Best Online Poker Sites in Ireland

Ireland’s Most Trustworthy Poker Sites

There are many things to consider when choosing the best online poker room. As safety and security are a top priority, the trustworthiness of an online poker site is a key factor in every poker site we review.

Our experts put together a list of the best, most trustworthy poker sites in Ireland that let you play online poker free and for real money. 

Use our site to find general ratings, the poker sites' specific advantages and licensing information. You can browse through the online poker bonuses available in 2023 and read our in-depth reviews to find the best online poker site for you.

Having played and reviewed hundreds of online poker sites, we only bring you the best sites and most generous bonuses in Ireland. We regularly update our guide with new casinos and bonuses, so why not bookmark this page and come back often?

Top 3 Irish Poker Sites

Irish poker players are spoilt for choice when choosing which sites to sign up at but there are a few that stick out as being some of the best poker sites in Ireland. In our opinion, it's hard to look past 888poker, partypoker and Bet365 for an excellent overall online poker product.

888poker

888 has put lots of work into designing its casino, live casino and sports betting products and this gives an air of trustworthiness. It's also reassuring to know you are betting on a quality live casino product.

Players in Ireland can sometimes enjoy a free bonus, no deposit needed, when they sign up to 888poker. This bonus usually comes in the shape of tournament tickets, so you'll get a chance to experience what it's like to compete in poker at 888. Notwithstanding, there's normally a first deposit match bonus, which can reach €1,000.

You can see if there's an available 888 Poker bonus code in our review of the site.

Partypoker

Partypoker's another top Irish poker site and it has attractive welcome bonuses too. Plus, it runs knockout tournaments which you can buy into for just €0.01 and has a $1 million guaranteed 3-day PKO main event with buy-ins at €1,050 for more serious players.

Partypoker also has a blog where you can find out more about upcoming poker competitions and winning players from previous events.

Additionally, there's partypoker TV which is great when you just want to relax and watch other players go head-to-head for cash, plus it's a great way to develop your poker knowledge by watching how others play the game. 

Why not read our Partypoker bonus code review?

Bet365

Bet365 offers a €365 welcome bonus to new players, which they can unlock through claiming Status Points. You'll get €5 just from signing up, then you get 10 Status Points for every €1 you pay in rake/tournament fees. Plus, poker players can get involved in a €1 million monthly tournament. 

At Bet365 Poker, you can play Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Seven-Card Stud, Five-Card Stud, Five-Card Draw and Razz. Texas Hold'em features No-Limit, Fixed-Limit and Pot-Limit versions.

What's more, Bet365 offers responsible gambling tools to help you stay in control, such as deposit limits, reality checks, self-exclusion and a time-out. 

Discover more in our Bet365 Poker site review.

How to Choose the Best Online Poker Sites

In the past, poker was usually played by hardened, professional gamblers. However, since it was invented in the 1800s, poker was transformed to become both a professional sport and favourite pastime for casual gamblers. Today, poker is one of the most popular forms of online gambling in Ireland and around the world.

Irish players have many options of online poker rooms from the industry's top gambling operators. Texas Hold’em is the most popular form of poker, but there are plenty of versions for those who want their poker fast, or for those looking for a more relaxed game.

If you’re a poker player who's looking to learn the game for free, or play online poker for real money and win big prizes, you'll find this 2023 expert guide to Irish poker sites extremely useful.

With a wide selection of poker rooms to choose from, there are many things to consider. The best poker sites compete by offering different poker games, innovative software and generous bonuses. 

Many of the best Irish poker sites are even creating their own versions of poker and tournaments. When choosing a new poker site to sign up to, consider the following features.

Poker Promotions and Bonuses

A key factor that attracts most online poker players is the casino bonuses that are given to new and returning players. The biggest bonuses are usually offered to new players, with sites awarding generous bonuses on your first deposit. Some poker sites will give you bonuses just for signing up and creating an account.

It's also important to consider bonuses and loyalty programs that poker sites give to returning players, as these are awarded for loyalty and can pay handsome rewards in the long run. So look for sponsored tournament tickets, rake-backs and deposit bonuses.

Online Poker Traffic

The more player traffic a poker site has, the bigger the variety of games and tournaments it has to offer in general. The more players a site can attract, the more tables it tends to host, including different stakes and prizes. Larger poker sites tend to offer more innovative features and sometimes better customer service as well.

However, there are also advantages to playing at smaller poker sites. Some online poker players prefer the tight-knit player community and more personal customer support they sometimes receive at smaller poker rooms.

Competition Levels

With poker being a community game that involves skill, more experienced players might stand a better chance to win money than beginners. When looking for the best online poker site, it's important to consider your skill level and poker experience so you can choose a site where you'll fit in.

While some large sites are known to have many experienced players, there are smaller sites that usually offer lower stakes and attract more beginners.

Game Variety

Some online poker sites only offer the most popular poker games. This includes No-Limit Texas Hold’em and in some cases Pot-Limit Omaha. However, some sites are known for offering a wider selection of poker variants, such as Razz Poker, Seven card stud, Chinese poker, Caribbean Stud Poker and more.

If you just like to play Texas Hold’em as many players do, you're spoiled for choice. However we strongly recommend you explore other games. Not only can it be great fun, but perhaps you can become an expert in a poker game that has less skilled competitors.

Poker Tournaments

The best online poker sites offer a huge array of tournaments for players at all levels. Tournaments are a great way to interact with other players and become part of the poker community. 

It's also a great way to develop your skills and strategy in a real-game environment. Poker tournaments provide the excitement of competition, leaderboards and big prizes.

There are different types of tournaments including scheduled tournaments and Sit & Go tournaments that start as soon as a table fills up with players. There are also Multi-Table Tournaments (MTTs) that attract hundreds and sometimes thousands of players. 

Satellite Tournaments will allow you to qualify for major poker competitions that sometimes end with a live event. We named a few but there are many more exciting tournaments for Irish online poker players.

Cash Games

If you don't feel like waiting for a table to fill up for a Sit & Go tournament, or don't want to spend a tournament buy-in, cash games are a great way to dive into the poker action. Cash games are more casual and don't require players to spend large amounts. 

This is why many novice players prefer playing cash games before developing their skills to then join tournaments.

Our experts at Casinos.com always look for online poker sites that provide a variety of cash games to include No-Limit and Fixed-Limit bets games, more types of betting options and of course, a large number of cash tables at any given time.

Poker Room Features

Some online poker rooms have a stable platform that is easy to use and offers no thrills, while others pride themselves on unique features and innovation. There are sites with snap-cam avatars, 3D tables, personalised game function keys and in-game dashboards. 

While some players prefer the straightforward poker experience, others use new features to take their poker gameplay to a new level.

Supported Platforms

Whether an online poker room can provide a uniform experience across platforms and devices is important. Most Irish poker sites have an instant-play poker client, accessible through a mobile browser. In this sense, these sites function just like mobile casinos.

The leading poker sites in Ireland also offer mobile poker apps that are easy to use. Apps are available for Android, iOS and some for Windows Phone.

Sign-Up Process

The sign-up process for Irish online poker sites is pretty standard these days, as all United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) and Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) licensed sites must do an account verification for new users. 

Still, some poker rooms let you sign up quickly and easily with just a few steps, while others ask for more information. All the online poker sites we recommend on Casinos.com have a swift, easy and intuitive sign-up process.

Security

Your safety and security is our primary concern when reviewing and recommending online poker sites. We therefore only list on Casinos.com poker sites that are licensed by the UKGC or the MGA. These sites are 100% legal and comply with the highest standards of encryption, security, safe gambling and fair play.

Customer Support

Many online poker players rate their entire gameplay experience based on the quality of customer support they receive. When reviewing poker sites, we always look at all the support methods available (e.g. FAQ section, email, phone, etc.) and contact the customer support team to see how professional and helpful they are. We also consider the site’s hours of support and response times.

What is the Best Online Poker Site for Beginners?

Most online poker sites cater to beginners and seasoned players alike, especially the popular sites we recommend on this page like Bet365, partypoker and 888poker. What's more, their welcome offers will help you get comfortable with the casino. 

Bet365 Poker gives new players a €365 welcome package which makes it easier to get to know the poker games available and how all the site's features work.

In addition, there's no pressure to start betting big if you're not ready to. At Bet365, you can play Wild Twister Sit & Gos for a buy-in of only €0.50 and win prizes worth 100 times that.

Partypoker is another site that's welcoming to new poker players. Its Cash Games have minimum bet limits of just €0.01. It doesn't get much more beginner-friendly!

Most Popular Online Poker Games 2023

Without a doubt, the most popular poker game online, and probably offline is Texas Hold’em. Omaha Poker comes in a distant second place, but Stud Poker and other game variations also have their legion of fans. Following are some of the most popular poker variations, as well as niche poker games that are gradually gaining traction with online poker players:

Texas Hold’em

The most recognised version of the game which is estimated to capture over 80% of the share of all poker played online. Hold’em Poker is played by the best players in the world in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, among other tournaments.

Omaha

A great game for you to try if you are a fan of Texas Hold’em. With each player receiving four hole cards instead of two as in Hold’em, this is an action-packed game which draws many players, especially for Pot-Limit Omaha.

Casino Hold’em

A relatively new game in poker history which dates back to the 1990s but quickly earned its popularity in online casinos. 

The rules are similar to Texas Hold’em and the hand rankings are identical. The biggest difference is that you don’t play against other players, but rather your goal is to beat the dealer like in most other casino games.

Seven Card Stud

It was one of the most popular games in America a few decades ago. If you played Texas Hold’em before, it will take some time getting used to. There are no community cards and it’s almost always played with fixed betting limits. Though it's a challenging version of poker that takes time to master, it rewards good memory and skill.

Razz

A lowball poker game which means the card and hand rankings are the opposite of Texas Hold’em. The goal in Razz is to get the lowest-ranking hand according to traditional poker. Razz is easy to learn and has a slow, relaxed game pace. It's mostly popular among older players and poker purists.

Five Card Draw

The classic version of poker that is reminiscent of Texas Hold’em but with some key differences. Five Card Draw is played with a dealer button and blinds just like Hold’em, but there are no community cards. It's relatively easy to learn, but there are a lot of mind games and strategy involved.

Red Dog

A fast-paced banking game (where you play against the dealer) in which two cards are dealt face up, and the player bets on whether the third card will rank between the first two cards dealt. Red Dog Poker has several game variations, such as Shoot, Slippery Sam and Polish Red Dog.

Three Card Poker

An easy game to learn that is liked by players of all skill levels. There are two ways to play it: an Ante Play where you play against the dealer and a Pair Plus where you place a bet on whether you are dealt a pair or not.

2-7 Triple Draw

Another fun lowball poker game where the goal is to make the best possible five-card low hand. Online poker players love this game because it’s a fun way to spice things up. It’s also a great game for bluffing and playing mind games.

Chinese Poker

A game that is very different to normal poker and takes time to learn and master. Still, it’s a great game of skill and many players say it’s worth the effort. Chinese Poker is played with four players, where each is dealt 13 cards and needs to arrange them into three different poker hands. Once learned, it’s a game with a lot of action and strategy.

Live Dealer Poker

If you play poker online because of convenience, but still miss the buzz of the land-based casino, poker at live casinos is for you. The best live casinos let you join a poker table via live stream so you can watch a real-life dealer at a table from your computer screen or mobile device.

Freeroll Poker

Freeroll in poker refers to the situation where you never lose, but still stand a chance to win. Freerolls are a great way to join poker tournaments, as you will not be charged entry fees but still have chances to win prizes.

Some online poker sites also offer freeroll hands which guarantee you split the pot if you and another player have a winning hand. But there’s also an additional draw component (e.g. certain cards dealt) which can let you win the entire pot.

Pot Limit, No Limit, Fixed Limit - What’s the Difference?

The wagering structure differs between poker game variations, tables and tournament structures. In order to better understand the differences, it’s important to first know the basic terms:

• In Pot Limit poker games, as the name suggests, your bets are limited to the amount of money in the pot.
• In a No Limit game of poker, you can bet at any stage of the game on part of, or all the chips you own.
• In Fixed Limit games, you can raise the stakes to a pre-set amount that is defined for the table or tournament you're playing at.

Poker Strategies and Learning the Game

Poker is a great game that combines luck, skill and strategy. Beyond understanding the basic rules and fundamentals of the game, learning poker depends solely on the player and how he/she wants to develop and implement their strategy. 

You can develop your own style of play which suits your personality: whereas some players are happy to take risks at the table, others are risk-averse and calculated.

While aggressive players tend to constantly bet, raise the stakes and put other players under pressure, passive players will call or fold until they have a promising hand – but there is no single winning strategy. The following are a few popular strategies and tactics:

• Loose: Continue playing with weaker hands and rarely fold.
• Tight: Avoid weaker hands and fold often to avoid major losses.
• Passive: Play a lot of hands and make frequent calls.
• Aggressive: Try to intimidate and confuse players by raising stakes often.
• Position: Use the seating order around the table by taking advantage of later hands.
• Bluff/Deception: Try to act differently to how you normally would when you see/play your actual cards.

The Rules of Poker

Although the rules between poker variants differ, there are some fundamentals across all types of poker games. Once the initial cards are dealt, players are expected to react by placing bets. In Texas Hold’em and Omaha Poker, these are known as small blinds and big blinds. 

If there is no bet placed in the current round a player can check or forfeit his/her hand by folding. A standing bet can be matched by a call. When a player raises, you are expected to match the bets which have increased in value. Rules then differ between poker variations, with a few examples below:

• Rules for Texas Hold’em Poker: Each player gets two hole cards dealt face down with five face up community cards to make a five-card hand.
• Rules for Omaha Poker: This poker game uses four cards per player instead of the two used in Texas Hold’em, but at least two of those need to be used along with the three community cards.
• Rules for Stud Poker: Players start with three cards: one face up and two face down. Three other cards are then dealt face up and the seventh card is dealt face down. The aim is to end with the best five-card hand, as there are no community cards dealt in this game.
• Rules for Razz Poker: Similar to Stud Poker, this game has a seven-card draw and the same dealing pattern, except this time it’s the lowest five-card hand that wins the pot, so the best hand would be A-2-3-4-5 (a 'wheel').

Comparing Texas Hold’em vs Omaha vs Stud

Texas Hold’em, Omaha and Stud poker have some similarities but where they differ is in the number of cards dealt to each player. Stud is a little more challenging than the other two poker games because the cards some of the players receive are dealt face up. 

This means competing players can see a few of your cards from the start, thus shaping their next moves. Each version still holds the element of bluffing but with Stud, there's a twist because the competing players can have a glimpse into your game plan.

Payment Methods Available at Online Poker Sites

The best online poker sites in Ireland offer a variety of payment methods that enable you to deposit funds and withdraw winnings quickly and easily. 

Payment methods include traditional bank and wire transfers, e-wallets and pre-paid cards. Some online gambling sites also let you use pay by phone banking options.

Deposits are usually instant and withdrawal times may be a few days depending on the method used. All payment methods, including PayPal, used on UKGC and MGA licensed poker rooms are safe and legal. It is still recommended to check the terms and conditions of each payment method for limits, processing times and possible fees.

Legal and Trusted Poker Sites

Online gambling is regulated and legal in Ireland. This includes poker sites that must be licensed by the UKGC or the MGA. To obtain a UKGC or MGA licence, a poker site needs to go through strict background checks. Once the licence is granted, each poker room must comply with government policies and regulations.

Many online poker sites in Ireland became household names that certainly guarantee a safe and secure online gaming experience. These sites use state-of-the-art encryption to ensure player protection during any financial transactions and gameplay. 

Beyond the UKGC or MGA licence, many poker rooms go through external testing and auditing by third-party companies, such as eCOGRA. These stamps of approval mean that the site uses a random number generator (RNG) that ensures fair play.

Top Poker Software Providers in Ireland

There are many different software providers that make it possible to play poker online in Ireland. Some sites provide their own proprietary software that lets you play against fellow players that are visiting the same site.

Software is one of the most important factors of the online poker experience. Imagine playing at a cash table or tournament where the software disconnects or freezes.

However, reliability is not the only element to consider when looking for the best online poker site. The poker gameplay experience will also depend on design and features. 

There are also poker sites that are part of a network which lets players from many different poker sites play against each other on the same tables. One example is Playtech’s iPoker network which sets a high standard in online poker with a huge community and a variety of classic and modern poker games.

Starting with desktop clients, poker sites offer instant-play versions. There are also poker rooms with a downloadable client that gives you access to its poker lobby, rooms, tables and features. Many poker sites also provide a mobile app.

Final Words on Playing Poker Online

Online poker has many advantages, the most obvious being that you can enjoy 24/7 poker action from wherever you are. You can find poker games that suit your speed of play and your budget in no time.

Plus, there’s a huge selection of tables to choose from compared to brick-and-mortar casinos. What’s more, you can find freeroll tournaments so you can enjoy poker action without buying in with real money. Moreover, you get to play against people from all over and they can't suss your poker face!

Although poker requires skill, always remember that luck plays a huge part in the game. Remember to set times and spending limits and keep a close eye on your bankroll. And always gamble responsibly, so you can keep coming back to enjoy great games of poker.