Having shown you the online bookmakers we most recommend, it’s natural that you have a couple of questions. Notably, why did we select these companies in particular and how did we decide that they were the best?

Essentially, we have a checklist of the things we reckon make a top-quality betting site. And we out this into practice:

We register with each bookie, use the site for ourself and rate them according to the points on our list.

In addition to reviewing bookies individually, we compare each product with what else is on the market.

Using the checklist above, here are three online betting sites we recommend for Irish punters:

Imagine if that ridiculous Super League idea which was quashed just as quickly as it was introduced, was applied to online betting. Essentially, all you had was a closed shop of 12 betting sites.

On one hand, it’d be great as you’d have an elite set of sites to choose from. But as good as this sounds, the level of each betting site would eventually drop because of the lack of competition.

New bookies are just as important as the tried and tested ones

Established betting sites are made better by newcomers, of which many bring new ideas and features to the table.

In Ireland, we’re lucky in the sense that any newcomers to the online betting scene here, have already dipped their toes in the UK market and are still standing. In other words, they're very good bookies.

Just like we saw the landscape change from land-based bookies to online bookies twenty-plus years ago, we’re seeing the same shift from betting sites to betting apps today.

Whether you’re out and about or, you’ve just decided that your sofa is way too comfortable to move from, betting apps allow you to wager at a time and place convenient for you.

Unsurprisingly then, the quality of a betting app is pivotal for punters choosing between bookmakers. But what should one be looking for in a betting app?

Best Betting Apps in Ireland

1. Bet365 - Seamless, quick & comprehensive
2. BetVictor - Very well designed
3. BoyleSports - Highly reliable
4. 888sport - Slick & great for in-play bets
5. Ladbrokes - Simple, clean interface

As touched on, a sign-up offer can go a long way to determining which bookie you choose.

While it’s not the be-all and end-all of your decision, a high value sign up bonus is a great way to boost your new betting account in the beginning.

In general, betting welcome offers are presented as:

• Free Bets - The most popular type of welcome bonus Irish bookies hand out (and the easiest to understand and use). Here, as the name suggests, you get a freebie to bet with.

• Deposit Bonus - Some bookies offer matched deposit bonuses where your first deposit is matched up to a certain percentage. For example, a deposit match 100% up to €100 will see the bookie give you the same deposit amount, all the way up to €100.

• Money Back Offers - Your first bet can often come ‘risk-free’. For instance, should your first bet lose, you can get your stake back either as a free bet or cash.

The majority of new customer betting deals come in the shape of a free bet offer, specifically, Bet Get Offers.

Place a qualifying bet and get free bets in return - yes it really is as simple as it sounds!

This type of promotion is popular with new customers and bookies alike; punters can easily understand and claim the offer while bookies can ramp up the amount around big sports events.

Of course, this time of year is reserved for the prestigious Six Nations tournament, which takes on extra significance for Ireland in World Cup year. With that in mind, we have picked out the best Six Nations Betting Offers for you.

A deposit bonus is another type of welcome offer you will see on a few online bookies. Here, your first deposit is matched by the bookmaker up to a certain percentage.

Example: First deposit bonus offer: 100% up to €100 - This means if you make a deposit of €50, the bookmaker will match that with €50. The same for €75 and so on, up to €100.

These aren’t as common nor valuable as free bet offers as they usually come with high wagering requirements which can be off putting for some punters.

Here are the deposit bonuses we reckon are worth your time:

New customers aren’t the only ones who have a good spread of betting deals. Bookies are well aware of the need for laying on plenty of betting offers for existing punters too. Not only to keep them happy but to stop them from joining other betting sites.

This, in turn, leads to bookies tapping into their creative side and rolling out innovative promos that include

• Free Bets
• Odds boosts, Acca boosts
• Free-to-play games
• Loyalty-based offers, Loyalty programs
• Refer-a-friend offers
• Casino bonuses

Certain betting companies excel in this department. Here are the bookies we reckon are best for looking after existing punters along with some of the best promos they run.

Check out our dedicated Betting Offers page for all the online bookie deals for new customers and existing punters.

Football betting is the cornerstone of every online bookmaker in Ireland.

Sign up offers, betting promotions, site features and free-to-play games all centre on the beautiful game.

The best football betting sites tick a number of boxes and generally have:

• An excellent selection of pre-match and in-play markets
• Coverage of leagues and competitions not only in Europe but worldwide
• Football live streaming
• Bet Builder
• Cash Out
• Acca incentives

We appreciate that Bet365 being great for football betting might not be news to you. So here are some more top football bookies we like.

Top Online Bookmakers for Football

1. BetVictor - A lot of odds boosts
2. Coral - Varied football promos and games
3. Ladbrokes - Excellent acca perks
4. BoyleSports - Special offers within Bet Builder
5. 888sport - Superb odds
   

If none of those are your cup of tea, here’s the lowdown on all of Ireland’s top Football Betting Sites.

Along with football, horse racing is another staple of online betting sites in Ireland.

The appeal of racing dates back to the beginning of time (or at least that’s how it feels) and continues to be one of the most wagered on sports in Ireland.

A key factor in this is the sheer number of races taking place every day. Meetings in the UK and Ireland are featured prominently by online bookmakers but so are races in the US, France, Australia and South Africa.

No matter the time of day, it’s safe to say you can find a horse race getting underway somewhere in the world.

Our Top 5 Horse Racing Bookies

1. BoyleSports: Various money-back offers
2. BetVictor: Excellent BetFinder feature
3. Paddy Power: Racing tips from Timeform, Power Prices, Rewards4Racing
4. Bet365: Great promos - Bet365 Price Promise, ITV Racing 4/1 Offer
5. Ladbrokes: Great odds boosts

The best horse racing betting sites go that extra furlong in offering racing punters a little bit more.

Despite the popularity of football and horse racing, Hurling and Gaelic football in particular are unique to Ireland and the source of national pride.

From the All Ireland Senior Football, Hurling and Camogie Championships to the Allianz Leagues and All Ireland Club Championships, the sporting calendar is packed with GAA fixtures.

The All-Ireland Football Final and All Ireland Hurling Final are two of the most popular Irish sporting events, for fans and bettors alike.

Most Irish bookies have odds for all the competitions mentioned. But we reckon there are a few bookies that go above and beyond the rest in meeting the needs of punters betting on GAA sports.

Best GAA Betting Sites

1. BoyleSports
2. Bet365
3. 888sport
4. Betway
5. William Hill

Of all the betting site features out there, this is the one punters look for the most.

It’s not an exaggeration to say many punters choose a betting site based on its live-streaming capabilities. I know I and the rest of the My Betting Sites Ireland team certainly do.

Live streaming adds another dimension to online betting and, in our view, is a must-have feature

For any game in any sport, having a live stream available enables you to base your bets on the action as it's happening (instead of half-guessing what’s going on through statistics or a graphic).

As with live streaming, Cash Out is another feature that makes you sit up and realize how stiff online betting once was.

Today, punters have more control over their bets thanks to Cash Out, which allows you to lock in a profit or minimize a loss by closing a bet before a match ends.

First rolled out by Betfair in 2011, Cash Out is not exactly a new feature. However, there have been minor additions in the ten years or so since then.

For instance, some bookies offer Partial Cash Out which lets you collect some of your winnings while leaving the remaining part of your stake to run. Auto Cash Out allows you to set an amount limit at which the function cashes out of a bet for you automatically.

Best Online Bookmakers for Cash Out

1. Bet365
2. BetVictor
3. BoyleSports
4. Ladbrokes
5. Unibet

Known as a ‘Same Game Multi’ in its former life and expanding on the popular ‘Request a Bet feature, Bet Builder allows you to combine a number of selections into one single bet and get the odds you want.

The feature has come into its own in the past couple of years with bettors enjoying the freedom to make custom wagers on their favorite sports.

The Bet Builder, which works similarly to an accumulator, is a welcome feature for football punters, especially considering the market depth some bookies offer.

And as is the case with features that work for football betting, the bet builder is now widely available for a variety of other sports including tennis, American football, baseball, and basketball.

Top Bookies for Bet Builders

1. Coral - Most niche football markets
2. Bet365 - Bet Builder available for the most sports
3. BetVictor - Best for NBA Bet Builder
4. Paddy Power - Specific Bet Builder promos
5. BoyleSports - Special Offers within Bet Builder

At mybettingsites.com/ie, punters get to learn about every aspect of the Irish online gambling industry. And there's arguably not a part more important than the laws and regulations!

While we appreciate it’s not the most exciting aspect to read up on, it’s vital bettors fully understand how the industry works and how change is afoot in 2023.

Online Gambling in Ireland (as it stands)

• All forms of online gambling are legal in Ireland under the Betting (Amendment) Act 2015. This includes online sports betting, online casino and online poker. Bingo and daily fantasy sports are also permitted.

• To operate in Ireland, gambling companies must hold an Irish gambling license issued by Ireland’s Revenue Commissioners (the official Irish Government Agency responsible for regulating, taxation and licensing gambling operators in Ireland).

• You need to be at least 18 years of age to gamble in Ireland.

• All gambling winnings in Ireland are tax-free.

Only use licensed Irish online bookmakers. You can check if an online betting site is licensed in Ireland - and therefore safe for Irish players - by scrolling down to the bottom and viewing the license number issued by the Revenue Commissioners. Every Irish online betting site we list and recommend holds a license to operate in Ireland.

Utilise Responsible Gambling tools. Every bookie is committed to making sure everyone gambles responsibly. If you feel like you’re no longer in control of your gambling, there are a number of tools that can help. They include Deposit Limits, Time Outs, Reality Checks and Self Exclusion.