How the Irish gambling industry compares with the rest of the world

Gambling, including casino gaming and sports betting, has been an important cultural pastime for the people of Ireland for more than a century.

However, there is criticism within the industry concerning the regulatory framework that governs gambling, with many believing it to be outdated and unsuited to the current digital age. 

Current legislation is based on both the Betting Act of 1931 and the Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1956, two laws that have seen little change since they were first enacted. Despite this, the gambling industry in Ireland continues to thrive, both online and in land-based venues. 

Recently, the Irish government has acknowledged concerns about inadequate legislation and is looking at ways to bring it up to standard in the era of online casino gaming and mobile betting. 

Laws in Ireland are considered to be liberal in comparison to some other countries around the world, however, lack of online-specific regulation raises questions about consumer safety. We explore how Ireland’s gambling industry compares to others around the world, including the player experience and key differences in laws and regulations. 

Ireland and Canada take a different approach

The legal situation for online gambling specifically has some differences in Canada when compared with Ireland. In Ireland, there are definitive laws that govern traditional gambling, but regulation for the internet-based industry is lacking. 

This has opened up a market to international gambling site operators who are able to provide their services to players without significant legal restrictions. Players are able to access a plethora of international sportsbooks, online casinos, and other internet-based platforms and make use of the many casino bonus offers and promotions available. 

The approach to online gambling regulation is much more thorough and complex by comparison in Canada. While it is true that Canada’s federal government has not created a legal framework specific to online gambling, several individual provinces have enacted their own regulations.

The province of Ontario now has a developed online gambling market that requires all gambling operators to obtain a license from the governing body and adhere to rules in order to maintain that license. This has resulted in improved safeguards for online players but means that Canadian gamblers have less choice when compared to their counterparts in Ireland. For Canadians, the positive is that a good casino bonus can be easier to find if they know where to look. Often the best place to start is via a comparison site, they list all of the regulated providers and explains how to claim the promotions.

New gambling legislation appears to be imminent in Ireland. A bill published in December 2022 looked at repealing antiquated rules and replacing them with modern licensing and regulation. The bill once finally enacted will put limits on advertising with specific rules regarding the location of advertisements, their frequency, and their duration. 

While regulations may be different, both Canada and Ireland have competitive online gambling markets. Canada has a more controlled environment with more established safeguards in place while Ireland has less restrictions at present. 

Some countries have a much more prohibitive stance on gambling compared to Ireland

There is a sharp contrast between Ireland’s gambling industry and the approach to gambling in some parts of the world. For instance, the Middle Eastern country of Saudi Arabia heavily restricts gambling due to the religion-based laws in place. All forms of gambling are prohibited there and sanctions for doing so are severe. 

In Europe, Norway is known for having a restrictive stance of gambling, and the industry is tightly controlled by the government. Only two companies exist that are allowed to offer gambling services to Norwegian citizens, these are Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto. Norsk Tipping is state owned and overseen by the ministry that sets strict rules about what times of day players can bet and what the maximum bet sizes can be. 

By comparison to these countries, Ireland is an attractive destination for those who enjoy gambling. 

The United Kingdom’s gambling industry is highly competitive but held to a high standard

In contrast to these restrictive countries, the United Kingdom has legalized all forms of offline and online gambling, including sports betting. It is considered to be one of the world’s most well-regulated gambling industries and is overseen by the UK Gambling Commission. 

Both online and offline gambling providers must obtain a license from the UKGC and are governed by stringent regulations to protect players. While there are plenty of options for gamblers in the UK and Ireland, the UK is ahead in terms of player protection and industry oversight. 

The Irish gambling industry is unique when compared with both liberal and prohibitive markets around the world. 

Its online sector continues to thrive, and players have a great amount of choice in games. There is lots of freedom for operators and players, but critics argue that it lacks the appropriate amount of oversight. While the industry is accessible and competitive, it lacks comprehensive regulation.