Ireland's Best Online Casino Bonuses - 2022

The Different Types of Casino Bonus

Irish players will come across a number of different online casino bonuses once they’ve created a casino account.

The first, known as the welcome offer, is available to new players for one time only. It’s usually a sizable bonus and is redeemable once you’ve created an account. After the welcome offer, there are plenty of additional rewards up for grabs for loyal customers.

New sign up offers can come in many different forms – here are some of the most common bonus types.

Matched Deposit Bonuses

Matched deposits are one of the most common casino bonuses. These bonuses see the casino equal the player’s deposit amount at a certain percentage and up to a set limit, giving players a healthy bankroll to play with. For example, a matched deposit bonus of 100% up to €100 would see players land €200 in their account after a €100 deposit, with half of this sum coming at the casino’s expense.

The best offers come with lower bonus wagering requirements, meaning cashing out some winnings is more likely — that said, even low requirements can be hard to meet so we’d suggest using your casino bonus to familiarise yourself with the site and its games.

No Deposit Bonuses

The best online casinos will offer up no deposit bonuses — freebies doled out to players without the need for a qualifying deposit. No deposit bonuses tend to be given to new players upon sign-up and prior to any deposits into their account.

While these bonuses come entirely at the casino’s expense, the values of no deposit bonuses are much smaller than the likes of matched deposits, and strict terms and conditions are likely to apply. No deposit bonuses may be in the form of free non-withdrawable funds, betting credits, or free spins.

Free Spin Bonuses

Players who prefer to spend their online casino time on video slots should pay attention to free spin bonuses – an injection of free spins that can only be used to spin the reels. If you’re making your first deposit, you may be offered a bundle of free spins as part of the site’s welcome offer; many of the best online casino bonuses combine these free spins with a matched deposit for new accounts.

For existing players, free spins bonuses are often handed out in exchange for a minimum deposit, such as an offer of 50 spins following a €20 deposit. This is sometimes known as a reload bonus.

The free spins included in the bonus will have a monetary value attached, typically around €0.10 per spin, and the amount you’ll get runs the gamut from under ten up to several hundred. If these spins are part of the casino’s welcome bonus, they’re likely to only be eligible on one or two slot machines, as stated in the T&Cs. Other free spins bonuses may come with a longer list of games, or even the full catalogue of slots on their respective slot sites.

Reload Bonuses

Reload bonuses is the term given to offers made to existing players. Signifying a ‘reloading’ of funds into a casino account, these bonuses can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. 

Reload offers might come as free spins, a match on your next deposit, or bonus credit to use on games — they’re usually found within your account at the site, but are sometimes handed out as casino bonus codes via newsletters or emails. As always, terms and conditions such as wagering requirements will apply. 

Loyalty Points

The best Irish gambling sites will reward regular players with loyalty bonuses or points. These points are accrued through deposits and bets, and can be exchanged for various prizes, including cash bonuses, free spins, and even invites to special tournaments or branded merchandise. The loyalty programme may require you to opt in, so check as soon as you sign up.

Cashback

Cashback bonuses see players receive a portion of their wagers or losses back as withdrawable cash. For example, if a player stakes €10 at the roulette wheel with a cashback bonus of 10% on daily losses, they’d reclaim €1 if their bet were to lose. 10% represents a standard cashback offer, but some casinos and bonuses will offer more generous values, particularly for VIP customers.

Bonus Codes

Bonus codes, or promo codes, provide players with a special one-off promotion that can take any of the above forms. The casino will usually specify what stands to be won via a bonus code, but sometimes they’re a bit of a mystery, with players only discovering the substance and value of a bonus code once they’ve redeemed it on-site.

Live Casino Bonuses

Bonus casinos tend to keep live dealer games separate from online slots and other table games. As a result, you’re likely to find distinct bonuses targeted at live casino games like roulette and blackjack.

These deals may take the form of welcome bonuses or promotions for existing customers. Live dealer welcome offers are likely to include bonus credit to take to the table, often obtained through a matched deposit. Live casino bonuses for existing players are often more inventive — for example, during 888casino’s daily Lucky 8 event, players can bag £8 every time the roulette ball lands on the number 8.

How to Claim a Top Irish Casino Bonus

At TopRatedCasinos.ie, we’re here to help you find sites with the best online casino bonuses — here’s a quick and easy step-by-step guide to get you on your way:

1. Use our expert reviews and recommendations at TopRatedCasinos.ie to find the perfect trusted online casino for you. 
2. Click through to sign up, enter the required personal information, choose a password, and complete any additional verification such as proof of ID.
3. Spend some time reading the terms and conditions — you’ll need a solid understanding of them to make the most of any bonus you claim at an casino site. 
4. If the online casino has automatically applied the bonus code, you’re good to go. Otherwise, make sure to enter it before you sign up so you don’t miss out.
5. What happens next depends on the bonus. A no deposit bonus will be automatically credited to your account. To claim an offer requiring a deposit, head to the banking section and add funds using an eligible method. Check the T&Cs if you’re in any doubt — e-wallets like PayPal and Skrill are sometimes excluded.
6. The bonus will be added to your account once your deposit is confirmed. You’re now ready to play!
7. This last step is optional, but we recommend checking for a loyalty programme before playing as you may have to opt in to receive the benefits. 

How to Choose the Right Bonus for You

With so many casino bonus sites out there available to Irish players, it’s well worth being a little picky to find the right one. Indeed, every player has their own preferences, whether it be the games themselves, particular payment methods, or the amount they want to bet. In this section, we’ll break down these preferences in more detail so you can get a better idea of what to look out for when choosing the best online casino bonus for you.

Wagering Requirements and Your Budget

Here at TopRatedCasinos, we make no secret of the fact that wagering requirements can be a real pain point for casino bonus users. However, there are ways to mitigate the effects of this pesky stipulation. 

First off, any bonus that offers a big bunch of free spins or a tasty helping of bonus credit can be useful for players, even if the wagering requirements are on the steep side and make it difficult to withdraw. This is because there is plenty of value in using a bonus simply to try out some games and a new site for free.

However, if the goal is to be able to withdraw any winnings from the bonus, it’s worth considering your budget. Matched deposit offers give players a minimum and maximum bonus amount they can claim. For example, an offer of a ‘100% bonus up to £100’ — with a minimum deposit of £10 — could reap a £10 bonus, a £100 bonus, or anything in between. What’s important to remember is, the bigger the bonus, the more you’ll have to wager later. So, if the wagering requirements are high — say, 40x–50x — it may be worth depositing the minimum amount to give you a better chance of fulfilling the wagering requirements within the time limit.

Game Preferences

While some bonuses allow players to spend their rewards on any games across a site, the majority of offers come with a list of eligible games. This means that if you pick up some free spins on a welcome bonus casino promotion, there’ll likely be just one or two games you can play with those free spins. For this reason, some players may prioritise finding a bonus that includes games that particularly appeal to them — is there much point picking up free tickets for bingo if you’ve got little interest in it?

The good news is that casino bonus sites are aware of the games players typically like to play. The best sites will offer bonuses for a whole range of games — some even have multiple welcome bonuses — so that you can choose to kick off with a session of slots, live dealer titles, or table games. What’s more, when browsing the range of casino welcome bonuses on the market, you’ll quickly notice that the most popular slot games are the ones that you can pick up free spins for — NetEnt’s Starburst regularly features in promotions for new players as it’s such a well-known classic.

Payment Preferences

Another important factor to consider when choosing a casino bonus is the eligible payment methods. While there are a decent number of no deposit bonuses and other free deals on the market, the vast majority of offers dish out rewards when customers make a deposit. As a result, it’s important to look at which payment methods are accepted to unlock a particular offer.

If you’re keen to use an e-wallet such as PayPal, Skrill or Neteller, you’ll have a trickier time finding a welcome bonus than if you were to use a debit card. However, it’s also a good idea to look forward — check out which payment methods the casino offers in general, so that you’re happy with the banking options at your disposal once your initial welcome bonus has dried up.

How We Choose the Best Casino Bonus Offers

We follow a fairly strenuous analysis for the casinos on this list, and it is this process that allows us to show you the best Irish casino bonus sites on the market. Of course, we only consider sites that hold UKGC license – this is non-negotiable. But what else do we look for?

Let’s address the elephant in the room – there’s no such thing as the best casino bonus. There’s a huge variety of offers out there that are designed to cater to a certain type of player, from brand new casino players to experienced high rollers. We’ve put together a diverse range of bonuses, so there’s something for everyone on our featured list.

Real money bonuses are designed to appeal to a variety of players – from brand new online gamblers to experienced high rollers, your preference will depend on your own gambling habits. By compiling a range of different bonuses, our aim is to ensure there are options available for every kind of online gambler.

Our team of experts extensively research the casinos on this list – a process that allows us to bring you only the best Irish casino bonuses on the market. This analysis begins by taking a look at a casino’s licensing credentials, only recommending sites that are licensed to operate in Ireland. Here are some other things we look for.

Player-Friendly Bonuses

For newer players, it makes sense to seek out our featured bonuses with low or no wagering requirements. Wagering requirements can be defined as the number of times you must wager the bonus funds before withdrawing them. They can make or break the best Irish casino bonus offers.

There’s been a trend, led by some newer, more innovative casinos, that has seen more and more casinos offer this kind of bonus. In some instances, you’ll even find a no wagering, no deposit deal – this means there are no strings attached and you don’t even need to put any money forward to reap the rewards.

Of course, these bonuses come with much lower sums of bonus cash or spins, however for less frequent players, it represents a much better chance of earning withdrawable bonus winnings. For example, if you have the choice between a €10 bonus with a 2x wagering requirement, or a €50 bonus with a 30x wagering requirement, an infrequent player on a tight budget would benefit from the former offer.

High Roller Bonuses

Of course, if you’re a high roller and you’re likely to fulfil the wagering requirement, then it makes sense to seek out the biggest bonus sum possible. The biggest brands in the business offer matched deposit bonuses. These are usually reserved for new customers, but ideally, you’re looking for a site that offers to match 100% of your first deposit in bonus funds.

This means that if you deposit €100 you will receive €100 in return. Many of Ireland’s best casinos will go the extra mile and offer additional free spins too.

Terms and Conditions

Online casino bonuses can sometimes be deceiving. Although a matched deposit bonus might initially look flashy, a closer inspection of its T&Cs can reveal some unwelcome surprises. 

This is why an essential part of our reviews considers the impact a bonus’s terms and conditions have on the recipient’s ability to convert that bonus into withdrawable winnings. Wagering requirements, time limits, game restrictions, winning caps, restricted deposit methods and others will all play a role in the outcome of the bonus – more on these later. 

Sign-Up Process

If we’re reviewing a casino’s welcome bonus offer, our team puts themselves in the shoes of our users, signing up to the site and taking the necessary steps to activate the bonus. If there are any hiccups, barriers, or lengthy delays, then the bonus won’t make it onto our list of recommendations. 

Customer Support

Occasionally, these delays are harmless, caused by a technical glitch or an administrative error. In these instances, good customer support is vital to iron out the issue. 

In this area of the review, we’ll assess how many communication channels are in use, and make a note of what times they’re active during the day. 

How Do Wagering Requirements Affect a Casino Bonus?

Almost all online casino bonuses are impacted in some way by wagering requirements – a calculation that determines how many times bonus money must be wagered before players are able to withdraw any winnings connected to the bonus. Wagering requirements are often deployed in conjunction with other bonus terms, such as time limits and game weightings.    

The standard wagering requirement figure is around 35x the value of the bonus, but this varies between Irish casinos. Anything lower than this can be considered low wagering, while anything greater can be viewed as high wagering.

While high wagering requirements will stop the average player from claiming any winnings in cash, that doesn’t mean the bonus is useless to people outside the high roller bracket. Bonus funds are a great way to get accustomed to an online casino’s games and features without wagering any of your hard-earned euros, even if you can’t cash out any associated winnings.

How are Wagering Requirements Calculated?

Here are three different examples of how wagering requirements work in practice.

1. Let’s say an Irish online casino has offered a matched deposit bonus of €50 up to 100% as part of the welcome package, with a wagering requirement of 25x. Players receiving this offer in full will be required to wager €1,250 (50 x 25) before they can withdraw any winnings generated with the bonus funds. 

2. Some online casinos will calculate their wagering requirements by combining the bonus value with the deposit value before multiplying the total. If we continue with the above example, players would have to wager €2,500 ([50 + 50] x 25) in order to make withdrawals. 

3. For free spin bonuses, wagering requirements function a little differently – here, the requirements apply to any winnings won with the free spins. For example, if a player was offered a bonus of 50 free spins with a wagering requirement of 25x, and used those spins to win €30, they would need to wager a total of €750 (30 x 25) before they could claim their winnings as cash.

Bonus Terms and Conditions

Wagering requirements aren’t the only condition attached to casino bonuses. Other T&Cs will all also play a part in your bonuses to varying degrees – below are some common ones to look out for and what they all mean. Keep in mind that new online casinos may soften their terms and conditions in order to attract new players to the site, so you may encounter more lenient terms at the new casinos on the block. 

Time Limits

Wagering requirements always come with a time limit stating how long players have to satisfy the requirements before the bonus becomes invalid. You’ll typically have 30 days to use your bonus funds, although some casinos may offer longer time limits for bonuses with hefty wagering requirements.

Payment Exclusions

Although Irish casinos now offer a range of different payment methods, deposits made with certain banking options are sometimes excluded from accessing bonuses. This largely applies to e-wallets like Skrill, Neteller, and PayPal. 

If you’re finding that your preferred payment method is regularly excluded from player bonuses, it would probably be worth your while to sign up to one that’s more commonly included, or otherwise opt for your debit card. Visa and Mastercards are almost universally eligible for claiming welcome bonuses.

Game Weightings

As a result of game weightings, not all online casino games are considered equal when it comes to making contributions to the wagering requirements. Wagers on video slots, including progressive jackpots, will usually contribute 100% to the wagering requirements, but most online casinos will restrict the impact wagers on other games will make on the requirements.

With table games like blackjack and roulette, for example, it’s not unusual for wagering contributions to be restricted to as little as 10%. 

Game Restrictions

In addition to game weightings, online casinos sometimes exclude certain games altogether from their bonuses. Make sure you check to see whether your favourite Microgaming title – or your favourite title from another software provider – is excluded before you initiate the bonus.  

Winnings Caps

If you’re making lucky use of a generous number of free spins, you may inadvertently hit the winnings cap – a finite limit on how much players can win from any one bonus. Although winning caps seem unfair, they’re usually set at reasonable limits.

Minimum Deposits

With the exception of no deposit bonuses, most casino bonuses are dependent on an initial minimum deposit. Make sure you know what the minimum requirement is before depositing, as you won’t get a second chance at claiming the welcome bonus.

Withdrawal Limits

At many casinos, there will be limits on the amount you can withdraw at any one time. If you’re keen to place large bets with big potential payouts, it’s worth checking out the withdrawal limits beforehand. At Paddy Power, there’s a £2,000 a day maximum cash withdrawal. Bet365, on the other hand, simply states that while there is no maximum daily withdrawal amount, cash outs greater than £20,000 may require additional arrangements.

Withdrawal limits apply to bonuses too in the form of wagering requirements. In many cases, you won’t be able to convert your bonus money into withdrawable cash until you wager it a certain number of times. Additionally, a casino may have rules on how much you can withdraw from a bonus in relation to your initial deposit.

Loyalty and VIP Programmes

At the best Irish casinos, regular players can take advantage of special loyalty bonuses. Those who participate in these VIP programmes earn points through different actions at the site, which — after amassing enough — can be traded in for a smorgasbord of rewards.

Some online casinos automatically enrol all players in their VIP programmes as soon as they register a new account, while others may require you to opt in before you can earn loyalty points.

So, how are these points accrued? At most gambling sites, you’ll get them when you wager a certain amount on games, like one point for every €1 you stake on slots games. You usually need to bet more on table games or video poker to earn each point as these titles typically have a lower house edge. 

Once you’ve piled your points high, you’ll be able to exchange them for different prizes. Check out the programme’s rewards page to get a sense of what you can win — the offering varies between casinos but might include:

• Free spins or bonus credit;
• Cashback on bets;
• Physical gifts like branded merchandise or even tech gadgets;
• Trips and tickets to live events.

Some casino VIP programmes run on a tier system based on how much you deposit or wager at the site in a given period. Participation might be reserved for higher rollers — generally, the more you play, the higher your tier. 

Climbing the loyalty ladder from Silver to Gold to Platinum brings greater benefits with each step. You could snag an improved cashback percentage, larger freebies and extra spins, faster withdrawals, or even qualify for a personal account manager.

In any case, it’s worth comparing offerings between sites. Although some VIP schemes won’t translate into any significant returns, a more generous programme can help you get extra mileage out of each deposit.

Top Casino Banking Methods

With payment technologies constantly evolving, there are a wide variety of options available to online gamblers. Each has its own pros and cons: some are built around speed and convenience; others offer extra levels of security when transacting. 

Many players favour payment methods with fast withdrawals so they’re not left waiting for their cash. Meanwhile, it’s always important to check whether deposits made via a particular payment service are eligible for bonus offers.

A wide range of payment methods is something we look for during any casino review — we’ve broken down the advantages and drawbacks of each to help you decide which is right for you.

Debit Cards

Debit cards are accepted at pretty much every online gambling site — most players are familiar with using them to make payments online, so it’s no wonder they account for such a large portion of transactions. You can usually rely on debit cards as a valid method for deposit bonuses too.

All you have to do is key in your card number and personal details, specify the amount, and confirm the transaction. Deposits are often instant, but withdrawals are on the slow side — they can sometimes take up to a week to reach your account. Some players are hesitant to share their banking info with online casinos too, and may prefer a payment method that avoids this.

e-Wallets

Synonymous with brands like PayPal and Skrill, e-wallets are another payment option offered at a wide range of Irish casinos. Boasting the fastest withdrawals — sometimes within an hour — and instant deposits, e-wallets are favoured by players who don’t want any faff when adding or removing funds from their casino account. 

Security is front and centre. Once you’ve linked a payment card within the e-wallet, you can use it to transact at online casinos without sharing any sensitive bank details. Despite all these advantages, be aware that e-wallets are sometimes excluded from casino bonuses so might not be suitable for every transaction. Check the terms and conditions beforehand to find out. 

Prepaid Cards

Prepaid cards such as paysafecard offer players a highly secure way to top up their casino wallet as no bank details are shared with the casino at any time. By purchasing a prepaid voucher from a participating retailer, the unique PIN can be used to make a deposit at the casino. 

Prepaid cards can never be overdrawn so they’re a useful tool for managing your gambling budget, but they won’t suit everyone. Although usually valid for bonus offers, low transaction limits often apply and there’s very limited support — if any — for withdrawals, meaning they’ll need to be used in tandem with another method for cashing out. 

Pay by Phone Bill

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to add funds to your casino account, paying by phone bill with a service like Boku might be up your street. All that’s required is your phone number — once you confirm the payment, it’s added to your monthly contract or taken directly from your airtime credit. 

Pay by phone bill is generally allowed in bonus T&Cs, but it’s not suitable for high rollers. Most carriers uphold low daily and monthly limits on these transactions, which could prevent you from taking maximum advantage of an online casino bonus. There’s no withdrawal support either.

Wire Transfer

Some players might rather do away with all these newfound technologies and use the humble wire transfer to handle their casino funds. This option particularly appeals to high rollers, as transaction limits are typically much higher than with other methods and it’s usually a valid payment method when claiming a casino bonus.

For everyone else, we think there are better alternatives — you could be waiting up to 24 hours for a deposit made via wire transfer to settle, and withdrawals can take up to five working days. Entering all the required bank details is cumbersome too, and you’re more likely to end up paying transaction fees.

AstroPay

Bolstered by its successful advertising among Premier League football teams, AstroPay is becoming an increasingly popular banking method for online casino players. It’s well known for its virtual prepaid cards, which can be purchased in various denominations and then used to deposit funds into your casino account. However, your AstroPay account will also be capable of storing a balance, so it essentially doubles up as an e-wallet with similar functionality to the likes of PayPal and Skrill. 

Cryptocurrencies

While they’re far from being considered readily available, cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin and Ethereum are popping up at increasing numbers of bonus casino sites. To deposit and withdraw funds in one of these virtual currencies, you’ll need to have a crypto wallet set up. You can then head to the casino’s cashier page and select your preferred crypto coin to initiate a payment. Crypto transactions offer greater anonymity than other methods as you won’t need to share any personal details, and they’re also completed instantly in most cases.

New Bonus Casino Offers

New casino bonus offers can often be higher in their overall value, as they are trying to generate an increased member base and compete in the market. For this reason, it can be quite advantageous to sign up for new casinos and reap the rewards of some of the best Irish casino bonus incentives out there.

Conversely, rather than focusing purely on the size of their offers, some new casinos seek out a particular niche in the market. Sites like Voodoo Dreams and Duelz offer engaging player vs player features that give members the chance to pick up prizes by winning duels against their fellow casino enthusiasts.

The beauty of this page is that while we may list new casinos, we only seek offers that provide you with the best casino bonuses – so you won’t need to worry about being short-changed.