Easy to Beat Poker Games that Welcome Players from Ireland
Not all online poker sites are the same. Some are packed full of Eastern European ‘grinders’, eking out an hourly profit over 12 tables at a time. Others are recreational, entertaining, and exactly the kind of place amateur players can relax and enjoy the games.
Laws regarding online poker in Ireland are relaxed. Online poker is perfectly legal through both domestically licensed and offshore online poker sites. That means it is up to the player to choose carefully. I have been playing online poker since 2004 – and things have changed a lot over the years.
Below are my poker picks for Ireland. After that, you will find a quick history of Irish poker, and some notes on payment options post the credit card crackdown.
Part #2: Recommended Poker Sites for Players from Ireland
Easy Top Pick: GGPoker
GGPoker is one of the freshest poker sites around. I’m predicting it will be the single biggest online poker room by the end of the year. This site is known for their range of innovative games such as Flip and Go and Rush and Cash.
There’s a real focus on fast paced games and the site is ideal for both recreational players and the more serious poker enthusiast. You also find some of the biggest prizes online at GG Poker in their featured tournaments. Team players include Daniel Negreanu. Dan Bilzerian, ElkY and more.
New players get to choose from two deposit bonuses. The first is a 100% deposit bonus of up to $600. The bonus is released in increments of $5 every time a player makes $20 of rake or pays the same in tournament fees.
The other bonus sees players enjoy $100 in tokens for entertaining games. I recommend checking out the ‘Honeymoon’ promo, which can add up to $350 if you complete the simple challenges.
Find out more in my super-detailed GGPoker Review - or see the latest promotions and enjoy the unique poker formats for yourself now, over at www.ggpoker.com!
Irish Poker on Mobile Devices: Unibet Poker
Unibet are a site that have made big changes in recent years, with fun at the top of the agenda. Unibet don’t allow tools that help pros win. They also let you regularly change your name and avatar – which prevents people following fish around and taking notes. The cash games are super-soft, as recreational players cross over from the huge sports betting brand.
New players can enjoy a pair of bonuses when signing up. First, there are 5 power tickets to tournaments worth €24. This comes along with a €500 play through bonus. This is a progressive bonus, where the more rake and tournament fees you earn sees you release higher and higher increments of the progressive bonus. Play enough in the first 60 days and the whole €500 can be yours.
Unibet is a smaller site, perfect for casual players that want to play one table at a time against other amateur players.
Check out the latest promotions now, over at www.unibet.com!
Party Poker
There was a time when Party Poker was the single biggest poker site. Party is making something of a resurgence and is known for the player base being comparatively soft. Big tournaments are a feature at the site. Events including PowerFest, the Monster Series and the Millions Online tournaments all worth looking out for. Fast Forward games are perfect for cash players who want a fast-paced game.
New players at Party Poker from Ireland can enjoy a two-part deposit bonus. The first sees a 100% deposit bonus of up to $600. The second part is the reward of $30 in tickets to both SPINS (the jackpot sit and go variant at Party Poker) and multi-table tournaments. The deposit bonus funds are released in full when you earn 4x the bonus amount in loyalty points. Check out the latest offers and events on my Party Poker bonus code page.
Part #3: Overview and History of Poker in Ireland
The first legal gambling legislation in Ireland came in 1854 - earlier than in most other countries. Poker has always been a popular pastime for Irish players and the country plays host to one of the longest tournament series in the world. The Irish Open began in the mid 1970’s and takes place every year in the spring. Irish players have had great success at the World Series of Poker over the years too.
At the 1999 World Series of Poker Main Event, Noel Furlong took down the first prize, with countryman Padraig Parkinson finishing in 3rd place. Andy Black would come close to winning the Main Event in 2005, holding a third of the chips at the final table at one point. Ex-Olympic swimmer Donnacha O’Dea holds a WSOP bracelet and has appeared at the final table in the main event twice.
Playing Online Poker in Ireland
Players in Ireland have a free reign when it comes to choosing an online poker site. In addition, adding and withdrawing funds is straightforward for players in Ireland, when in some countries these options are limited.
You can fund your accounts with debit cards, as well as a variety of other methods. These can include companies such as PayPal and a variety of different e-wallets. Apple Pay and Google Pay are also options as well as other financial services such as PaySafeCard.
Recent legislation means that some brands are preventing credit card deposits for online poker sites. If this is your only means of depositing, I recommend using it to fund an electronic wallet (for example Skrill) or even to buy a pre-paid debit card from your local store.
Best Irish Poker Sites Wrapping Up
Avoiding the army of grinders is key to enjoying online poker. For me that means keeping well away from sites like PokerStars and 888.
GGPoker leads the way for recreational games. Their innovative poker formats, huge tournament events and quirky promotions all mean you’ll have fun while building your bankroll. With EUR100 in tokens for a minimum deposit, you will get off to a flying start there too.
Check out the new games and latest events now, over at ggpoker.com
Popular Pages this Month:
- Luxon Pay Poker Sites (fee-free electronic wallet app!)
- The Online Super Series at America's Cardroom (huge online poker events)
- Blog Post: How the minimum skills to beat online poker evolved over time
- John Juanda (part of my WSOP legends series)