Since the credit-card ban took effect on 5 February 2026, every deposit at a licensed Irish betting site has to come from money you actually have — and for a large share of Irish punters that now means Revolut or Apple Pay. This guide covers which deposit methods licensed betting sites generally take, why Revolut became the default, the withdrawal rule nobody reads until it bites, and one honest note about Revolut's own gambling controls.
What the credit-card ban changed
From 5 February 2026, licensed operators in Ireland cannot accept credit cards — directly or routed through an e-wallet — and cannot extend credit for betting. Debit payments are unaffected. In practice the deposit menu at a licensed Irish betting site now centres on debit cards, bank-linked payments and the wallets that sit on top of them: Revolut (via its debit card or bank transfer), Apple Pay and Google Pay (linked to a debit card), and plain bank transfer.
Why Revolut became the default
Revolut reports more than three million customers in Ireland, which makes it close to a second national bank — and for betting it fits neatly: instant notifications for every transaction, disposable virtual cards, and granular control in the app. Depositing from Revolut is the same as any Visa/Mastercard debit payment, so minimum deposits are whatever the bookmaker sets — commonly €5 or €10 at Irish-facing sites, with no fee from the operator side on debit deposits.
One honest note: Revolut blocks credit-funded gambling
Revolut's own controls matter as much as the bookmaker's. Gambling transactions must come from your available balance — credit routes are blocked, in line with the Irish ban — and the app includes a gambling block you can switch on yourself, with a cooling-off delay before it can be removed. If you want a structural barrier between tilt and your money, that toggle plus the bookmaker's own deposit limits is a stronger combination than willpower. We rate that as a feature, not a drawback.
Apple Pay and Google Pay
Both work at many licensed Irish betting sites, and both are wrappers around a card: since the ban, the card underneath must be a debit card. The convenience is real — Face ID instead of typing card numbers — but note two things. First, not every operator supports them for withdrawals, which leads to the next section. Second, the speed of a one-tap deposit is a double-edged sword: it removes exactly the friction that used to give you ten seconds to reconsider.
The withdrawal-to-same-method rule
Anti-money-laundering practice means winnings generally go back to the method you deposited with, up to the amount deposited, before any excess goes to an alternative such as bank transfer. Deposit from your Revolut card and the withdrawal lands back on it — usually within hours to a couple of days once processed. Where Apple Pay deposits cannot be reversed to the wallet, operators typically route withdrawals to the underlying card or ask for your IBAN. Check the cashier page's withdrawal list before you deposit, not after you win: it is in the terms, and “I did not read it” is not a complaint the GRAI will uphold.
Picking a method: the practical summary
All the mainstream debit routes cost the same at the operator end, so choose on control and convenience: Revolut if you want notifications, limits and a self-set gambling block; Apple or Google Pay if you value speed (and accept its risks); bank transfer for larger, slower, more deliberate movements of money. Whatever you pick, deposit only from a licensed operator — our two-minute licence check comes first — and set a deposit limit on day one. 18+. Support is free and confidential from the Gambling Awareness Trust on 1800 753 753 and at gamblingcare.ie.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Revolut's debit card works like any Visa/Mastercard debit payment at licensed Irish betting sites, and bank transfers from Revolut are accepted where the operator supports them. Credit-funded gambling is blocked — both by Revolut and by the Irish credit-card ban in force since 5 February 2026.
No. Since 5 February 2026 licensed Irish operators cannot accept credit cards — directly or routed through an e-wallet — and cannot extend credit for betting. Debit cards, Revolut, Apple Pay and Google Pay linked to debit cards, and bank transfers remain available.
Winnings generally return to your deposit method first, up to the amount deposited. Where an Apple Pay deposit cannot be reversed to the wallet, operators typically send the withdrawal to the underlying debit card or ask for your bank IBAN instead. Check the operator's withdrawal list before depositing, not after you win.