Irish Betting Sports Markets – Hidden Gems For Better Returns

No one punter is identical, which is reflected by the immense variety of sports that betting sites cover. In Ireland, there are a few hidden gems that could potentially reward you with better returns, if you know how to play the betting markets and use the bookmaker to your advantage. Forget sticking to the one beloved market you always reach for, and instead try diversifying your bets, hence expanding your pool of knowledge and wallet. A quick look at any of the big bookmakers in Ireland on Scs shows that there are some unique Irish options that offer the chance of better returns than the usual soccer or football betting markets.

GAA Football

Gaelic football is offered by the vast majority of bookmakers, usually sandwiched somewhere between darts and golf in the middle of the A-Z list of sports. The one thing to consider when betting on Gaelic football is that the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship season runs from April to July, so there is a lack of consistent matches throughout the year. In the winter, the All-Ireland Junior Club Football Championship runs, which is often between October and January. Not all betting sites cover this competition. There is also the National Football League beginning in February, and Provincial Championships in the spring.

The most popular betting market is the outright winner for the championship. Right now, the favourites for the 2026 winner of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship are Kerry, Donegal, and Tyrone.

GAA Hurling

Hurling is a captivating GAA sport that goes largely unnoticed but has lots of winning potential. Betting markets include:

• Match winner: the most straightforward betting market

• Both teams to score: a form of yes/ no betting

• Half-time result: the result at 30 or 35 minutes

• Handicap betting: give one team an advantage to spice up an otherwise flat game

• Total points: a form of under/ over betting

• Winning margin: advance further than predicting the winning team by attempting to guess how many points a team will win by instead

• First goal scorer: can also do variations of this like second goal scorer, last goal scorer, and anytime goal scorer

The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship 2025-2026 will finish with an explosive finale on the 18th January, and you can bet on the outright winner or place an each-way bet already.

Horse Racing

Horse racing is conceivably the most esteemed type of sports betting in the world. In Ancient Greece, spectators would bet on chariot races as early as 700 BC. Today, bookmakers have designed a myriad of features to make race betting more engaging and interactive. One of the main reasons why it is so popular in Ireland is because of the prestigious yearly festivals held such as:

• The Galway Races at Ballybrit Racecourse

• Punchestown Festival at Punchestown Racecourse

• The Irish Derby at Curragh Racecourse

• The Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse Racecourse

Almost all Irish races, as well as UK races, have Best Odds Guaranteed from the morning of the meet. Betting sites also offer promotions like extra places, non-runner no bet, money back specials if your horse places second, and price boosts. Besides that, live streaming is free for national races and by joining a loyalty club you can be in with the chance to secure free tickets for renowned festivals.

Soccer

Soccer is always dominated by the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, English Championship, Portuguese Primeira Liga, Turkish Super Lig, and Scottish Premiership. In Ireland, punters are more interested in the Premier Division, First Division, and FAI Cup, which are offered by most, but not all, bookmakers. This year, the Shamrock Rovers won their fifth title in six seasons, beaten only in 2024 when Shelbourne destroyed their winning streak. The next season begins in February, and we can’t wait.

The top betting markets are:

• Correct score: predict the score accurately

• Double chance: home win, draw, or away win

• Total goals: usually over/ under 2.5 goals

• Half-time result: the result halfway through the game

• Draw no bet: if the match ends in a tie your stake is returned to you

• Total cards: this can be yellow cards or red cards

• Next corner: which team will be awarded the next corner

• To win to nil: the team that will win without the opposition scoring a goal

• To win both halves: the team that will score higher in both halves of the match

Soccer can’t be called a hidden gem, well, because everybody knows about it. But, finding promotions gives you the edge and a better likelihood of taking home more cash. A terrific promotion is 2 Goals Up, which settles your bet when your team is ahead by two goals, even if they don’t win by full-time. Draw No Bet is useful too, because you will be refunded your bet if the score is tied.

In Closing

Better returns don’t need to be overcomplicated. By betting smarter, not more, Irish punters can simultaneously enjoy the process of betting and its rewards.

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