About our reviews · Updated November 2026
How we rate Irish betting sites
By the Irish Sports Betting Sites team
In short: we open real accounts, deposit and bet with our own money, and request withdrawals before we rate a bookmaker. Every site is scored on the same eight criteria, and a site must hold a licence to take bets from customers in Ireland before we list it.
Our eight rating criteria
| Criteria | What we check |
|---|---|
| Licence and safety | Licensed to take bets in Ireland, clear terms, account security. |
| Safer gambling tools | Deposit limits, time-outs, reality checks and self-exclusion that are easy to find and use. |
| Irish markets | Depth on GAA, Irish racing, League of Ireland and Irish rugby, not just the Premier League. |
| Prices | How competitive the odds are on the same markets, checked side by side. |
| Withdrawals | How long a real withdrawal takes to reach our account, and whether any fees apply. |
| Payments | Euro accounts and common Irish payment methods such as debit cards, Apple Pay and bank transfer. |
| Offer terms | Whether the welcome offer is fair: minimum odds, time limits and how free bets are paid. |
| App and support | How the app and site work in practice, and how quickly customer support answers. |
How we test
We open an account like any new customer, verify our identity, deposit in euro and place real bets across racing, GAA and football. We then request a withdrawal and time it. We also set a deposit limit and try a time-out, because a bookmaker that makes safer gambling tools hard to use doesn’t belong on our list.
Commission never decides the ranking
We may earn commission if you open an account through our links. That money keeps the site free, but it doesn’t buy a place in our rankings. If a bookmaker’s scores drop, it moves down or comes off the list.
How often we update
We recheck offers and terms every month and redo the full test at least once a year, or sooner if something important changes, such as a new licence condition or a change to withdrawal times.
Takeaway: a high rating means a bookmaker is safe, fair and good for Irish sport. It never means you’ll win.
FAQs
Do bookmakers pay to be listed?
No. Some bookmakers pay us commission when readers sign up through our links, but that doesn’t affect where they rank.
Do you list unlicensed bookmakers?
No. We only list bookmakers licensed to take bets from customers in Ireland.
Who does the testing?
Our team tests every site with real accounts and real money. Read more about our site manager, Donal.
Related guides
Please gamble responsibly
18+ only. Betting should be fun, never a way to solve money problems, and no bet is a sure thing. Only stake what you can afford to lose, set deposit limits and take breaks.
If betting is no longer fun, free and confidential help is available. Call the Gambling Care National Helpline on 1800 936 725 (free, 24/7) or visit GamblingCare.ie. Extern Problem Gambling offers support at problemgambling.ie. Read our responsible betting guide.
Affiliate disclosure: we may earn commission if you sign up through our links.