Sometimes, taking a break from gambling is a good idea. It can help keep expenditure in check and even help reinvigorate your enthusiasm when you do get back to it. Sometimes, though, the break can be forced. For example, because you’ve spent time in an area where gambling is prohibited, at least in some forms.

Although physical gambling in Northern Ireland is largely permitted, online gambling is not regulated, which means players have to turn to offshore casinos to enjoy a bet.

Ease Into It

If it is your first time gambling online or you’ve taken a break from the pastime, ease yourself back in. Take some time to find an online casino you like, get to know the rules of the site as well as the software and the games themselves, and maybe even have a few playbets.

Some online casinos offer play money, which means you can try out the games risk-free without having to put up any of your own cash. It’s a good opportunity to try out the software, although it can never quite replicate the same potential enjoyment, because there isn’t the opportunity to win real money, either.

Gambling Options

Currently, all gambling laws in Northern Ireland, fall under the 1985 Order on Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements Act which sets no provisions for online gambling. As such, players who want to gamble online cannot use sites registered in NI.

Choose Crypto Gambling Sites

Many turn to the use of crypto casino online websites instead. These are offshore sites that use cryptocurrency for deposits and withdrawals, provide the wide range of games that players have become accustomed to online, and provide bonuses and offers. Equipped with blockchain cybersec protection, such platforms are attracting new players from Belfast to Derry and back. 

There are thousands of offshore casinos for players to choose from, and those returning from a gambling hiatus might find the choice somewhat daunting. Some of the most recent additions include crypto casinos, which accept deposits and withdrawals using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Doge, and Tether.

Cryptocurrency is a good choice for offshore casino sites because payments, even cross-border payments, are almost instant. They also cost a fraction of credit card payments and payments are both secure and private. Such is their popularity with the casinos that many online iGaming sites offer improved bonuses to crypto users.

However, you will need to learn a little about cryptocurrency, and especially about how to use exchanges and wallets, before you can deposit and play with crypto funds.

Non-Crypto Offshore Casinos

Online gambling in Northern Ireland is legal, as highlighted above, but it isn’t regulated. This means there are no online casinos or online betting sites licensed within the country, so players will need to use offshore casinos. Offshore casinos are those that are licensed in other countries, such as those licensed by the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority.

There have been calls for Northern Ireland to make changes to its gambling laws, especially in the regulation of online casinos and the granting of physical casino licenses, but these calls have not yet been heard.

Physical Gambling

While online gambling is not regulated in Belfast, physical gambling is. There are no casinos, but there are around 300 bookmakers and bingo halls in the country. It is possible to place bets on sporting events, enjoy a few games of bingo, and take part in the National Lottery. The National Lottery was established in 1986 and includes main draws as well as popular scratchcards.

Other Platforms

Online casinos can be accessed from pretty much any device that has an Internet connection and a browser. However, it is also possible to install casino apps or even to install casino bots on messaging apps like Telegram and Discord.

If you’re a regular user of either of these services, this can be a good way to bet easily and use the software you already have. The games can be more limited than those on the websites themselves, but they are very convenient.

Make The Most of Bonuses

With the rise of online casinos has come a similar rise in the availability of bonuses and offers. New-player bonuses are used by casinos to draw new account holders in. They can include no-deposit bonuses, but most offers for new players are first-deposit match bonuses where, for example, a casino might reward a new player with an additional £10 when they place a first deposit of £10.

These bonuses can be a good way to build a bigger bank to start betting and also enable the player to get used to the site’s interface and games.

Conclusion

It can be difficult to bet in Northern Ireland. There are no casinos, and even online casinos are not regulated in the country. However, while there are no online casinos licensed in Northern Ireland, players can use offshore casinos, and there are approximately 300 bookmakers as well as bingo halls. Start small, make the most of bonuses, and don’t get too carried away with big bets.

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