
YouTube gambling restrictions: what Irish viewers and creators should know
What YouTube’s reported age‑gating of gambling and graphic‑violence videos means for Irish viewers and creators, and effects on discoverability and ads.

Irish punters have more options than ever when it comes to betting sites. The 101RTP team placed thousands of bets on football, GAA, horse racing, and other sports. We wanted to identify which operators treat Irish players fairly. And now we’ve got all the answers.
A quality betting sites Ireland platform needs more than ads, so after placing over €50,000 in combined bets, we've identified the factors that separate good bookmakers from those just collecting deposits.
The Betting (Amendment) Act 2015 governs Ireland's betting landscape. This legislation allows Irish residents to legally use licensed international bookmakers alongside domestic operators.
We verify every platform's licensing credentials with regulatory authorities. UK Gambling Commission licences provide the strongest player protections. MGA, Curacao and others licensing represent a lower tier of regulation but remain legitimate.
Irish betting sites must cover the sports Irish punters follow. GAA football and hurling represent massive betting markets. Every county has devoted supporters willing to back their team, and the best bookmakers offer extensive markets beyond simple match winners.
Also, football dominates year-round betting volume. The Premier League, Champions League, and Irish domestic leagues all generate significant action. Horse racing maintains its traditional status in Irish betting culture.
A bookmaker offering 1.90 on both sides of a football match takes a 5.26% margin. Another offering 1.95 on both sides reduces their margin to 2.56%. Over hundreds of bets, these differences compound significantly. We compare odds across multiple bookmakers for the same events to identify which platforms consistently offer better value. The best betting sites Ireland offers adjust their margins based on market popularity.
These aren't affiliate recommendations based on commission rates. These are bookmakers where our team maintains active accounts and regularly bets.
| Bookmaker | Welcome Offer | Minimum Deposit | Key Strengths | Mobile App | Licence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sportaza | 100% up to €500 | €10 | Extensive live betting, competitive football odds | Browser-based | Curacao |
| 22Bet | 100% up to €122 | €1 | Lowest deposit requirement, comprehensive markets | Yes | Curacao |
| Joker8 | €100 Free Bet | €20 | GAA coverage, Irish-focused markets | Browser-based | MGA |
| Casumo | €50 Risk-Free Bet | €10 | Premium user experience, fast withdrawals | Yes | MGA |
Every new betting sites operator competes for customers through bonuses. A 100% matched deposit bonus up to €200 means the bookmaker matches your first deposit with bonus funds. Deposit €200, receive €200 in bonus money, and you have €400 total to bet with. That bonus money comes with wagering requirements. Typically you must turn over the bonus amount 1-3 times at minimum odds of 1.80-2.00 before withdrawing.
Free bets Ireland promotions provide bet credits rather than cash. If you receive a €50 free bet and place it on a selection at 2.00 odds that wins, you receive €50 in winnings but not the €50 stake back. Standard bets return your stake plus winnings. Free bets return only the profit portion.
Enhanced odds temporarily boost prices on selected outcomes. A Premier League match might normally offer 2.50 on the home win. An enhanced odds promotion increases this to 4.00 for new customers. Maximum stakes apply to these promotions, typically €10-€50. Winnings beyond the normal odds are paid as free bets rather than cash.
Mobile betting Ireland capabilities separate modern bookmakers from outdated ones. Dedicated betting apps Ireland offer optimised experiences for iOS and Android users. Apps typically load faster than mobile browser sites and provide smoother navigation. Push notifications alert you to bet settlements, promotional offers, and live match updates. However, apps consume device storage and require regular updates.
Browser-based mobile sites work across any device without downloads. Modern HTML5 technology delivers performance nearly matching native apps. The best sports betting sites invest heavily in responsive mobile designs that adapt intelligently to different screen sizes.
Also, watching matches while betting in-play significantly enhances the experience. The top platforms stream football, tennis, and horse racing directly through their apps or mobile sites. Cash-out functionality must work reliably on mobile. The ability to secure profits or cut losses during live matches provides crucial control over your bets.
Quick bet placement matters during live betting. The best online betting sites Ireland offers minimise the steps between identifying a selection and confirming your bet.
Withdrawal reliability defines the practical experience of using online betting sites. PayPal remains the most trusted payment method when available. However, it restricts which operators can offer their services. Many legitimate bookmakers cannot process PayPal payments due to regional licensing requirements rather than any quality concerns.
Revolut provides instant deposit confirmations and detailed transaction tracking. You can set spending limits specifically for gambling activity. Most sports betting sites process Revolut cards through standard Visa/Mastercard networks.
Traditional debit cards from Irish banks work reliably for deposits. Credit cards face increasing restrictions for gambling deposits across many jurisdictions.
Fast payout bookmakers Ireland offers approve withdrawal requests within 2-24 hours. The actual money transfer time depends on your chosen payment method. Cryptocurrency withdrawals are the fastest option. E-wallets are also speedy, but while a crypto wallet might cash out in 10 minutes at certain casinos, Skrill can take up to 12 hours. Bank transfers are the slowest and usually require 3–5 business days.
The withdrawals at betting sites in Ireland can be faster. Some sportsbooks offer automatic withdrawal approval after KYC. Once a user completes verification, they’re treated as trusted, and their withdrawals go through much faster.
Legal betting Ireland operates under the Betting Act (2015) and various licensing authorities. The Revenue Commissioners collect betting duty through a 1% levy on all bets placed by Irish customers, though this is typically absorbed by bookmakers rather than added to your stake.
Age verification is mandatory across all licensed online bookmakers in Ireland. You must be 18 or older to create betting accounts. Deposit limits let you cap daily, weekly, or monthly deposit amounts. Reality checks remind you how long you've been active on a betting platform. These automated messages appear at intervals you set, showing your current session length and profit/loss position. Self-exclusion options range from short cooling-off periods (24 hours to 6 weeks) to permanent account closure.
Selecting a new betting sites in Ireland requires evaluating multiple factors.
Check the operator's footer for licence information including the regulator name and licence number.
The best sport betting sites consistently offer competitive odds across your preferred sports. Opening accounts at multiple bookmakers lets you shop for the best prices on each bet.
Use the Bonus Value Score to judge if a bonus offers good value and to estimate its possible profit. Read the complete bonus terms.
Make a minimum deposit and request a small withdrawal to test the complete process. This practice reveals potential issues with payment processing.
Poor mobile experiences become frustrating quickly. The online bookies you choose should make mobile betting simple rather than forcing you to use desktop.
Selecting among Ireland's best betting sites requires some investigation. The operators we've highlighted passed our extensive testing across all these criteria. They process withdrawals reliably, offer fair odds on Irish sports… And provide the betting markets Irish punters actually use.
Choose your bookmakers based on the sports you follow most closely, your preferred betting style, and your payment method requirements.

Sportaza offers the tightest margins on major football markets, 22Bet excels on niche sports and lower-tier leagues, while Joker8 provides the most competitive GAA odds during championship season. No single bookmaker consistently offers the best prices across all sports, which is why we track margins and shop for value on each bet.
Casumo accepts PayPal among our recommended platforms, though most bookmakers cannot offer it due to PayPal's restrictive gambling policies. Revolut works universally at all betting sites since it provides standard Visa/Mastercard debit cards that any bookmaker accepting card payments will process.
Free bets provide approximately half the value of equivalent cash since they return only profit rather than stake plus profit, meaning a €50 free bet delivers roughly €25 in expected value. They're worth claiming if you understand the mechanics and use them on higher odds selections (3.00-5.00) where the no-stake-return structure matters less proportionally.
Yes, apps from licensed bookmakers like Casumo and 22Bet carry the same regulatory oversight and security standards as their desktop websites, provided you download them exclusively from official Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Some legitimate bookmakers like Sportaza and Joker8 offer mobile-optimised websites instead of dedicated apps, which deliver nearly identical functionality through your browser.
Verify the bookmaker's licence number in their website footer directly through the regulator's official website (Malta Gaming Authority or UK Gambling Commission maintain public licence registers), and test their withdrawal process with a minimum deposit before committing larger amounts. Check recent user reviews on gambling forums and review sites for patterns of complaints about delayed withdrawals or disputed settlements.
You must be 18 years old to legally place bets in Ireland, and all licensed bookmakers require government-issued identification documents to verify your age before processing withdrawals. Attempting to create accounts with false birthdates results in permanent account closure and forfeiture of any deposited funds or winnings.

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