Find Your Favourite Ireland Casino Resorts 2025
Updated by Lynsey Thompson
Writer
Fact Checked by Michael Graham
Content Editor
Ask anyone what Ireland is known for and most people will say the friendly people, the rich culture and the stunning scenery. Guinness, whiskey, folk music and lucky leprechauns might appear on the list too, but I doubt many people would say casinos.
There’s a reason for that, and that’s because the country has strict gambling laws when it comes to land-based casinos. There is no such thing as Las Vegas style mega-casino resorts in Ireland, they simply aren’t allowed. However, that doesn’t mean that casino’s don’t exist at all, they just take on the form of a members club or gaming hall instead.
So, let’s take a look at where and how you can gamble in Ireland in land-based casinos.
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Ireland Land-Based Casino Operators
Because of the way land-based casinos operate in Ireland, you won’t find the big casino chains or companies you’ll find in other parts of the world.
Ireland casinos tend to be independently run and sometimes aren’t called casinos at all. Instead, they have names such as members clubs, sporting clubs, casino clubs, casino complex, arcades and even Emporiums.
Jesters Casinos own three different casino locations in and around Dublin but most of the others are independent. Examples of casinos in Ireland include:
- Sporting Emporium, Dublin
- Macau Casino Complex, Cork
- Carlton Club Casino, Dublin
- Playland, Dublin
- Ned Kelly Sportsclub, Dublin
- D1 Club, Dublin
- Jesters Casino, Dublin
Ireland Casino Resorts
Due to the independent nature of the casino scene in Ireland, each venue differs significantly in terms of size, scale and what they offer to visitors. Let’s take a look at a few of these close up.
- Macau Casino Complex – Located in Cork, Macau casino complex is also called Macau Sporting Club and is probably the closest you’ll find to a regular casino in Ireland. It offers live table games, electronic games, slots and poker plus a bar and onsite restaurant. You can play roulette, blackjack, three card poker, punto banco and Texas Hold’em with weekly tournaments and regular cash games.
- Sporting Emporium – A members club in the centre of Dublin with a traditional wood-panelled club house feel to it. There are no slot games, it’s just all about live table games such as blackjack, roulette, brag, punto banco and poker. They do offer some electronic table games too.
- Carlton Club Casino – Located at the top of O’Connell Street, Dublin, Carlton Club Casino is based in a historic building and it offers a glamorous ‘Gatsby’ style gaming environment for players. It is exceptionally small, with just one main room offering blackjack, roulette and baccarat and a separate poker parlour, you are out of luck if you want to play slots as there aren’t any. But if you want to hit the tables in a movie-like setting with the red carpet treatment then it’s worth a look.
More Than Gambling
Ireland is a beautiful place to visit, whether or not you’re gambling, here’s just a few other reasons to go to the Emerald Isle.
- Historical attractions – From Blarney Castle, where you can kiss the Blarney Stone, to Giants Causeway, Dublin Castle, Christ Church Cathedral and Trinity College, Ireland is steeped in history and historic places to visit.
- Music – There is nothing like seeing talented Irish musicians playing traditional folk music and no matter where you go in Ireland, you’ll find it. Of course the famous Temple Bar area of Dublin is awash with live bands and street entertainers, it’s an incredible place to experience.
- Stunning landscapes – With spectacular landscapes like the Cliffs of Moher and the Ring of Kerry, Ireland offers breath-taking coastal drives, hiking and biking adventures to get up close and personal with nature.
- Guinness – Simply drinking Guinness in Ireland is a different experience to drinking it anywhere else, but you can also visit the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin to see how this iconic stout in made. Afterwards, you can finish off by pouring your own perfect pint.
Important Considerations
Due to the legal restrictions in Ireland, many gambling facilities have to be set up as members clubs in order to operate. This means that new visitors often have to register as a member, for a fee, on a first visit.
Generally the fee should be no more than around 20 – 30 Euros and in some cases this value is given back to the player in free slot play or chips when they sign-up.
The age restriction for entering casinos in Ireland is 18 years or older and it’s always a good idea to take photographic ID.
Meet The Author
Experience
Lynsey is a regular Las Vegas visitor and a keen slots and roulette player. As well as significant experience as a writer in the iGaming and gambling industries as an expert reviewer and journalist, Lynsey is one half of the popular Las Vegas YouTube Channel and Podcast 'Begas Vaby’. When she is not in Las Vegas or wishing she was in Las Vegas, Lynsey can usually be found pursuing her other two main interests of sports and theatre.
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