Top Ireland Betting Sites: Best Bookmakers for May 2025

Best Betting Sites Ireland for May 2025 - Best Online Bookmakers

Through our own extensive research, we’ve picked out what we believe to be the very best bookmakers currently available in Ireland.

1. bet365

bet365 is widely recognised as one of the best bookmakers in Europe. Through years of committed, consistent service with an incredibly large player base, they have earned the right to be considered one of the top dogs - especially in Ireland.

It is one of the most popular betting sites worldwide, they have regular odds boosts across several sports, and they have one of the most user-friendly interfaces in our opinion. Make no mistake about it, this is an industry leader.

In the Bookmaker Awards, bet365 registered at #1 for betting experience, welcome offer and horse racing odds, and they also made their way into the top five for market selection.

2. BoyleSports

With more than 300 retail branches across the UK and Ireland alongside a lineage that goes all the way back to 1982, it says a lot about the adaptability of BoyleSports that they’re seen as such a relevant presence amongst bookmakers in the present day.

Based in Ireland, BoyleSports have always been known as one of the frontrunners in horse racing and alongside that, they also offer very competitive football odds which is complemented by the largest welcome offer on the market right now.

At the most recent edition of the Bookmaker Awards, BoyleSports finished an impressive 4th when it came to horse racing odds, and ranked 3rd in customer service making them the complete package.

3. Paddy Power

While they’ve been in existence for over 35 years, it is in the last decade or so that Paddy Power has really made a name for itself. Through outside-the-box thinking and creative marketing, they have become one of the most prominent bookmakers in the world.

The trademark of Paddy Power has been clever promotion, which has helped boost their reputation through great exposure. They have clear Irish roots, they are entertaining, and they have used their popularity to expand their reach in several different sports and attract new customers.

The famous Paddy’s Rewards Club has also picked up a lot of attention from seasoned bettors, honouring loyal customers with up to three rewards each week.

4. talkSPORT BET

The talkSPORT brand has revolutionised how we consume our football news in recent years and back in 2022, they launched talkSPORT Bet in a partnership with BetVictor - with more than 1,000 different sports betting markets to choose from.

One of the highlights for talkSPORT Bet is their great ‘best odds guaranteed’ push for horse racing. Alongside that, they’ve got a clean, comfortable app, and they offer brilliant bet boosts at every available opportunity.

When you add in a Lucky Dip feature that gives you the chance to have fantastic odds on any given game when spinning the wheel, you’ve got a pretty well-rounded bookmaker.

5. Unibet

Unibet was founded in 1997 and has since earned a reputation as one of the most trusted bookmakers in the UK let alone Ireland. They boast extensive coverage of horse racing, football and rugby.

They performed exceptionally well at the recent Bookmaker Awards finishing in second just behind bet365 as the best overall bookmaker. They have excellent horse racing odds and a decent selection of Gaelic football and hurling markets.

They also reward loyal customers with regular offers and solid choice of banking options. Overall, Unibet have very few weaknesses and if you need more reasons to join, they have a very attractive welcome offer.

Biggest Sporting Action This Weekend in Ireland

It’s time for another week of sporting action. In the League of Ireland we’ll see Shelbourne vs Drogheda and Shamrock vs St Patrick’s on Monday before the following clashes on Friday: Drogheda vs Bohemians, Derry vs Shamrock, St Patrick’s vs Waterford, Shelbourne vs Sligo and Galway vs Cork.

In other news, the cricket is back with Ireland’s men’s team going up against West Indies on Wednesday in the first of a three-game T20 series.

We’ll also see the Irish Open come to Ireland as part of the PSA Squash Tour in addition to the following horse racing meets: Roscommon (Monday), Cork (Tuesday), Gowran Park (Wednesday), Limerick (Thursday) and Downpatrick (Friday).

How We Review Ireland Betting Sites - What to Watch

When reviewing the best betting sites, it’s important to look at a wide range of factors. From the best offers and markets to user experience and customer service, everything comes together with a combination of data, statistics and personal experience.

Bookmaker Awards

The Bookmaker Awards offer up a fascinating insight into the opinions of both fans and experts. It breaks things down into categories, allowing us to analyse what some companies are doing right and where they fall short against the competition.

While they may be catered more towards the UK, a lot of the data translates to Ireland betting sites where they often mirror the promotions, features and user experience.

Sign Up Offers

A sign up offer, or welcome offer, serves as the ultimate advertising tool for a bookmaker. They’ll be able to show off why they should be picked ahead of their competition by giving new players an opportunity to enjoy lucrative and engaging deals.

At AceOdds, we constantly track and update the best offers from the top bookmakers throughout the course of the year, so be sure to check back regularly!

Betting Markets/Odds

If you’re someone who loves betting on a wide variety of sports, with a range of different markets, then you won’t want to settle for a bookmaker that only offers the sports you would expect. Sometimes, no matter how niche the sport or event may sound, there can be real potential to maximise how many new players you can bring in.

The same goes for odds. While some may expect a lot of bookmakers to have similar odds, that isn’t always the case. Whether it be part of a promotion, a boost or just being generous, better odds equals a higher level of retention.

Live Streaming

In the modern age of sports, streaming is everything. From apps to websites to actual broadcasters, live streaming gives you the chance to see the action in all its glory. So, as you can imagine, a lot of bookmakers have looked into making this a consistent part of their branding.

There is a growing demand for live streams of football, tennis, horse racing and greyhound racing which have quickly become a desired feature of a bookmaker. As we look ahead to the future, do not be surprised if we see more bookmakers invest heavily in this department.

Customer Service

In any field, great customer service is essential if you want to retain the trust of your customers. In the world of gambling, where things are always changing, bookmakers have to be at the top of their game when it comes to how they interact with players.

Whether it be speaking on the phone to an active live chat function, these first impressions matter a lot to people. Given how busy the market is, it could be the difference between retaining a player and losing them.

Responsible Gambling

While gambling can often just be a fun hobby, it can quickly become a problem. When you’re betting on different sports and markets, it’s important to try and stay in control - and in order to do that, bookmakers all over the country have introduced safety features to help.

This includes reminders of how long you’ve been using the website or ap, self-exclusion, deposit limits, warnings across their products and more. These initiatives are being used as a way to help keep things safe, comfortable and manageable.

If you do need help in managing your gambling, we recommend the following organisations:

• Gamblers Anonymous Ireland
• Gambling Awareness Trust
• Extern Problem Gambling
• Samaritans
• National Family Support Network