Gambling is as old as humanity. But with developments such as defined laws on what is legal or not, gaming has not only risen as a pastime activity in Ireland but also a way to make money. Ireland’s gambling law dates back to 1956 when the Gambling and Lotteries Act was first developed. However, when the law was established, it was generally to regulate racecourse betting and slot machines among the few forms of gambling that existed then. The law has evolved to accommodate internet betting.
Online Gambling
Five years ago, the Irish Parliament passed new regulations that have seen online gambling grow at an unprecedented rate with sports betting taking the lion’s share. With the law in place, more and more casinos continue to set up shops both offline and online in Ireland offering punters immense opportunities to make money while still having fun. Foreign companies have also taken advantage of the considerable betting industry in Ireland to set up businesses there.
Popular Sports
Notably, horse racing is still king among Irish sports bettors. The country’s rich history in horseracing has seen the sport dominate the world of sports betting for a while, and the trend is not expected to change. Flat races and hurdles are the favourites among bettors. Coming second is Gaelic football which is popular for obvious reasons as it is a unique game played in Ireland. Coming third is Rugby which is also a favourite among punters.
Even though there are numerous legitimate sites where punters can place their bets, Paddy Power and Boylesports are the biggest. Attempts by politicians to impose more stringent rules to control the industry haven’t hampered the industry’s growth and going by the current statistics, the future of the sports gambling looks bright. However, there have been calls from different quarters to impose stricter rules to control sports betting, primarily, to stem rising cases of addiction.