The Numbers
Patterns of online and in-person gambling in Ireland (Robertson, Ó Ceallaigh, Timmons and Lunn, ESRI Behavioural Research Unit) is based on an anonymous online survey of 1,000 adults who had gambled in the previous twelve months. The headline findings:
| Finding | Share of respondents |
|---|---|
| Gambled online in the past year | 77% |
| Gambled in person in the past year | 59% |
| Gambled both online and in person | 44% |
| Hold at least one online gambling account | about 80% |
| Online account holders who opened a second account | 54% |
| Online gamblers with four or more accounts | about 10% |
| Opened an account for horse/sports betting, later tried casino games, slots or scratch cards | almost 4 in 10 |
| Trying, or intending, to reduce their gambling | 25% |
The reasons given for opening a second account were practical rather than dramatic: better odds on a particular event, easy registration, and sign-up or reload offers. Around one in five online sessions interrupted another activity such as work or family time, and roughly one in ten online gamblers said they had bet during working hours.
Why the "Second Account" Figure Matters
For the regulator, multiple accounts are a consumer-protection problem: deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion set with one operator do nothing at the next one. GRAI chief executive Anne Marie Caulfield said the research confirms the need for the new obligations on licensed operators, particularly around account opening and closing, the ability to set spending limits, and advertising restrictions. The National Gambling Exclusion Register, due in 2027, is designed to close exactly this gap by applying one exclusion across every licensed operator.
For punters there is a second, less obvious point. The study found that many accounts opened for sports betting end up being used for casino-style products through cross-selling — free spins offered alongside a football bet, for example. That is where the current licensing regime stops. As of 7 November 2026 the GRAI register lists 41 online betting licences (37 remote betting and 4 betting intermediary) held by 39 companies, and no casino or gaming licence of any kind. Gaming licences are not expected before 2027–2028. A second account opened for slots or roulette is therefore, by definition, with an operator licensed somewhere other than Ireland, and the GRAI's new account and advertising rules do not reach it.
What the Regulator Said
Launching the report, Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan called it the latest instalment in the ESRI's research series on the Irish gambling landscape. Pete Lunn, head of the ESRI's Behavioural Research Unit, noted that most people gamble for entertainment without harm, but pointed back to the institute's earlier estimate that one in 30 adults in Ireland experiences problem gambling. The ESRI added that further work is needed to establish whether expanding from betting into other products is itself linked to harm.
What Irish Bettors Can Do Now
- Check the licence before the second account. Every licensed bookmaker must display a GRAI number in the format GRAI-XXXX-RB-26-0001. Use our free licence checker or the full list of licensees.
- Set limits at every operator, not just the first. Deposit limits are per account. If you hold three accounts, set three limits.
- Treat casino cross-sell offers as a different product. Slots and roulette have a fixed house edge and no equivalent of shopping for better odds. Our RTP explainer covers the maths.
- Know that no Irish casino licence exists yet. Any site claiming one is wrong. See why there is no GRAI casino licence.
Sources
ESRI, Patterns of online and in-person gambling in Ireland, 4 November 2026 (esri.ie) • TheJournal.ie, 4 Nov 2026 • Anglo-Celt / PA, 4 Nov 2026 • SBC News, 5 Nov 2026 • GRAI licence register (read 7 Nov 2026).
Responsible Gambling Resources
- Gambling Awareness Trust: Freephone 1800 753 753 (free, confidential, available daily)
- gamblingcare.ie — structured support, counselling referrals and self-help tools
- Deposit and spending limits — available at every GRAI-licensed bookmaker; set them before you deposit
See the full CraicBet responsible gambling page for further guidance. 18+ only. Gambling can be addictive. Please play responsibly.