The current market size of the Irish online casino industry and its projected growth In 2026

You have probably already heard that the Irish online casino market continues to grow day after day and shows no signs of slowing down.

What you may not know yet is that Ireland currently ranks as the third highest country in Europe for per capita gambling spending within this industry. Behind only Cyprus and Iceland, an average of €437 per person was recorded in 2025.

Of course, investments in enhancing mobile accessibility and upgrading the overall user experience on gaming platforms are among the main reasons behind such expansion.

But just how far can this level of investment take the market in 2026? That is exactly what we are going to explore in today’s article.

Market growth over recent years

A large part of the growth constantly mentioned throughout the industry has happened over the past five years. In 2020, largely because of the pandemic, not only was the betting industry reshaped, but many other sectors were forced to adapt in order to operate without physical contact. As a result, almost half of all bets started being placed online, representing nearly double the previous year’s figures.

By 2022, the numbers had reached approximately €536 million and clearly demonstrated that online gambling had genuinely established itself among Irish players. One year later, the market recorded around €620 million. Then, in 2024, online casinos surpassed the billion euro mark for the first time, reaching approximately €1.17bn, while 2025 maintained similar levels.

Current market size

It is estimated that in 2025, the year used to represent the current state of the market, the Irish iGaming industry reached approximately €1.42bn. In addition to remaining above the billion euro threshold, the sector continued to demonstrate growth, just as it had throughout all previously mentioned years.

Growth projections for 2026

Analysts indicate that the annual growth rate should remain close to 2.24% until 2029, with the online segment expected to be the main driver behind this acceleration.

The role of the GRAI in market expansion

In February 2026, Ireland, through the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, also known as the GRAI, and under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, began accepting licence applications from betting operators, making a licence a strict prerequisite for companies to operate within its territory.

This marks the beginning of a new era. From this point forward, operators in the sector will face stricter requirements regarding platform functionality and financial transparency, factors that directly influence the user experience. Failure to comply with the rules could lead to fines of up to €20 million.

Although the new regulation represents an important step towards professionalising the sector and naturally increases public trust, the licences will only start to be issued to online casinos in July this year.

Therefore, there is a possibility that market growth during this initial phase might be more moderate compared to the following years, once the new system is fully regulated.

Other factors driving growth

Of course, the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 is expected to play a decisive role in the market’s expansion. However, there are other factors that cannot be ignored within this context.

Investment in advertising

With figures reaching the billion euro range over the past two years and projections pointing towards continued growth in the years ahead, investment in advertising by online casinos is expected to remain aggressive.

After all, despite per capita gambling spending already ranking among the highest in Europe, there is still a significant portion of the population yet to be reached. It is estimated that only around 60% of the adult population gambles frequently.

Focus on the mobile experience

Reports indicate that more than 70% of users prefer mobile devices over desktop computers when placing bets. Naturally, online casinos have increasingly focused on this type of platform usage as a result of these figures.

More than simply providing faster access through mobile-friendly websites, platforms like NetBet casino have started developing dedicated applications and streamlined interfaces to further enhance convenience. In addition, simply having a reliable app installed allows players to access their preferred games much more seamlessly.

Sporting passion

Among the greatest sporting passions of the Irish people are Gaelic football, hurling, football, and rugby. In 2025, four Guinness Six Nations events, two GAA events, and one FIFA World Cup qualifier ranked among the ten most-watched television broadcasts in the country. 

With more than 995,000 viewers, the clash between Cork and Tipperary in the GAA championship became the second most-watched programme overall and the most-watched among those mentioned. Alongside these sports, horse racing continues to be one of the main attractions for traditional land-based bettors.

The impact of advertising and mobile accessibility

This is where the previously mentioned market growth factors begin to play a decisive role.

Although online casino users still show a preference for slots, advertising investment during major sporting events tends to significantly influence the growth of the sports betting segment and the market as a whole.

In addition, the mobile experience allows instant access to live betting and, in some cases, even provides real-time streaming directly through online sportsbooks.