The Facts and Figures Behind Sports Betting in Ireland - Why It's So Popular

For what feels like forever, sports betting in Ireland has been a major part of our culture. People love their sports here, but people also love to put their passion and knowledge to the test. That’s why you might have a mate who seems to know a lot about the Argentinian third division football league, or an uncle who seems to know every horse on the track.

In this guide, we want to help you understand why sports betting in Ireland is becoming more than a pastime for someone on a Saturday. Why is sports betting becoming as popular as the sports themselves?

Is Sports Betting In Ireland Popular?

Sports betting is a major part of Irish sporting culture, with around 8% of people in Ireland placing a sports bet online. With the rampant rise in sports betting facilities both online and offline, it’s never been easier to have a flutter and put your money where your mouth is. A quick look at Irish betting site Betfree shows that every sport imaginable is available locally.

The industry has played a key role in the Irish economy; in the 2020s, some figures estimate that the Irish gambling industry has brought in more than €2bn per year – that’s nearly as much as exporting our famous Irish beef!

Thanks to the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 and the presence of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), there is greater regulation and control of the industry than ever before. That helps to keep punters safe whilst giving them the best chance to use high-quality, licensed betting platforms.

In terms of economic performance, traditional in-person gambling has declined somewhat, but the rapid rise in online gambling growth offsets this. Online gambling saw turnover increase by around €0.4bn in the last five years, offsetting a minor decrease of around €0.2bn in offline betting.

What Sports Are The Most Popular To Bet On In Ireland?

In terms of popular sports to bet on in Ireland, there are quite a few categories that get a lot of interest from the Irish public. Sports lovers bet on everything from small local teams and tournaments to far-off leagues that they probably have never even watched on TV!

For some people, though, that’s part of the appeal. Why else would you have a rooting interest in, say, how Atletico Nacional of Colombia get on, or how a Mexican boxer who has won her last three fights does in her next bout? Some people even wind up as borderline fans of teams and athletes because they helped them win big on an accumulator bet, etc.

For the most part, though, the most popular sports in Ireland to bet on include:

• Horse Racing. Given Ireland’s long-term ties to the sport, this should be no surprise. The Irish take horse racing more seriously than arguably any other nation, with strong historical ties to the sport.
• Rugby. Rugby Union in particular draws a lot of interest as the local club game is very strong and the Irish national team does very well. The game has been a key part of Irish sporting culture since the 19th century, and remains among the most popular sports to bet on.
• Football. The ‘global game’ is as popular in Ireland as ever, and remains one of the most widely played sports worldwide. That gives fans the chance to bet on everything from local leagues to clubs in England, across Europe, and even further afield.
• GAA. GAA is one of Ireland’s most popular sports, so it should come as no surprise that it draws a large sports betting audience. The sport remains key to local culture and pride, so many fans use the GAA calendar to help up the ante and raise the stakes a little bit.
• Golf. Golf is another sport with a rich tradition and history in Ireland, and it’s also a sport with hundreds of tournaments played every year. As such, it’s an easy sport to bet on if you know even a little bit about it.
• Combat Sports. Boxing and MMA have huge followings in Ireland, thanks in part to the long line of successful Irish fighters. Ireland has long had a strong connection to combat sports, so its popularity among sports bettors should come as no surprise.
• Motorsports. While less popular on the Irish sports betting scene, motorsports like F1 and MotoGP also tend to have pretty strong betting markets in Ireland.

The Big Irish Bookmakers: Why Are They So Popular Abroad?

In Ireland, we love a famous export – and sports betting companies are no different. Bookmakers of all shapes and sizes exist in Ireland and internationally, but some of the biggest names are Irish.

By far and away the two biggest brands in Irish sports betting are Boylesports and Paddy Power. Boylesports started back in the 1980s and has become an international powerhouse, with hundreds of betting shops across Ireland and a fantastic online presence that makes them popular in other countries as well. Boylesports has been around for years and now offers a fantastic online sports betting platform, including other events like bingo and even the lottery!

Paddy Power also does well internationally, even before their 2015 merger with Betfair. The company is known for its ambitious promotions and its fun-filled advertisements, which draw attention and ire in equal measure. Just about every sport and sports club has been the target for a Paddy Power ad at this point – it’s part of their charm.

Despite only starting up in the late 1980s, Paddy Power is one of the most well-recognised sports betting firms in the world.

The Change To Online Sports Betting In Ireland: Here To Stay?

Before the internet age, if you wanted to place a bet, you had to go to a sports betting shop locally. With the rise of the web, though, we can now place bets online via websites and, increasingly today, apps.

That has changed the face of sports betting forever. As Ireland witnesses a gradual slowdown in the number of sports betting shops, they are being replaced by more convenient, always available online websites and apps. The boom in affordable mobile devices and online connectivity means that the days of always having to head down to the bookies to place a bet are over.

While some might still enjoy the locality and craic of a bookmaker's shop, more and more Irish punters are turning to their phones and PCs to make a bet. That is unlikely to change; the revolution has been and gone, and it’s likely that Ireland, like most of the world, will increasingly pivot towards online sports betting over local sports betting shops.