Currently, Ireland is one of the countries where there is not a huge base of online casinos.  The 1956 Gaming and Lotteries Act has prevented online casino businesses from setting up in Ireland.  However, this is under evaluation. Even if Ireland were to gain 5 percent of the global online casino industry they would create 5000 jobs with a salary at $56,000.  The downside is the taxes Ireland would be hit with.  Like Britain, Ireland online casinos would see a huge taxation on the online casinos.

Many feel the 1956 law should be removed.  The law is what most consider outdated since it is over fifty years old now.  These individuals feel the law should be changed, whether this allows the online casinos to enter Ireland or not.  David Hickson, a director for Gaming and Leisure Association spoke on the topic.  He stated that Ireland has an opportunity to expand in the online casino sector.  The UK has already gotten a regulatory structure in place; Ireland would just have to adapt it and then use it.  The adaptation would be on the taxation structure that HIckson feels is wrong in the UK system.

Already France and Spain are making changes to their online casino and gambling regulations.  Hickson feels that Ireland needs to move with them before the momentum is lost.  Geoff Collins is part of ViewTec, an online casino operator.  He stated that the online casino industry is looking for a regulated open economy for further investment.  This could very well be Ireland if they move a little faster.

The question now becomes whether Ireland wants to open their doors to the online casino world.  Cryptologic is actually a Dublin based software company for online casinos.  They employ over 400 people working on new casino games.  Already Ireland has some part of the online casino world.  Now the choice is whether to take this further by opening up casinos to Irish players.  The 1956 act would have to be repealed and changes would be made.  With the amount of jobs and money that could be made from the online casino industry, it is no wonder the government is talking about changing the act.  Nothing has been made official and it will take time to see if changes are made.  For now there are online casinos that allow Irish players, just none that run out of Ireland.