Best Payment Methods for Online Gambling in Ireland

In this guide, you will learn all about which payment methods you can use for deposits and withdrawals when online gambling in Ireland.

Written by Conor Murphy
Verified by BettingGuide team
Last updated 23/2/2024

Payment Methods Accepted for Gambling in Ireland

Many Irish sports fans now like to place bets online, but there are a lot of decisions to make. Not only must people decide which online betting site they want to use to bet on the big game or the top race of the day, they need to pick a payment method to use for deposits and withdrawals too.

Most online betting sites in Ireland now offer a multitude of options in this regard, ranging from everything from debit cards and e-wallets to bank transfers, Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Anyone who is new to betting via the internet might not know a lot about which of the payment methods are accepted by Irish gambling sites, however, which is where we come in to help.

Our ultimate guide to payment methods at gambling sites in Ireland has all the details - read on!

Introduction to Payment Methods in Ireland

Before the rise of the internet, placing a bet required visiting a bookmaker in person and usually handing over cash with a betting slip. Even when it became possible to pay via a debit card in a bricks and mortar betting shop, the process was not as smooth as it could be for sports fans.

Being able to bet online means it is possible to place wagers in a matter of moments with users logging in to their betting accounts from the comfort of their own homes. While this extra flexibility is welcomed by a lot of sports lovers in Ireland, it does require using online payment methods.

More options for deposits and withdrawals are being added all the time. But it is important to know when making a deposit that the same method will usually have to be used for withdrawals out of a betting site account too. For example, those who opt to use a debit card to add funds to their chosen betting site will need to pick the same card to withdraw money at a later date. This is part of the security practices that most sites put in place in order to prevent money laundering.

Making a deposit should be a simple process that takes a matter of moments. Users will need to enter the amount of money they want to add in the same way that they type in their stake when they place a bet. Then, they have to pick from the payment methods offered, which can vary across different betting sites by a substantial amount. Deposits should then be processed automatically once users have followed the on-screen instructions, which means players can start placing bets on their favourite sporting events as soon as possible. Depositing usually happens through a betting site's cashier, which is where users can also go to withdraw funds.

To make the quickest withdrawals, players might need to verify their accounts. To do this, it may be necessary to upload ID documents such as a copy of a passport. This helps betting sites to check that a user is who they say they are, which again is important for their security. When users make a withdrawal, the process is much the same as for deposits, with people able to pick from various options to get their hands on their winnings. The same method must be used to make deposits and withdrawals though, so it is important betting site users remember this.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Payment Method

Irish sports fans might already have a preferred payment method that they use when betting online. But for those who are yet to make a decision over which banking method they are going to opt for, we have picked out some of the most important factors worthy of consideration.

Safety & Security

Certainly up there with the key things to think about is safety and security. Online payment methods should have robust protections in place to make sure that none of the financial or personal information users share is ever going to fall into the wrong hands. As part of this, the privacy policy of online payment methods needs to be taken into account here as well.

Fees

For a lot of sports fans in Ireland, the most important thing to consider about payment methods for betting sites is whether or not they will be expected to pay fees. While it is usually the case that deposits into betting site accounts have no fees, they may be charged on withdrawals. How much is charged in fees varies across betting sites so it is important to know about this before signing up for an account and picking which online betting site to use. Bank transfer is one of the online payment methods that commonly has a fee for some withdrawals.

Ease of use/convenience

There is nothing more frustrating than experiencing delays when trying to make a deposit into a betting site account. Anyone who is trying to place a live in-play wager on the big game of the day will know that time is of the essence. Fiddling about with an online payment method that is not seamless to use can cost a user potential profit. This is why the convenience of mobile deposit options such as Apple Pay and Google Pay is so handy.

Transaction time

Linked to convenience and how easy online payment methods are to use is the transaction time. Deposits should be processed instantly, but this is not the case for withdrawals. Some of the online payment methods that are accepted by gambling sites in Ireland take longer when selected for withdrawals than others. As an example, e-wallets like PayPal, Skrill and Neteller are usually rapid for withdrawals, with the money received in hours. But when withdrawing to a debit card or using bank transfers, it can take a few working days.

Minimum/max deposit limit

Each online payment method that is offered by a gambling site in Ireland might have a different minimum and maximum deposit limit in place. Those who only want to play with a small amount of money will therefore need to make sure that they choose a payment method that has a low minimum deposit limit. On the flip side, those who have a big budget for online sports betting should ensure their selected method has a high deposit limit. 

Minimum/max withdrawal limit

The same is true for withdrawals, with the amount that can be withdrawn from a gambling site in Ireland varying a great deal across different operators. Low minimum withdrawal limits can be very handy for users who want to empty their account, but on the other hand, those who are fortunate enough to land a big win need to be able to get their hands on their money as quickly and efficiently as possible, so high withdrawal limits are key.

Payment Methods Available at Gambling Sites in Ireland

Different payment methods are available at gambling sites in Ireland, including these:

Visa

American card company Visa is one of the giants of the online payments industry. Lots of Irish sports fans will already have a Visa debit card that they can use to make a deposit online. The process is simple, with users just typing in the card details just as they would make any other type of purchase through the internet. Card details can usually be saved too, to make it faster to make another deposit or to request a withdrawal to the same Visa debit card too.

Mastercard

The main rival to Visa in the industry is Mastercard, with its debit cards welcomed across Ireland, both offline and online. Mastercard debit cards work in the same way as Visa debit cards, making them a simple and secure way to add funds to a betting site account. Mastercard recorded revenues of over $15 billion in 2020, showing how dominant the firm is.

Maestro

The third common type of debit card that can be used on gambling sites in Ireland is Maestro. Most sports fans in the country probably do not realise that Maestro is actually part of the same company as Mastercard, so it is no surprise to see that they work in the same way. Accepted in nearly 100 different countries around the world, Maestro is simple to use in Ireland.

PayPal

Moving on to e-wallets, PayPal is the most famous name from a growing industry. Established in 1998 and has been part of eBay for a time, PayPal's key figures in its history have included the likes of Peter Thiel and Elon Musk, now one of the world's richest people. PayPal transactions are all monitored around the clock to prevent fraud, as well as email phishing and identity theft, which helps to ensure it is one of the safest online payment methods.

Neteller

Another top e-wallet that can be used to make payments into online betting sites in Ireland is Neteller, which is part of the British global payments company Paysafe Group. Founded more than two decades ago, Neteller has huge experience in the online payment world - at one point the e-wallet handled payments for some 85 per cent of online gambling merchants. The benefits of using Neteller include that more than 25 different global currencies are supported.

Skrill

The other main e-wallet that can be used for deposits and withdrawals at Irish online gambling sites is Skrill, which is actually part of the same company as Neteller despite a lot of people assuming they are actually big rivals in the industry. Skrill - which used to be known as Moneybookers - can be used in more than 100 countries around the world, including Ireland. One thing to keep in mind about using an e-wallet such as Skrill to deposit Irish gambling sites is it might mean users may not be able to qualify for a welcome bonus.

Apple Pay

Betting via mobile devices is becoming a lot more popular in Ireland, with those who have an iOS device such as an iPhone or an iPad able to benefit from using Apple Pay. Having been launched just a few years ago, Apple Pay is now the default online payment option for many people in Ireland, who can use Touch ID and Face ID for safe biometric authentication.

Google Pay

Android users have an alternative to Apple Pay in the form of Google Pay, which works in a very similar way. Google Pay lets users add payment options such as debit cards to their account, speeding up the process when they want to deposit to a betting site. All Android users can add their card to Google Pay by taking a photo of it too, which is very handy.

Paysafecard

This prepaid online payment method that can be used at a lot of the leading online gambling sites in Ireland is based on vouchers with a 16-digit PIN code, which makes it secure. Paysafecard is part of the same online payments giant as Skrill and Neteller. Benefits of opting for Paysafecard when betting online include that users do not have to enter any of their personal information into an account whenever they are making a deposit to bet on the big game or race.

Bank transfer

Perhaps the most traditional way to add funds to betting sites in Ireland is via bank transfer. This is not the fastest method but it is safe and secure, while a lot of older people may be more comfortable using a bank transfer rather than a more modern alternative like Apple Pay, Google Pay or e-wallets. The downside of bank transfers when betting online is that there are sometimes fees for making a withdrawal, while they tend to be paid out slowly too.

Pay by phone bill

Sports fans in Ireland can also opt to pay by phone bill when depositing into an online betting account in the country. Pay by phone bill is a relatively new option but is useful for those who only want to make a small deposit, as the limits are usually quite low. As the name suggests, when pay by phone bill is selected it means the amount that is deposited into an account is added to a user's phone bill, which they must pay whenever it is due. With credit cards no longer permitted at Irish gambling sites, this is one of the few ways to bet online with credit rather than actually having to make the payment at the time of making the deposit. 

The Best Payment Methods

Here, we have rated and reviewed the best payment methods in various key areas:

Best Payment Methods for Safety

Most online payment methods that can be used at Irish betting sites are broadly in line with each other when it comes to safety. But PayPal is widely recognised as one of the safest online payment methods around, while Paysafecard is a very good option for any sports fans in Ireland who would like to avoid having to enter their personal information into a betting site. Those who want to use a mobile device to bet online in Ireland could also opt for Apple Pay as a very sage online payment method. Due to the fact they can set up a fingerprint ID to be used when making a deposit, it helps to ensure this is one of the safest online payment methods.

Best Payment Methods for Fast withdrawals

E-wallets are without a doubt ahead of the pack when it comes to fast withdrawals from betting sites in Ireland. When using PayPal, Skrill or Neteller, users can expect to receive their winnings in a matter of hours and almost always within one working day. On the flip side, debit cards and bank transfers are usually very slow compared to e-wallet withdrawals. Note that Paysafecard is not a payment option that can be used to make a withdrawal at all. 

Best Payment Methods for Low Deposits

For those who want to make a small deposit into their betting account, it depends on the site in question as well as the payment method they use. The best gambling sites offer deposits as low as 5 euros, and some even go down to 1 euro deposits. For example, some online betting sites like Paddy Power allow low deposits via methods such as debit cards and e-wallet. Apple Pay and Google Pay can also be good options for making a small deposit too and the benefit of these is that they are designed to be used for making payments via mobile. 

Best Payment Methods for High withdrawals

Bank transfer is usually one of the best ways to make large withdrawals out of a betting site in Ireland. This is because the withdrawal limit for a bank transfer is often set at a higher level when compared to other options such as e-wallets. However, it is important to note there might be fees attached when making a big withdrawal via the bank transfer method. Sometimes it is also slower to use e-wallets for the largest withdrawals out of betting sites too.

Best Payment Methods for High rollers

Irish sports fans with a lot of cash to splash on online betting will need to pick a payment method that lets them move a lot of money in and out of their account with ease. Ticking a lot of boxes for these high rollers will be e-wallets, which do not usually have any fees, while Skrill, PayPal and Neteller are usually the quickest methods for withdrawals as well.

Best Payment Methods with No/low fees

It is always important to check the small print of an online betting site to see whether or not any fees will be charged when making a deposit or a withdrawal. Most online payment methods do not have any fees, with e-wallets typically free when both adding funds to an account and withdrawing winnings. Sites do often charge a processing fee for withdrawals that are made via bank transfer, so this always needs to be taken into account. 

How to Sign up for Accounts With Your Chosen Payment Method 

Deciding which payment method to use is part of the sign-up process for online casinos in Ireland and betting sites that are available in the country.

Usually, you will need to add a payment method before being able to play, unless you are using a no deposit offer to get up and running on your chosen site.

The payment method you choose will likely have an impact on how long it takes for a withdrawal to be made, so it is worth thinking carefully about this decision.

It should only take a few minutes to complete the process of signing up for an account:

  1. Fill in the sign-up form, with details like your name and date of birth 
  2. Enter the email address you want to be used for correspondence 
  3. Add the promotion or bonus code required for an offer, if needed 
  4. Select your chosen payment method and make an initial deposit 
  5. Start playing your favourite casino games or betting on sport

In some cases, it will be necessary to verify the account. This is usually done through email, with players only having to click a link sent in a message to get started with the account.

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