As the year comes to an end and eyes shift to 2026, it’s time to look back on the past year and everything it brought gamblers and operators alike.
The Tonybet team is here to provide a ‘year in review’ for the iGaming industry in Ireland. The country has had an incredibly momentous year, with several key pieces of legislation going into effect earlier in 2025 and shaping the sector’s growth.
In this article, we’ll explore how iGaming in Ireland has shifted throughout 2025. More specifically, detailing the country’s iGaming market growth, player habits, tech innovations and regulatory changes will provide context for the impressive growth the industry has exhibited over the past 12 months.
If you’re interested in the future of iGaming in Ireland, this is the guide for you!
Online gambling in Ireland
Ireland has officially become a key destination in global iGaming. As the country’s deep-rooted gambling culture, dynamic regulation and innovative technology quickly evolve, its place in the global internet-based gambling market only strengthens from day to day.
This progress is easily seen in the sheer range of iGaming services that Irish citizens can enjoy. Today’s players have access to a full suite of casino offerings online. The three most common are sportsbook betting, poker and online casinos.
Sportsbook betting
Sportsbook betting allows players to wager on their favourite teams and sports at online ‘sportsbooks’. There are a few different bet types that bettors can make on online platforms, and some of them are dependent on the sport in question. Don’t be afraid to do a bit of digging to make sure that you understand each of them before placing a wager!
Note that in addition to traditional sports gambling, sportsbook betting also often encompasses eSports and popular online gaming competitions.
Poker
Poker is one of the biggest iGaming markets in Ireland, which reflects a persistent worldwide trend. This classic table game works the same online as it does in person, and players typically have their pick of tables and betting limits/requirements, ranging from VIP and luxury tables to casual experiences with low entry fees.
Online casinos
Players interested in online slots and live game shows are in luck with online casinos in Ireland! This kind of operator usually offers players easy access to slots, live table games such as roulette and baccarat, and even real-time hybrid titles featuring lively hosts, prize wheels and slot mechanics.
As the popularity of iGaming rises, Ireland is actively building and refining its regulation of the industry. This year has been an especially momentous one for operators, with a few regulatory shake-ups keeping things interesting. The creation of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has spearheaded the market’s rapid progression from an afterthought to an important destination for operators of all sizes.
Now that we’ve given you some important background to the topic, let’s take a closer look at how Irish players interact with gambling content. In this article, we’ll delve deeper into online gambling in Ireland. By exploring some specific elements of the country’s use of iGaming services and technology, we can gain a fairly comprehensive view of 2025’s gambling trends and how they continue to drive growth in the country. More specifically, we’ll cover the following:
- Market growth
- Player habits
- Tech innovations
- Regulatory changes
Are you ready for a more detailed primer on each of the above?
Market growth
2025 was an interesting year for both operators and players as Ireland’s iGaming market continued to grow steadily. This is due, in large part, to the country’s efforts to reform and refine its gambling offerings. Technology innovation and responsive legislation are two prominent factors influencing the industry’s evolution from an insignificant part of Ireland’s economy to a diverse sector with impressive – and ever-growing – numbers.
In 2025, Ireland’s total gambling revenue reached roughly €2.5bn. This translates to €1.17bn in online-specific gambling revenue. Slightly under half of Ireland’s gambling revenue is situated in its iGaming industry, in other words, and these figures are poised to overtake brick-and-mortar gambling in the near future.
What does this look like in terms of player numbers? Nearly 500,000 players are estimated to have taken advantage of online casino services in Ireland. This number reflects the impressive growth of iGaming around the world. Many countries report similar player counts, if not larger player counts. Spain reported nearly two million in 2024 alone, a number that is projected to have grown significantly in 2025.
In terms of future growth, we see no indication of progress slowing down. By 2030, the iGaming market in Ireland is projected to be worth around €3bn. Player count is expected to rise significantly by 2030, potentially numbering in the millions.
Player habits
With the rising player count in Ireland’s iGaming market, player behaviour is a real consideration that will guide future regulation and, in turn, further expansion. With that in mind, we’ve collected some important information about how players acted in 2025 and what that means for the coming years.
Multi-account gambling
Many players stick to one account for all of their iGaming needs, but that’s not necessarily true with Irish gamblers. In fact, roughly 10% of them use four or more accounts! There are a few reasons why this is so common. First, some players search for the best odds for specific games, both sports-based and casino-based. Others are looking for better withdrawal speeds, and still others want different limits for live dealer tables.
This tendency towards multiple accounts is part of a growing trend worldwide. Players in countries with fragmented regulation, in particular, are adding an increasing number of accounts to their lists. We’re interested to see if Ireland’s budding central licensing authority (detailed further in a later section) impacts this trend.
Daytime gambling
Betting during working hours isn’t overly common in Ireland, but it’s also not rare. Around one in 10 users wagering on sports, for example, place wagers at work. As betting apps become more common, this number is likely to increase. We’d like to note here that while this is not a new issue, it is a growing one, indicating that Ireland’s gamblers are trending towards shorter, but more frequent, gambling.
Daytime gambling isn’t restricted to sports bettors. It is also seen in players of both live table games and slots.
Problem gambling
Is problem gambling a common issue in Ireland? Unfortunately, we don’t have a clear picture of how many players in Ireland are struggling with unhealthy gambling habits quite yet. Until recently, the lack of a central regulatory system made it difficult to accurately record this information unless operators voluntarily submitted it. This has skewed totals and likely led to underestimated numbers.
With the above in mind, there have been several new developments in this area in 2025. One of the most notable of them is the creation of the Social Impact Fund, with the express purpose of funding problem gambling initiatives and educating current and potential gamblers about healthy gaming practices.
Tech innovations
Ireland’s iGaming sector has undergone an impressive transformation over the past few years. Much of this was driven by new technology, including evolving player preferences and the emergence of new markets thanks to new technological platforms. The shift to mobile-first gaming and gambling, in particular, has played a significant role in industry growth.
A few years ago, most people either visited casinos and sportsbooks in person to gamble or stuck to their home computers. The idea of on-the-go gambling simply wasn’t practical, and people without access to personal computers would be largely unable to engage with the sector. In Ireland, as in other areas of the world, platforms designed specifically for mobile devices have become commonplace. Not only are they easy to find, but they have also been fine-tuned to run smoothly and reliably on a vast range of devices. Given that around 60% of the global population has regular access to a smartphone, it’s safe to say that this technology has made it easier than ever to gamble online.
In addition to mobile-first gambling, Ireland’s operators are also making good use of AI-driven personalisation. This offers players a personalised experience, including game recommendations tailored to their specific tastes and habits, across mobile and PC devices.
Regulatory changes
One of the biggest changes that Ireland’s iGaming sector saw in 2025 was the introduction and passage of a few key pieces of legislation. We’re going to cover the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 and Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 in this section.
Gambling Regulation Act 2024
The Minister for Justice signed certain aspects of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 into law in early 2025. This Act establishes the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) as a centralised regulating body, which has been operating since 5th March 2025. The GRAI is authorised to regulate all forms of gambling, both online and in person, except for the National Lottery. It also has the authority to issue licences to operators and ensure that they follow the necessary steps to remain in compliance with Ireland’s budding online gambling legislation.
The Act also introduced initiatives aimed at protecting those struggling with gambling addiction in addition to ensuring that children aren’t targeted or influenced to gamble.
Gambling Regulation Bill 2022
On 16th October 2024, the Irish parliament passed the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022. This wide-spanning bill, which covers a variety of topics including advertising and promotion guidelines, went into effect in early 2025 and has had a profound impact on the industry. Let’s take a closer look at some of the more important notes in the Bill.
Advertising
While advertising gambling is, at the time of writing, legal, there are certain requirements that must be followed. Now that the Bill is in effect, the GRAI has the authority to regulate advertising on an ongoing basis, including on an evolving basis as new issues arise. In general, advertising gambling is banned from the hours of 5:30 in the morning to 9:00 at night. This restriction includes the horseracing sector.
Inducements
In addition to regulating advertising and marketing, the Bill seeks to address the legalities surrounding gambling promotions. Personalised offers are not allowed in Ireland. General promotions, such as welcome offers, that are available to the public can be used, but anything designed to motivate a specific person to gamble (via the use of highly personalised offers) is not.
Are you interested in everything that the rapidly expanding iGaming industry has to offer players in Ireland? Tonybet is one of the best operators in the country, and you’re certain to find something you like in our extensive game catalogue!
