Even if you’ve never had the opportunity to visit Ireland, you’re probably familiar with the phrase “Luck of the Irish.” Although the saying isn’t as popular in the country as it is in the rest of the world, the idea behind it has had a big impact on the gambling industry worldwide.
If you enjoy gambling, especially on slots, you’ve probably come across games featuring symbols such as four-leaf clovers, pots of gold, leprechauns, and lucky horseshoes. No other nation on the planet has helped inspired so many video slots, intentionally or not.
But, what’s the actual situation with gambling in Ireland? How popular is it and how big of a role does it play in people’s everyday lives?
Lottery & Horse Racing Hugely Popular
Land-based casinos are not legal in Ireland, so players don’t really have free access to slots and table games. There are certain private gambling establishments, but due to their nature, they don’t attract huge numbers.
This doesn’t prevent the people of Ireland from testing their luck, though. While casinos may not be a thing, lottery and horse race betting, both of which are completely legal, enjoy a great popularity.
Irish love their lotteries, and an interesting 2020 survey concluded that many of them preferred buying their tickets live instead of online. Of course, this is a trend that’s slowly changing, but it seems like buying lottery tickets is a part of the experience, just like waiting for the draw.
According to that survey, more than 56% participants bought at least one ticket during the past twelve months, and more than a third bought tickets within past 30 days.
Another very popular gambling activity in the country is betting on sports and horse races. Although not as popular as lotteries, it accounts for a decent percentage of the overall revenue of the gambling industry in Ireland.
Online Casinos: Growingly Popular Activity
While brick and mortar casinos aren’t allowed in Ireland, online gambling is completely legal. There is a great number of operators catering to Irish players and you can visit this site for a list of fast payout casinos if you prefer to have your winnings paid to you sooner rather than later.
Online casinos provide access to all the different gambling options not readily available in the country, namely video slots, table games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, and much more. So, it’s no surprise that there is a great number of people turning to gambling sites to try their luck and have some fun.
Surveys indicate that people from all walks of life enjoy an occasional punt. From those in senior positions, over small business owners, to manual labor workers, Irish love to test their luck. Of course, younger generations are more into online casinos and internet betting, while their seniors prefer more traditional forms of gambling.
One Way or the Other – Gambling Is Big in Ireland
All in all, different forms of gambling seem to play an important role in the Irish culture. The gambling industry in the country is estimated at around €10 billion, with that number showing a propensity for growth.
However, as fun as it is, gambling doesn’t come without its inherent dangers, so the Irish Government has been looking to introduce some changes to gambling laws to try and protect the players and somewhat reduce these harmful effects.
Be that as it may, none of these efforts seem to discourage people from enjoying gambling. Of course, positive legislative changes are always welcome, but the Irish people don’t seem to fazed by them either way.
Perhaps they do secretly believe in the “luck of the Irish” after all?
