Casino Learning Guide Ireland

Whether you are a newbie or an experienced player in the online casino world, it can be hard to keep up with the constant updates and trends. To help you navigate casino entertainment better and have fun without any hassle, We have prepared this guide! Here, where you will find all sorts of tips and tricks to have the best gambling journey. Enjoy this piece as you read on!

What You Will Find in Our Casino Learning Hub

So, what do we have in store for you in this guide? Have a look:

• Casino Game Guides (Slots, Table Games, Live Casino): If you are looking to get out of your comfort zone, then you are in the right place! I will compile detailed guides that will help you get started with different sorts of games. As a bonus, I will also include some of my favourite games, so you do not waste time searching for titles to play.
• Strategies for Maximising Your Chances: Don’t get me wrong, casino games rely solely on luck. However, what if I told you that some games have special strategies that will take your play from 0 to 100? I will outline those strategies in this guide and help you enhance your gambling journey.
• Responsible Gambling Tips: Never forget that online gambling is just entertainment and should be treated as such. This guide will focus on helpful tips to improve your gambling habits and reduce the risk of addiction.
• Bonuses and Promotions Explained: Bonuses and promotions are some of my favourite features, so I will be more than happy to give you more insights about them. I have also included tips on claiming the best bonuses, and which ones to avoid.
• Gaming Regulations in Ireland: Recently, the Irish online gambling landscape has changed drastically. We have made it our duty to keep your abreast of all of these changes, so you know what to expect.
• Gambling Tax: Will you have to pay a tax on your winnings? If yes, how much tax are you required to pay? How will it be deducted? I will give you answers to these questions and so much more.
• Wagering Requirements: Wagering requirements are some of the most important bonus terms and conditions. This guide will give you a thorough understanding of these requirements and how to calculate them.
• Withdrawal Problems: How do you withdraw your winnings if you are lucky enough to snag a win? You will find the answers here. In addition, I have added some of the most common withdrawal problems you might encounter as well as tentative solutions.
• How to Report Online Casinos: How do you proceed if you fall victim to a fraudulent online casino? What procedure should you follow to report an online casino and get your issue solved? You will find out all about that in this guide.
• FAQs and Common Casino Terms: Find all the questions burning on your mind with detailed answers. Also, I have included those pesky casino terms to dispel confusion and broaden your understanding!

Casino Game Guides

Let’s get this guide started with casino game guides. Are you one of those players who never knows what to play? Or even if you do, are the rules a bit too much for you to keep up with? You’re in luck then, because I have simplified these games for you to understand better. Have a look!

Slots

Online slot machines are undoubtedly a player favourite, mainly because of how easy they are to play. They have evolved so much with technology, with providers adding more depth to keep users entertained. What began as classic three-reel slots with fruit symbols have become so much more! Video, multi-payline, progressive jackpot, and megaways are just some of the types of slots you can enjoy. They all work in the same way albeit with different features and symbols: spin the reels and land a winning combination to win. Some of my favourite slots include Book of Dead, Wolf Gold, Sweet Bonanza, and Gates of Olympus. You can find out more about these games in our special guide.

Blackjack

Blackjack is one of those online casino games that will never go out of style. There is one simple rule: get a total card count as close to 21 as possible without going over. However, if the dealer has a higher card count than you do, you will lose. A card count over 21 is a bust and is an automatic loss, for you or the dealer. The most common actions in blackjack are hit and stand. If you hit, you ask the dealer to deal you another count. If you choose to stand, then the dealer will move on to another player.

Blackjack has a special strategy that can enable you to enjoy your experience even more. You can find out all about that in our dedicated blackjack guide.

Roulette

Roulette is one of the easiest table games to play, and it doesn’t require players to master any special strategy. The goal of the game is to guess the outcome of the wheel. Unlike live roulette, virtual roulette doesn’t have any time limits. To start playing, select your chip size and spin the wheel. The ball settles into a pocket and this determines the outcome. You can choose to spin the wheel again.

What I love most about roulette is that you can bet on several outcomes for the same spin. Some of the most common outcomes are red or black, odd or even, and high or low. You can find out more about online roulette variations in our dedicated guide.

Baccarat

Baccarat is another exciting card game. The premise of the game is for you to bet on who you think will have a higher card count. Unlike blackjack, you are not directly involved in gameplay. There are two major actors: the Banker and the Player. You can bet on either one to win. Alternatively, you can bet on a Tie. A win is determined by whose total hard is closer to nine. Our baccarat guide will give you more details on the rules to follow when playing this exciting card game.

Poker

Poker is one of the most widely played online casino games. It is a unique blend of skill and luck. There are several poker variants and each of them have a specific set of rules. Some actions that apply to most poker variants are checking, folding, calling, betting, raising, and re-raising. Popular variants include Texas Hold’em, five card draw, Omaha Hi-Lo, Omaha Hi, and 2-7 Triple Draw.

Another popular type of poker is video poker. It is essentially a cross between online slots and your classic poker game. Here, you play 1 to 5 coins and get five cards from the machine. You choose which ones to hold on to or discard and get a payout depending on the value of your hand.

Responsible Gaming

Responsible gaming, also known as safer gaming, is a blanket term used to describe measures put in place to keep gambling entertaining and safe. It is important that gambling remains entertainment and doesn’t put people who indulge at risk. For more information about keeping your gambling journey safe and fun, visit our dedicated responsible gambling page.

Gaming Regulation in Ireland

The newly launched Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland will be henceforth in charge of licensing and regulation in the territory. This regulatory authority was introduced by the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 and will start operating in 2025. Under this body, operators will be required to obtain special licences, depending on the product.

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland will have the following functions:

• Regulate and licence all forms of gambling in Ireland;
• Restrict minors’ access to gambling;
• Establish a nationwide self-exclusion register and a Social Impact Fund;
• Provide support to people who suffer from problem gambling;
• Restrict gambling promotions and sponsorships.

Gambling Tax

In Ireland, the gambling tax stands at 2%. It applies to the bet amount and not to the gambling winnings. This tax does not apply to all forms of betting. Only some types of professional gambling and card playing are taxed by the government.

Understanding Casino Bonuses & Promotions

Casino bonuses and promotional offers are some my favourite features at every casino. Essentially, these are rewards that a casino offers to new players to attract them and to returning players to keep them playing. There are two major types of bonuses: deposit and no deposit bonuses. Deposit bonuses need you to fund your casino account to be unlocked. No deposit bonuses, on the other hand, do not require any deposit to be unlocked. Some of the most common types of bonuses include welcome bonuses, free spins offers, cashbacks, and reload promos.

Wagering Requirements

A wagering requirement is usually part of bonus terms and conditions. It is a multiplier that represents the number of times a player must wager their bonus to withdraw the winnings. So, if you claim a $100 bonus with a 30x wagering requirement, you must wager 30 x 100 = $3,000 to withdraw your winnings.

At some casinos, wagering requirements apply to the bonus and deposit amounts combined. Also, wagering requirements for bonus spins apply to your winnings and not the number of spins you claim. Find out more in our dedicated casino wagering guide.

Withdrawal Problems

Although the primary aim of playing at online casinos is to have fun, it is always nice when you win. However, withdrawing your winnings might come with some issues. Here are some of the most common withdrawal problems:

• Withdrawal pending for too long;
• Rejected withdrawals;
• High withdrawal fees;
• Account verification issues.

Our dedicated withdrawal guide will give you more insight into solving these issues.

How to Report Online Casinos

If you run into an issue when playing at an online casino, there are steps that you can take to report the platform.

1. First, check for the regulatory body that licences the casino.
2. Next, collect all evidence. This includes transaction receipts, messages, and emails, depending on your issue.
3. Contact the regulatory body the casino is licensed with and present the short description of the situation.

Some issues you might encounter include:

• The casino has not paid out your winnings
• The casino confiscates your account your balance.

Key Casino Terms Explained

As a gambler, there are some terms that you will almost always encounter. To make understanding them easier, I have provided brief explanations to some of them.

• House Edge: You might have heard the phrase “the house always wins.” The house here refers to the casino and the house edge is the mathematical advantage it has over players. It is also referred to as casino advantage. It tells you how much each game pays out over a period and which games have the best returns on their bets.
• Bankroll: In the casino world, your bankroll refers to the total amount of money you have to bet with. In other words, it is the amount of money you can afford to lose (since there is no win guarantee at online casinos). A bankroll is established when you set yourself a gambling budget.
• Aggregate Limit: An aggregate limit is the maximum amount of money a casino is liable to pay off to two or more players as a result of a single call of the game or hand of play. So, if an operator has an aggregate limit of €2,000,000 in jackpots per year, once they pay out this amount, they are no longer obligated to pay out jackpots till the next year.
• Blackjack: Also known as 21, blackjack is the most widely played casino card game in the world. The basic premise of the game is to get a total card count as close to 21 as possible, without going over. Your opponent in this game is the dealer. Some common actions in the game are hit, stand, split, and double down.
• Action: Action can mean several things in the casino world. It can refer to the total amount of money you or everyone else at the table plays. In this context, an action just refers to your turn to make a move, whether at a poker or blackjack table.
• Ante: An ante is a forced amount of money that all players must bet before they are dealt any cards. This is to ensure that there is always a minimum amount in the pot they have to win. Ante bets are very common in poker games.
• Bonus: A bonus is a reward that casinos offer to their players. There are several types of bonuses, and some of the most common are welcome bonuses, free spins, cashback offers and reload bonuses. Each of them comes with terms and conditions that players must fulfil before withdrawing their winnings.
• Bet: A bet is an amount that is laid, wagered, or staked on the outcome of a game. Several types of bets exist, depending on the game you play. For example, in roulette, you have outside bets and inside bets.
• Beginner’s luck: Beginner’s luck refers to a player who is new to a game and comes out on top on their first or first few tries. Beginner’s luck is a myth and doesn’t actually exist. Experts say that beginners might win because they are more unbiased and approach the games with a fresh perspective, unlike experts.
• Double Down: In blackjack, doubling down refers to when players double their bet during a hand, after they have been dealt the first two cards. You are not allowed to double down if you hit, place an insurance bet, or get blackjack. Most often, you are only allowed to double down on a split bet.
• Jackpot: A jackpot refers to a prize that you can win randomly as you play certain games. There are two types of jackpots: fixed and progressive. A fixed jackpot is a prize that doesn’t change no matter how many times it is won. On the other hand, a progressive jackpot has a seed and it increases every time a player makes a bet.
• Payline: A payline is a line on which a win is determined based on matching symbols. They come into effect only when there is a winning combination on the reels. Some types of paylines include horizontal, vertical, diagonal, and zigzag paylines. Some slots have fixed paylines. While with others, you can get a payout anywhere on the reel.
• Payout: A casino payout is the amount of money paid out to a player. Most casinos have payout percentages that represent how much money you will potentially win over a period of time. So, if a casino’s payout percentage rate is 96%, you will lose 4% of bets made.
• Chips: Casino chips are mainly used in games such as poker and they represent the game’s currency. This is what you bet with. All chips have a set value dependent on their colours. Chips are used at brick and mortar casinos instead.
• Dealer: casino dealers are people that run the games. With games such as blackjack and poker, your direct opponent is the dealer. With games like roulette and baccarat, the dealer only hosts and is not involved in the game play in any way. Online casino dealer can be found in the live gaming section.
• High Roller: a high roller is a casino player that constantly wagers a high amount of money. They can also be referred to as a whale or cheetah. At most online casinos, high rollers can enjoy special rewards and participate in exclusive VIP programmes.

FAQs – Your Casino Questions Answered