Ireland is home to one of the most sophisticated betting industries in the world, and betting on sport is part of the cultural landscape of Irish society.
While horse racing, football and GAA grab most of the betting headlines, there is a thriving golf betting community in Ireland, and golf betting as a whole is a growth area, with new golf betting markets and sites opening all the time. Of course, not all golf betting sites are equal, and it can be tricky to find the best options, even if you are an experienced golf bettor.
To help narrow down the choices, we’ve put together a short guide on how to find the very best golf betting sites in Ireland to maximise your golf betting enjoyment.
Licensed and reputable
The starting point in finding the best golf betting site is to check that any site you are considering is licensed and that it has a good reputation. Betting at unlicensed sites leaves you open to legal problems and puts you at risk of having your data and money stolen.
Licensing details can be found on a betting site’s home page, and you can often find further information on a site’s reputation by checking out reviews and bettor opinions online.
Golf event coverage
When you’re choosing a golf betting site, you need to know that it will offer the events and the markets that you want to bet on. Most golf betting sites will have markets on the Majors and the big tournaments on the main Tours, but it is worth checking out the coverage of smaller events, and comparing how many markets are available for each event compared to other sites.
The best golf betting sites will devote a significant amount of space to the sport and will offer a high number of betting markets, along with other customer-friendly features, such as each way betting down to sixth or seventh place in the Majors tournament winners’ markets.
Competitive golf betting odds
Getting the best odds is important when you’re betting on any sport. Fortunately, modern odds comparison sites, most of which are available for free, can tell you immediately which site has the best odds on any golf event.
It is worth taking some time to compare the odds from different golf betting providers for separate events on different days to help you find those sites that are consistently more generous with their odds and identify those that are always at the shorter end of the market range.
Check out the live golf betting options
Betting on golf tournaments in-play is popular with Irish golf punters. If you are planning to bet in-play, you need to be sure that the betting site you choose is able to meet your needs. Ideally, you should focus on sites that offer some form of live streaming so you can watch the action live, but at a minimum, you should be looking for betting platforms that provide up to date stats and news, fast market updates on in-play events and some form of cash out option.
Deposits and withdrawals
As well as the golf betting coverage a site can offer, it is a good idea to consider some of the more mundane, but equally important aspects of golf betting.
Being able to make your deposits using your preferred banking method is important, as is the speed and efficiency of any transactions, as delays and unexpected fees can prove frustrating and costly. It is a good idea to check what banking options are available at any golf betting site you are considering, along with details of any transaction fees, minimum deposit and withdrawal figures and how quickly a site processes withdrawals and deposits.
How customer friendly is the site?
If you’re going to bet with a site, trusting it to handle your money and your personal data, you need to be reassured that customers are treated well. Check out how many customer support options are available to you if you have a problem or a query, and whether these are available 24/7.
You should also ignore headline welcome bonuses offered by a site and take a closer look at whether a site provides ongoing bonuses and promotions for regular golf bettors, as this is usually a better indication of how well a site treats its customers.
Bet responsibly
It is important to remember that while most people who bet on golf can do so safely and responsibly, golf betting can sometimes lead to addiction and other problems. Often, those who develop a gambling problem would not have considered themselves at risk and can struggle to accept that they have a problem. That’s why it is vital to always follow these steps to stay safe when betting on golf:
- Never bet with money you can’t afford to lose.
- Always set strict time and money limits on your betting.
- Never bet when you are unwell, upset or if you are drinking alcohol or otherwise impaired.
- Understand that betting on golf is a leisure activity, not a route to riches.
- Seek help and advice if you feel your golf betting is becoming a problem.