenty of bonuses and boosts on offer.

Perhaps most crucially, betting sites need to be safe to use, which is why we only highlight licensed bookmakers.

Horse Racing Betting

Horse racing is woven into the fabric of Irish sporting culture. 

From Punchestown and the Curragh at home to Cheltenham and Aintree across the water, betting on racing has been popular in Ireland for centuries.

Look for horse racing betting sites that offer:

• Daily Irish & UK Racecards: Full listings of all the big jumps and flat races from Ireland and the UK - with competitive odds on runners.
• Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG): With best odds guaranteed, you get the better price if the starting price exceeds your early odds.
• Each-Way Extra: Get more each-way value with extra places in races with bigger fields.
• Live Streaming & Commentary: Ideal for watching the race unfold in real-time after you've placed a bet (or even place a bet in-running while the race is on).
• Ante-Post Markets: Early betting odds on major events like the Grand National, the Irish Derby, or Cheltenham Festival races.

Football Betting

Football remains one of the biggest drivers of betting activity in Ireland, spanning everything from the Premier League and the Irish international team to domestic League of Ireland fixtures. 

Key features to look out for at the best football betting sites include:

• Bet Builders: Create custom same-game accumulator bets by combining markets from one match - from stats and player markets to goals, cards, corners and more.
• Live Streaming: Like horse racing, football is one of the sports that you can often watch live when betting with an online bookmaker.
• Accumulator Offers: Multi-leg football bets are hugely popular and are often boosted with promotional offers.
• Early Payouts: Lots of sites now pay out your bet as a winner if the team you've backed takes a two-goal lead.

GAA Betting

Gaelic games hold a special place in Irish sport and GAA betting surges in popularity each summer, when the inter-county season reaches the business end.

However, not all betting sites treat it equally. Many platforms offer only basic coverage, while others go the extra mile - providing a far richer GAA betting experience.

The best online bookies have:

• Broad Inter-County Coverage: Not just odds for big All-Ireland fixtures, but also comprehensive markets for National League and provincial championship games.
• Early Odds Availability: Posting prices well in advance so punters have time to assess value and plan bets.
• Club Betting Options: Some sites have odds on club matches - even extending beyond senior level down to intermediate and junior games.

Golf Betting

Golf is another favourite among Irish punters, especially during the four majors and big tour events featuring homegrown talent. 

What sets the best betting sites apart isn’t just market coverage, but added value offered around major tournaments.

Look out for sites that provide:

• Extra Each-Way Places: Top bookmakers frequently offer extended each-way terms for golf - sometimes paying out on 8, 10, or even 12 places instead of the standard 5. This can make a huge difference, especially in large fields.
• Boosted Odds: Enhanced prices on headline players are often promoted in the days leading up to major tournaments, offering better potential returns without additional risk.
• Weekly Golf Specials: Some platforms also run recurring offers like bonuses on winning golf accas or weekly free bets as loyalty rewards.

Rugby Betting

While rugby betting options are more consistently available than GAA markets - there is some similarity between the two, because too many bookmakers don't do enough for rugby bettors.

The best rugby-focused betting sites typically stand out by offering:

• Early Payout Offers: If your team goes a certain number of points ahead (e.g. 10 or 14), your rugby bet is paid out early - even if they go on to lose. 
• Odds Boosts: Enhanced prices for popular try-scorers, winning margins, or accumulators around key fixtures make betting more rewarding.
• Consistent Global Coverage: The best sites must have lots of markets for competitions featuring the provinces like the URC or the Champions Cup, along with the big international tournaments like the Six Nations and Rugby World Cup.

How we Rate & Review Betting Sites

At Gambling.com, we follow a strict review and rating methodology for every betting site we recommend. 

This means we sign up and thoroughly test all of their features, so we can provide a full overview and rating for each one.

Why Trust Gambling.com for Betting Site Recommendations?

At Gambling.com, we’ve been testing and reviewing sports betting sites since 2006. 

Backed by a global team of over 600 professional betting experts, we rigorously evaluate each platform - signing up, depositing, placing bets, verifying bonuses, and testing withdrawals - to ensure only the most secure and reputable betting sites make our list.

We also value the real-world experiences of users, factoring in community feedback and comments in our rankings.

At Gambling.com, you don’t have to sift through dozens of unverified sites - we highlight the ones that deliver a safe, smooth, and rewarding betting experience.

So when you're ready to start betting, you can do it with confidence, knowing you've chosen from the very best.