Category: Entertainment

Things To Know To Start Sports Betting

Using the minimum deposits available in casinos should not be a difficult thing. It should be a walk in the park as you only need to find a casino that matches your requirements. Regarding the best online casino offers, the progression of technology has resulted in ground-breaking developments not just in the casino industry but also in the gambling sector. These developments have been brought about by the rise of online gambling. This new technology has made it possible to bet online, which gives players the advantage of being able to do so from the comfort of their own homes rather than having to travel to casinos. Additionally, it ensures complete anonymity for gamblers who do not wish for other people to pry into their activities in any way. 

Not to stray too far from the matter at hand, but it is of the highest necessity for newcomers to sports betting to have sufficient knowledge of what they are doing. Bets placed on sporting events are widely acknowledged as the most common type of gamble played throughout the globe. Because there are millions of individuals who like sports, there are also millions of people who participate in sports betting. There are several subfields within sports betting, and you may place bets on any of them.

Never Hurry a Betting Opportunity

One of the goals to achieve imminent success is to have a positive attitude regarding one’s chances of winning. You ought to be the type of person that is a go-getter or someone who enjoys getting out there and attempting to make something wonderful happen. On the other hand, you might want to tone down this enthusiastic approach regarding sports betting. You shouldn’t be pressured to feel that if you bet on more games, you are increasing your chances of winning a significant amount of money. This is an illusion, and it is not conceivable, especially given that you are just preparing yourself to fail. Regarding betting on sports, excitement and drive are not the greatest attitudes to have.

When it comes to gambling in sports, there is no such thing as luck. Too often, we witness people risking large portions of their financial resources on outcomes they attribute solely to chance. The challenge here is the following. The unpredictable nature of athletics means there is no way to know what will happen truly. If you could see into the future or were cheating and manipulating games, you could argue that anything happened by chance. The takeaway from this is the importance of sticking to your own rules and standards. 

Don’t Be Downcast By Your Losses

When it comes to betting on sports, this is one of the most important things a novice must understand before becoming involved in sports betting. Be honest about how much you’ve lost. There is a chance that the outcome did not play out as you had anticipated despite your firm conviction that you would triumph in that specific wager. The loss will undoubtedly cause you to feel miserable; nonetheless, you mustn’t let yourself become preoccupied with it. When you aren’t in the thick of things, it’s simple to make promises about what you’ll do in the future. It would be appreciated if you stuck to the choice that you made. 

When you gamble at a casino, you place your bets against the house rather than against other players. You should constantly consider the possibility of losing money when playing in a casino since the house will always have an advantage over you. Because of this, you should only make the bare minimum deposit in casinos. When you bet on sports, you are betting against other people, which allows you to win a significant amount of money. However, in the case of sports betting lines, someone must choose the line. Yes, they use computers as a helping tool, but there is still a human component, and humans are fallible.

Always Do a Thorough Second Check

You must perform a thorough analysis of every wager you place if you want to prevent regret in the long term. Always double-check your betting slip before placing a wager at a land-based casino or racetrack to verify there are no mistakes. If the wagering is done online, ensure that you have entered the correct amount of money before clicking the “submit” button, and then check it again once you have finished clicking the button. 

Before making your bets, it is your obligation to double-check that all of your tickets are correct. After making your bets, there is no way to get them back if you make a mistake on the tickets and it shows up in the results. 

Don’t Bet on a Game You Don’t Understand

This appears to occur rather frequently when someone hears information from a colleague or pal about an upcoming game or match. If a buddy suggests a game for you to wager on and you have no idea what they are talking about, you shouldn’t just follow blindly in their footsteps. It is to your advantage to save your money rather than risk it in a game of chance and then face the possibility of losing it. The problem is that you are putting a wager on something you do not understand thoroughly. 

This is true for both the sort of wager that may be placed and the game in and of itself. You are playing with fire if you do not comprehensively understand each of them. We have heard a lot of instances of people who have placed bets on something and thought they won, only to find out that they didn’t comprehend the bet well and didn’t bet what they meant to bet on. Besides, some sources say that Bally’s River West casino plan is expected to get the mayor’s nod.

Conclusion

The foregoing is by no means exhaustive, and you should conduct your investigation. Betting on sports is as exciting as it gets. Find a trustworthy sportsbook to begin your betting career with. When betting online, picking the incorrect site may be disastrous for your finances and enjoyment. Take extra precautions if you are a beginner. If you consider getting into sports betting, you have a certain sport in mind that you like to wager on. You may place bets on various aspects of sports betting even if you don’t have a particular sport you enjoy watching or participating in. Possessing the appropriate set of abilities and information to become a successful bettor is necessary.

Could an Algorithm Hold the Secret to Lottery Success?

It’s an event that many of us dream about. Seeing our numbers come up in the lottery and earning us a life-changing sum.

It’s something that this article in the Irish Mirror shows has come true for some very lucky individuals and their family. But it’s also important to acknowledge that the chances of it really being you are very small indeed.

Many of us also use systems that we hope will unlock the big prize whether it’s using a series of our own so-called lucky numbers or working our way through complex frequency charts that may possibly indicate which numbers are due to be drawn.

Others believe that the secret of success is to choose numbers that are evenly spaced across the range as this might just maximise the chances of a big win or, failing that, a very respectable one instead.

Ensuring the fair draw

Lottery operators go to enormous lengths to ensure that the drawing of the numbers is truly random. Among the measures they take are using different machines to select the winning numbers, operating the draws in very secure conditions and even weighing the balls to ensure all are exactly the same weight to ensure that there has been no tampering involved.

But, despite all the steps taken to create genuinely random draws, there are some that believe that the properly programmed algorithm will be able to crack the code.

What’s more, this will be applicable to any lottery for which the right input data is available. So anyone wanting to take part in online lottery betting at Lottoland Ireland or any other similar site could be able to use this. That’s because the site in question gives players the chance to take part in lotteries all over the world. And, although you’re not playing for the really big prizes, the winning numbers could still spell a cash payout.

How the algorithms work

“Binary code” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Christiaan Colen

Naturally, it is the science of probability that underpins the algorithms that aim to come up with these winning predictions. And, just as a coin tossed again and again will eventually fall as heads or tails an equal number of times, over an even longer period all of the numbers in a lottery will appear with the same frequency.

But there are certain factors that any algorithm can take as being highly likely to occur. For example, it’s highly unlikely that all the numbers drawn will just be odd or even. A straight sequence is also a very slim possibility.

Plus, by crunching the sorts of numbers that can be handled by machines with the computing power of the Hewlett Packard Enterprise in Tennessee’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory it’s just possible that some semi-accurate predictions could be made.

But the emphasis is always going to be on the word “semi” as the element of randomness will always also play a part.

So, when everything’s considered, maybe using your wedding anniversary date and Auntie Pat’s birthday will always be just as good a technique for picking those elusive lucky numbers.

Featured image credit 

How iGaming Can Boost the Irish Economy

Across the world, gambling is driving revenue, providing jobs and taxes to governments and states. In addition, many companies in the industry give donations to social causes and sponsorship money to smaller organisations. So how could a booming gambling sector benefit the Irish economy?

Related Projects

Part of the industry growth has been down to the booming iGaming industry. This is the sector placed online, through casino games and sports betting. Yet it is not only the websites that provide revenue. As the industry grows, third parties’ businesses and start-ups grow with them.

For example, a quick look at Betfair’s casino online roulette page sheds some light on how many different skills go into keeping the industry afloat. Not only can you see the development work that went into those games, but you can also see which third parties work on auditing them. The Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority and others all play huge roles in the industry, bringing jobs and revenue with them.

When added to the gambling review sites, marketing agencies and start-ups that go alongside it, a sprawling web of related companies evolves. Not only does this bring increased taxes, but many of these companies put money into social causes or sponsorship.

Creation of Jobs

 

All these companies need people to operate them. On the surface, they need high-quality developers and programmers to keep them running. One benefit is that not only does iGaming provide jobs for local talent, but it can also attract the best employees internationally. Bringing them to Ireland is the key to a healthy jobs market. 

In other ways, the sponsorship opportunities for gambling also provide extra income, both to local workers and social groups. Many gambling companies are sponsors of lower league sports teams. This gives them a vital source of revenue and helps keep them afloat. 

Physical casinos should also not be overlooked. When they attach to hotels and restaurants, they boost the hospitality industry. Even when patrons do not choose to use these, a night at the casino is usually accompanied by a meal and drinks elsewhere. This can provide welcome revenue to struggling city centres. 

This can also bring tourists to the area. Even if towns are not the mecca Las Vegas might be, a quality casino in an entertainment complex can attract visitors from quite far away. In some places, such as Macau City, the gambling industry is the biggest employer, providing jobs for thousands of citizens and bringing in tourists. 

Tax

The final product of increased jobs and tourism is tax. All countries and states can employ a levy on gambling. This can be very lucrative. Currently, many US states are in a gold rush of sorts with iGaming and online sports betting more popular than ever with revenues in some states nearly doubling in the last couple of years. It is estimated in the US that gambling companies give $40 billion to the US treasury every year.

However, the US is not the only place this happens. Closer to home, Great Britain makes a huge amount every year from its gambling revenues. While Ireland is already benefiting, with the right support, the gambling industry could seriously benefit the country.

How Digital Wallets Are Changing Online Transactions

Historians separate human history into different eras that defined the time’s culture, technological development, and societal development. This practice gives phrases like the “Classical Period,” the Dark Ages, the Industrial Era, etc. And while often this nomenclature is not the most accurate, it is undoubtedly the case that our current era will most likely go down in history as the Digital or Cyber era.

After all, it is true that in today’s world, our society is much more digitally advanced than it has ever been. More importantly, we live in a time when digital and cyber technology is developing at an unimaginable rate. People increasingly want the availability and accessibility of the internet and computer science. Whether it be online shopping, paying bills online, or storing cash online, most people are willing to accept these changes with open arms.

What are Digital Wallets?

Before we get to the nitty gritty, we must first describe digital wallets. After all, the phenomenon is relatively new, and it is necessary to explain what they are to those who might not know. So, just what is a digital wallet?

The term refers to a service that allows people to store money and perform transactions online. Most people reading this have likely heard of certain digital wallets, even if they are unfamiliar with the term itself. Paypal, the Cash App, etc., are hugely popular among various groups of people, especially online punters, and gamblers. It is because many online casinos accept Cash App payments and deposits.

And so, now that we have explained what digital wallets are let us delve deeper into the phenomenon. Are digital wallets the new currency? And just why are they becoming so popular anyways? Why are digital wallets so important, and what can they be used for? Let’s find out.

What Makes Digital Wallets So Popular?

So, just how popular are digital wallets? According to a study that looked into 2021 transactions, Digital wallets made up almost half of the global e-commerce transactions. The precise percentage is 49%, more than double the percentage of credit card e-commerce transactions, which remained at 21%. According to experts, the projection for the end of 2022 is that the percentage of e-com transactions will reach 50%, and may even exceed that number by the end of the next year.

But what is it that makes digital wallets so popular? The most common reason you will hear people say that digital wallets are growing in fame is the streamlined process that digital wallet users follow to make their payments. Simply put, digital wallet development has led to many satisfied consumers. They all claim that transactions move much smoother and faster than most would be familiar with traditional transactions.

Future of Digital Wallets

But still, the question of the future of digital wallets remains. So, what do you think the future of digital wallets will be? Will they remain and continue to grow in popularity? Or will people turn their backs on them and look at digital wallets as an outdated fad? Most analysts and experts seem to think we are heading in a direction that supports the former. After all, more and more people recognize digital wallets as a viable and superior method for making transactions online.

However, some remain suspicious, especially considering the distrust people already have towards the cyber world. Luckily, there are many ways that users can protect themselves from cybercriminals. Furthermore, digital wallet development is placing more and more emphasis on cyber security. This means that it is very likely that the future of digital wallets will result in easier and faster transactions and safer transaction sells.

Wrapping It Up 

As more and more younger people grow into adulthood, digital wallets’ popularity is increasing. Younger people are far more likely to embrace new technology simply because they are far more likely to understand it, having grown up during the period when the technology was first introduced.

Popular digital wallets like Cash App and PayPal are growing in popularity and are being accepted by more markets each year. And of course, with each passing year, the technology behind digital wallets is improving, making them safer, faster, and overall better. With all this in mind, digital wallets’ future seems relatively bright.

A blast from the past: the fruity reels worth a spin

With so many Slots available to play online in the modern-day, there’s nothing quite like going back to your roots and sinking your teeth into some of the sweetest retro slot games, inspired by classic fruit machines. 

If iconic gameplay takes your fancy, then these casino Slots will get your tastebuds tingling as we transport you back in time to spin some of the fruitiest reels of all time. 

Read on to find out more. 

Bonus Fruits

In this fruity take on a retro slot, the action takes place on six reels and three rows, with 40 paylines, wild, scatter and bonus symbols, as well as the chance to bag yourself some free spins. 

When gameplay is first launched, you’ll find yourself faced with what seems like a classic slot, despite there being more reels than usual. 

When you land three or more bonus symbols, you’ll be able to choose whether you want to claim free spins or gain entry into the ‘spin and win’ bonus game. Free spins can be re-triggered, and in the ‘spin and win’ mode, each diamond symbol has a random cash value attached to it, waiting for you to uncover. 

Seven classic fruit symbols make up the base game icons, and two lucky 7s are the most lucrative symbols. With an upbeat soundtrack, four fixed jackpots on offer and the sweetest fruit twist to a retro slot, this game is sure to get your tastebuds tingling! 

Super Hot Fruits

Super Hot Fruits is another game that’s given the classic fruit machine a twist. Set the five reels and three rows alight with this fiery slot that’s bound to sizzle your gameplay. 

Enter the bright red background, where gameplay is framed by fire and cartoon-style fruit has the potential to pay out a fruity feast filled with some pretty big rewards. Alongside the lemons, grapes, plums, oranges and cherries, you’ll find some lucky 7s, the golden bell and iconic crown adding even more zest to your gameplay. 

There’s a Hot Spins game feature in which the reels will split into four sections with each of the new reels playing out like a separate set. There’s the special addition of a stacked wild during this round, and with a Diamond Jackpot up for grabs, will this game satisfy your sweet tooth? 

Fruit Stack

Another fruit machine-inspired slot with a modern take is Fruit Stack. Standing out from the rest, this game comes with a maximum jackpot of 10,000x your stake, alongside five reels and nine paylines. 

The theme pays homage to the retro fruit machines we know and love and features watermelons, cherries, lemons, oranges and grapes, as well as the single, double and triple bar symbols. The wild is represented by a blue diamond, and there’s a golden bell that can unlock free spins when a minimum of three land on the reels. Three bonus wheel icons can activate the bonus round, where a Wheel of Fortune mini game can help you bag additional wins. 

With a gamble feature, massive jackpots and a fruit salad full of bonuses, will you be the next to spin and win with this slot? 

Get Unrestricted Access to India by Using the Best Proxies

Accessing unrestricted content from anywhere in the world is a significant advantage in today’s digital landscape. Whether you are a regular person trying to access media content located in India or a large business looking to understand the metrics of local purchasing patterns, sooner or later you are going to hit a blockade. These blockades could be anything from geo-restrictions of local content to IP banning for data-scrapping bots, or maybe just privacy concerns on your end.

In this article, we will be touching briefly on why you would want to use an Indian proxy, what a proxy is and what are the advantages of using one.  

Why You Should Use an Indian Proxy?  

It is no secret that internet censorship is a big deal in India, both to the local population and to people outside. All the information isn’t readily available, and some websites don’t show the same type of content for people trying to access them from outside the country. An India proxy allows you to bypass these restrictions and geo-blocks and lets you access the content as if you were surfing from within India.

Take Netflix, for example. The content available to Indian users is far different from the content it shows in any other specific country. Here, geo-blocking prevents you from reaching the content you want to access by detecting your IP as a foreign one. When this happens, the server can outright reject your connection or show you a different type of information instead.

If you wish to access an Indian website just as any authentic Indian user would, you should buy India IP’s proxies. That way, you can easily avoid all the obstacles the internet puts in your way and unlock all the local content.  

How Do Proxies Work?

Proxies work as intermediaries. They facilitate requests and responses between your device and another server while protecting your personal data in the background. When you access a website or service online, you send a direct request to the server using your own IP address. A proxy uses a different IP, instead acting as a middleman between you and the other server. The other server will then send a response to the proxy, which finally forwards it to you.

Thanks to proxies, you can enjoy a high degree of anonymity and privacy online. This is due to the extra layer of protection they add between your connection and the receiving server.

When you send your connection request through an Indian IP, you will appear as if you’re connecting to the internet in India. This way, you can access websites that are not normally available to foreign users. In addition to this, other websites will also show you the same type of content they would show an Indian national, all while keeping your information secure during the process. 

Advantages of Using an India Proxy

Besides the aforementioned unrestricted access benefits, there are other advantages we could highlight: 

  • Proper information acquisition 

Collect information from all sites within the country without restrictions. You can perform data scraping and use all the information analysis tools available to acquire all the data you need. 

  • Testing of new features 

By using a proxy, you can appropriately test apps and services aimed specifically at the Indian market. You will be able to see how they perform from the perspective of an ordinary user from India. 

  • Brand protection 

Protect your brand by being able to identify the source of counterfeit goods. Sellers of this type of goods can block access from countries where the brand is officially present. By using an Indian IP, you can identify scammers from India to take legal claims against them. 

  • Content cohesion  

Integration between content across different portals is important. Using a proxy ensures that you have peace of mind in knowing that you will be able to have a full database of all news websites and portals from within the country. That way can evaluate how your brand or product performs within this market. 

  • Performance tests 

Loading speeds are crucial too. When you use a proxy IP from India, you will be able to see how fast your site loads in the region.  

Final Thoughts

India is the second most populated country in the world, and even though it has a developing economy, it remains a key player in the Asian region. Don’t let restrictions and geo-blockades get you skewed information on the market. Concealing your IP address is a sure way to get you to achieve your goals within the country while at the same time achieving great safety online. With a reliable Indian proxy server, you can enjoy full access to the vast amounts of information that await you there!

 

Sky Glass launching in Ireland this August

You may have heard about Sky glass last October when it launched in the UK, but Sky Ireland has today announced that Sky’s new TV, Sky Glass, will officially launch in Ireland on Thursday, 25th August 2022.

Available in a range of sizes and colours, Sky Glass is the only TV with award-winning Sky inside, allowing customers to get Sky TV over WiFi – removing the need for a satellite dish or set-top box. Simply plug, pair and play to enjoy stunning picture quality and cinematic sound, with everything you need built in. With easy access to stream your favourite content and apps using voice command, Sky Glass makes it simple for users to find and watch the TV they love.

Speaking about Sky Glass launching in Ireland, Sky Ireland CEO, JD Buckley, said:

“Following its hugely successful launch in the UK, we are thrilled to announce that Ireland will be the second market to launch Sky Glass. The launch of Sky Glass here marks a significant milestone in Sky’s 25-year history in Ireland and follows our recent announcement that Sky Mobile is coming to Ireland in 2023, as well as the opening of our four new flagship retail stores.

“Investing in the best technology, the best content and the best customer experience are always our top priorities and Sky Glass is the most innovative product we have developed yet. It opens the world of Sky to customers who may not have been able to access Sky TV before now. With the ability to stream the best content and apps over WiFi, Sky Glass features Ultra HD, Quantum Dot technology and 360° Dolby Atmos® sound. Sky Glass will be available in Ireland from August 25th, but we are giving customers the opportunity to pre-register for Sky Glass now.”

Features of Sky Glass

  • The only TV with Sky and all your favourite apps inside
  • Everything in one place – Sky Glass eliminates wasted time trekking from app to app
  • Cutting-edge design available in five colours and three sizes
  • Ultra HD and Quantum Dot technology producing over 1 billion colours
  • 360° Dolby Atmos® sound with powerful built-in speakers and sub-woofer
  • Talk to your TV: just say “Hello Sky” to find what to watch
  • The world’s first TV to be certified CarbonNeutral®

Customers can pre-register for Sky Glass now on www.sky.ie/skyglass. From August 25th, Sky Glass will be available to order through all of Sky’s customer channels – online, through Sky’s contact centre and in any Sky retail store.

Is a pirate’s life for you?

Ahoy there matey! Are you up for an adventure across the slot sea, where chests overflowing with gold and sought-after treasures are hidden within the lands? Seeking out the treasures hidden within the reels can be smooth sailing or a topsy turvy adventure when the seas get rough, but that’s what a pirate’s life is all about.

If you’re up for joining our quest along the lobby lands of Paddy Power Games online casino, then jump aboard our pirate ship as we venture through the slot sea in search of the perfect treasure; pirate-themed Slots.

Scroll to jump aboard…Pirate Frenzy

Sail to a deserted island, where the only things to be found are a crab, palm trees, the ocean, three rows and six reels.

With the sounds of not only the ocean in your ears but classic fruit machines too, your pirate adventure begins as soon as you press spin.

To make the adventure around the reels more pirate-friendly, the slot symbols consist of bottles of rum, oranges, golden anchors, sacks of gold coins and gems, as well as a parrot. If you create the perfect symbol combination along the reels, you could see yourself sailing off with a treasure chest of prizes worth up to 10,000x your wager!

Pirate Gold

Our next stop on the pirate map takes us towards land. Set at the crack of dawn, you’ll see the sun rising in the distance and the morning mist along the ocean top and around the ships setting the mood along the harbour for a heist, pirate style!

As lit lanterns blow in the wind, hanging from a wooden grid comprised of five rows and four rows, it’s the symbols you need to keep watch of in order to claim the jackpot worth up to 32,000x your wager. With bronze, silver and gold coins, a hook, a telescope, a treasure map, a ship and a treasure chest spinning around this slot, alongside male and female pirate symbols, could you spin a winning combination, left to right, and claim the treasure hidden within?

Pirates Hold

Time to sail into the unknown where three shipmates could help transform your gameplay and possibly your bankroll too, with just a spin of five reels and three rows. Set somewhere within the sea, when you open the game, you’ll be welcomed with a slot grid with a ship on the left and land on the right.

In order to start reaping rewards from the reels, you’ll need to create winning combinations with symbols such as a treasure chest, compass, a gun, jewels, a cannon wild and three shipmates; Anne Robber, Davy Locker and Jack Arrow.

If you land one of the three shipmates on reel five, along with a handful of coins, you’ll activate bonus features attached to each pirate.

  • Anne Robber – opens a ship battle round. She’ll clone wilds within the reel to create bigger winning opportunities.
  • Jack Arrow – pulls us underwater to the seabed, where a sequence of expanded reels and free spins are waiting for you.
  • Davy Locker – opens his bonus on a separate screen that features a special wheel that will award you varying free spin amounts.

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Will you become a fully-fledged pirate of the online Slots or will you end up walking the plank? There’s only one way to find out!

The current status of Derry casinos

Anyone in the city of Derry might be wondering what’s the current state of play regarding casinos. Why do the rules differ so much from the rest of the UK?

Well, in line with much of the governance of Northern Ireland in general, the legal regulations around gambling have been devolved. This means that the Northern Ireland government is free to set rules and regulations that are different from the rest of the UK. This includes gambling at brick-and-mortar establishments and online.

To help clear up any confusion, we will explain the current status of casinos in Derry and what the future may hold.

Land Based Casinos in Derry

There are no brick-and-mortar casinos in Derry at the time of writing. That’s because of The Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. 

This legislation makes it unlawful to have prizes for competitions that don’t require a decent amount of skill. Many casino games fall into this bracket – as they are at least partially games of chance. Even games like Poker are not allowed. However, this does not apply for sports betting (there are betting shops available in Derry). 

The law itself is very outdated. Not only was it enacted in 1985, it’s also based on regulations from the 1960s. For the rest of the UK, the Gambling Act 2005 applies. This is much more modern and means land-based casinos are available across England, Scotland, and Wales.

But as the power to regulate gambling has been devolved, Derry residents and visitors have been stuck with the old rules. 

What alternatives are there?

There are no brick-and-mortar casinos in Northern Ireland at all. So the only real option for a land-based experience is to head across the border or Irish Sea.

Nearby Letterkenny in Ireland is about half an hour away from Derry by car and has a few decent – if not grand – casino options.

If a trip to Great Britain is on the cards, then most major cities have big brick-and-mortar casinos. The closest to Derry is probably Glasgow and Edinburgh to the north, or Liverpool and Manchester further south.

Online Casinos in Derry

There are no online casinos available in Derry at the time of writing. That’s because the old 1985 regulation applies to gambling on the internet. So online slots and casino games are not allowed to be offered in the country for a prize.

Again, this is in sharp contrast to the rest of the UK. As part of the Gambling Act 2005, online gambling is allowed in England, Scotland, and Wales. There’s a dedicated authority – the Gambling Commission – which grants licences for gambling websites to operate legally in Great Britain. Many websites have acquired a licence which affords Great British players a lot of choice. For example, they can browse lists as deep as the top 50 online casinos to find a place to play. 

Whereas residents of Derry – and the rest of Northern Ireland – aren’t even able to gamble at one site.

What alternatives are there?

Unfortunately, none.

Unlike at land-based casinos, it’s not possible for you to head across the Irish border to play online. 

Even an online casino in England, Scotland, or Wales isn’t an option. That’s because you need to complete the online casino verification procedure to be able to open an account in Great Britain. Part of this procedure involves verifying your address – with NI not being eligible.

A Brighter Future?

While no casinos officially exist in-person or online in Derry and Northern Ireland, there is reason for optimism.

It’s pretty widely accepted that the 1985 Act is not fit for purpose in the modern world. Until now, the NI government has never gotten round to amending it much – aside from a few tweaks here and there. However, the government’s stance has finally begun to change.

In April 2022, the first overhaul of NI’s online gambling regulation came into effect. This made betting shops more accessible, amongst other changes. However, a second – much wider – overhaul is expected to happen in the coming years. This is likely to change what is essentially a ban on all non-skill games of chance. It’s also likely to contain rules about gambling online.

One thing that’s unclear is whether the Gambling Commission’s powers would be extended to include Northern Ireland. Or if an entirely new authority would be created. Due to the way that the country is governed with powers often being devolved, it’s more likely that we’ll see a new authority take over.

But whoever takes over, these prospective changes would bring about a huge change for Derry. At least one brick-and-mortar casino would likely be built in the city. Residents would probably also be able to play casino online. 

So after decades of being stuck in the dark, there may be some light at the end of the tunnel.