Online casinos: UK vs Ireland

Online casinos are on the rise in both the UK and in Ireland. 

But how are they regulated in both countries? Are there some similarities between the UK and Ireland’s online gambling markets? 

This article will provide an overview of the online casino industries in both countries. 

Online gambling laws 

Here is a quick overview of the gambling laws in both countries. 

• Ireland 

Online gambling is legal in Ireland. 

Online casinos were unregulated for several years until Parliament passed the Gambling Regulation Bill in 2022. This bill has led to the creation of The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland. 

The regulatory body now oversees all forms of gambling in the country. These include land-based and online casino gaming. 

It has the power to grant and revoke licenses and to regulate the sale of gaming-related products. It also has the power to finance research into citizens’ gaming habits. 

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland has put in place some strict bans over the last few years. Here are some examples of the current bans:

• No gambling using credit cards  
• No gambling ads on social media
• No gambling ads on television in the evenings 
• No gambling sponsorships allowed if a sporting club include members under 18
• No free bet promotions and bonuses like VIP memberships at online casinos

The regulatory body also has some services in place to help those who want to stop gaming. For example, there is the National Gambling Exclusion Register. 

Players can register to exclude themselves from gaming websites. If they try to open an account on a legal and licensed gaming platform, the operator will deny their request. 

To make sure you are following local regulations, players can visit Bonusfinder Ireland to see a list of operators that are legitimate and legal.

• UK 

Online gambling is also legal in the UK. Like in Ireland, the UK’s online gambling scene is overseen and regulated by a regulatory body. 

This regulatory body is the Gambling Commission. It has the power to issue and revoke gambling licenses to land-based and online gaming providers. 

The Gambling Commission also gives individuals the opportunity to check whether a business holds a valid gambling license or not. This free tool is available on their website.

It helps customers stay safe as they play online. If players have any issues, they can also report them to the Gambling Commission via their website. 

Like in Ireland, UK residents can also sign up for the Self-Exclusion Scheme if they want to stop gaming. This will block them from opening an account with licensed gambling businesses in the UK. 

The Gambling Commission has also introduced new rules and bans in 2024 and 2025 to further protect customers. For example, the regulatory body has now decided to: 

• Ban features in slot games which give the illusion of control (eg. ‘turbo’ or ‘slam stops’)
• Ban the autoplay feature in slot games
• Ban audio and/or visual celebrations when wins are less than or equal to stake 
• Ban functionalities that allow players to play different games simultaneously
• Ban casino games with spins that last less than 5 seconds 
• Implement stricter age verification processes 
• Implement light-touch financial vulnerability checks to make sure that customers who spend a lot of money on gambling are financially responsible

More changes are likely to be recommended by experts and implemented by the Gambling Commission over the next years. Players and operators should keep an eye out for new changes. 

Popularity of gaming in Ireland and the UK

Here is a quick overview of the gaming scene in Ireland and the UK. 

• Similarities

Sports betting is extremely popular in both Ireland and the UK. Horse racing, football and rugby-related bets are the most successful types of sports betting in both countries.  

This is not surprising as both countries are known for having excellent rugby and football teams, as well as hosting world-famous horse racing events. 

Another very popular gaming trend is mobile slot gaming. An increasing number of players are choosing to play slot games on their mobile devices. 

Other popular gaming trends in both countries include: 

• Bingo gaming
• Casino gaming in general (e.g. poker, blackjack, roulette)

Players can find try some of these games at a licensed online venue. 

• Differences 

The Irish and British gamers seem to have similar tastes. There are no huge differences in gaming trends.  

Perhaps slot gaming trends will become more popular in Ireland than in the UK now that the Gambling Commission has banned certain features.  

This is yet to be determined though. 

Final thoughts

This article provided an overview of the gambling laws and the gambling scene in Ireland and the UK. Current laws will most likely change in the future as the online gaming market continues to grow