By Niamh Gallagher · Last updated November 2026NetBet has been taking bets online since 2001, which makes it the old hand of my top five. NetBet Ireland now holds a licence from the Irish regulator, covers hurling and Gaelic football properly, and has a welcome offer with something I rarely get to write: no wagering. The free bets are yours to use, and whatever you win from them is yours to keep. That combination puts it at number two on my list.
It’s not flawless. There’s no live streaming, no Best Odds Guaranteed on racing, and the app has weak ratings. It also feels like a casino brand that happens to have a sportsbook, rather than the other way round. But if you bet mainly on the GAA and the horses, and you want an Irish licence behind you, NetBet is the bookie I’d send you to. Here’s the full picture.
NetBet Ireland: The Short Version
| NetBet | |
|---|---|
| My score | 9.0/10 (#2 on my list) |
| Welcome offer | Up to €60 in free bets, no wagering |
| Licence | GRAI remote betting licence GRAI-1195-RB-26-0001 (also MGA/B2C/126/2006) |
| Min deposit | €20 to trigger the deposit part of the welcome offer |
| Payout speed | 2–24 hour review, then e-wallets within 24 hours; cards up to 4 working days; bank up to 8 working days |
| App | iOS app (Android availability unclear) |
| Best for | GAA and racing punters who want an Irish licence and no-wagering free bets |
€60 in Free Bets and Not a Wagering Requirement in Sight
The NetBet Ireland welcome offer is worth up to €60 in free bets, with no wagering on them. It comes in two stages, and how much you get depends on how much you lodge.
Stage one: verify your ID. Sign up, verify your identity, and NetBet gives you a €10 free bet. You don’t have to deposit anything for this part.
Stage two: your first lodgement. Within 7 days, make a first deposit of €20 or more. Lodge €20–€49.99 and you get two €10 free bets. Lodge €50 or more and you get two €25 free bets. Add the €10 from stage one and the most you can get is €60.
Where the free bets go. The two deposit free bets aren’t free to use on anything. One must go on a horse racing single at minimum odds of 2.0 (evens). The other must go on a football acca of three or more legs at minimum total odds of 3.0. All free bets expire 7 days after you claim them. These details are from NetBet’s own terms at the time of writing, so check the current T&Cs before you sign up.
Why I rate a smaller offer this highly
€60 isn’t a huge number next to the offshore bonuses, but no wagering makes a big difference. A €250 bonus with heavy wagering can be worth less in practice than €60 in free bets you can actually use, because any winnings from NetBet’s free bets aren’t tied up in rollover.
The restrictions are worth thinking about, though. The racing single is straightforward: find a horse you fancy at evens or bigger and let it run. The football acca is trickier. Minimum total odds of 3.0 across three or more legs is easy to reach, but every leg has to win, so I’d keep it to three sensible selections rather than stacking up legs to chase a bigger price. And to get the full €60 you need to lodge €50. Don’t deposit more than you’d planned just to chase the bigger free bets.
18+. T&Cs apply.
Two Licences and a Track Record Back to 2001: How Safe Is NetBet Ireland?
NetBet is operated by NetBet Enterprises Ltd, based in Malta. It holds a GRAI remote betting licence, number GRAI-1195-RB-26-0001, and a Malta Gaming Authority licence, MGA/B2C/126/2006.
Since 1 July 2026, under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, online bookies taking bets from Ireland need a GRAI licence, and NetBet has one. That means it has to follow Irish rules:
- No credit cards, so you’re betting with money you actually have.
- No VIP schemes.
- Restrictions on inducements and promotions.
- It must honour the National Gambling Exclusion Register, so if you self-exclude through the register, NetBet blocks you along with every other licensed bookie.
Add the fact that NetBet has been online since 2001, and you have the longest track record of any bookie on my list, with the Irish regulator in the picture as well. The GRAI now has an enforcement and complaints function, so if NetBet won’t sort a problem out, you can raise it with the regulator after using NetBet’s own complaints process. For a lot of punters, that combination is worth more than a bigger bonus, and it’s why NetBet sits above the offshore bookies on my list.
Sam Maguire, Shelbourne Park and the Rest of NetBet’s Card
NetBet covers the sports that matter most to Irish punters, and it covers the Irish ones properly.
Hurling and Gaelic football right through to the All-Ireland
This is where NetBet beats Midnite, the other licensed bookie on my list. Hurling and Gaelic football are both covered, including the All-Ireland. Whether you’re backing your county for the Liam MacCarthy or having a go at the Sam Maguire outright, you’ll find markets here. If GAA is the core of your betting, that’s a big reason to pick NetBet.
Racing without Best Odds Guaranteed
Horse racing is a big part of NetBet’s offer, which fits with the racing free bet in the welcome package. The missing piece is Best Odds Guaranteed, which is a let-down for a bookie that leans on racing. Without it, if you take 5/1 and your horse starts at 7/1, you’re stuck with 5/1.
So at a big meeting like Fairyhouse or the Galway Races, think about an each-way bet for a bit of insurance on a horse you fancy at a decent price. My guide to each-way betting explains how the place part works and when it’s worth doubling your stake.
The dogs, the Six Nations and the Premier League
Greyhounds are covered too, for anyone who likes following the racing from Shelbourne Park on their mobile. Rugby is on the card, so you can bet on the Six Nations and on Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster in the URC. And football is covered, from the Premier League to the three-leg accas you’ll need for the welcome free bet. It’s a well-rounded card for an Irish punter, even if the extras around it are thin.
No Streams, No BOG: What NetBet Gives You Instead
- Cash out: yes, so you can settle early if a bet’s going your way or turning against you.
- Bet builder: yes, handy for combining outcomes in a single football match.
- Live streaming: no. You can’t watch races or matches through NetBet, so you’ll need the telly or another source.
- In-play: I haven’t verified how deep the live markets go, so check what’s on offer for the game you want.
- Best Odds Guaranteed: no.
The lack of streaming, along with an app that trails Midnite’s, is the main thing holding NetBet back from the top spot. No BOG is a further gap for racing punters, and betting in-play without a stream means betting off a stats feed. Cash out and a bet builder cover the basics, but NetBet doesn’t go much further than that.
PayPal, Skrill or Card: Getting Money In and Out of NetBet
| Method | Deposits | Withdrawal time (after 2–24h review) |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal | Yes | Within 24 hours |
| Skrill / Neteller | Yes | Within 24 hours |
| Visa / Mastercard debit | Yes | Up to 4 working days |
| Bank transfer | Yes | Up to 8 working days |
| Apple Pay / Google Pay | Yes | Not stated |
| Paysafecard | Yes | Not stated |
| Credit cards | No | Not available |
NetBet has the widest range of payment methods of the two GRAI-licensed bookies on my list, and it’s the only one of my five that lists PayPal. Every withdrawal goes through an internal review of 2–24 hours first. After that, e-wallets like PayPal, Skrill and Neteller pay out within 24 hours, cards within 4 working days and bank transfers within 8 working days.
If you want your money quickly, use an e-wallet. Bank transfers are slow, and 8 working days is a long time to wait for winnings. Revolut isn’t on the list, so if that’s how you handle most of your money, PayPal is probably the next best thing.
NetBet on Your Mobile: An App With Something to Prove
NetBet has an iOS app. Whether there’s an Android app isn’t clear, so Android users may need to use the mobile site.
I’ll be honest: the app’s ratings are weak, and that’s not a great sign. It’s functional rather than lovely, and it isn’t in the same league as Midnite’s. If you do nearly all your betting on your phone, that might push you towards another bookie.
That said, NetBet’s main selling points, the GAA coverage, the no-wagering free bets and the Irish licence, don’t depend on the app. If you’re happy placing bets through the mobile site or on a laptop, the weak ratings matter less. Weigh up how you actually bet before letting this put you off.
Live Chat Until 11pm, Then It’s Email
Live chat runs from 9am to 11pm, and there’s email support too. Those hours cover most betting, but not all of it. If something goes wrong after a late kick-off, you’ll be waiting until the morning or sending an email. There’s no phone line listed.
For anything involving verification, where you’ll be sending ID or proof of address, email is the better route anyway, since you’ll have a record of what you sent and when. And because NetBet is GRAI-licensed, if a complaint can’t be settled through its own complaints process, you can raise it with the regulator.
Where NetBet Shines and Where It Falls Short
What I like
- GRAI-licensed (GRAI-1195-RB-26-0001), plus an MGA licence and a track record going back to 2001
- Up to €60 in free bets with no wagering
- Strong hurling and Gaelic football markets, right through to the All-Ireland
- PayPal accepted, along with a wide range of other payment methods
- Racing, greyhounds, rugby and football all covered
What bugs me
- No live streaming at all
- No Best Odds Guaranteed on racing
- Weak app ratings, and Android availability is unclear
- Live chat only runs from 9am to 11pm
My take: the bookie I’d recommend to anyone who bets mainly on the GAA and wants the Irish licence.
Why NetBet Ireland Is My Number Two
NetBet Ireland is the safe, steady option, and for GAA punters it’s arguably the best on my list. It holds a GRAI licence, it’s been around since 2001, and it covers hurling, Gaelic football and racing properly. The welcome offer is smaller than the offshore bonuses, but no wagering makes it honest value, and PayPal is a welcome extra.
The gaps are clear: no streaming, no Best Odds Guaranteed, a weak app and a casino-first feel. The weaker app and the lack of streaming are what keep it just behind Midnite. If you care more about Irish regulation and GAA markets than bells and whistles, NetBet is a sound pick. If you want the best app or racing streams, Midnite is the one.
Bet responsibly and set yourself limits. If you need to talk to someone, ring Gambling Care free on 1800 753 753 or visit gamblingcare.ie.
FAQ
Does NetBet hold an Irish licence?
Yes. NetBet Enterprises Ltd holds GRAI remote betting licence GRAI-1195-RB-26-0001, plus Malta Gaming Authority licence MGA/B2C/126/2006. It follows Irish rules, including no credit cards and honouring the National Gambling Exclusion Register.
What’s in the NetBet Ireland welcome offer?
Up to €60 in free bets, with no wagering. You get a €10 free bet after verifying your ID, then two €10 or two €25 free bets when you make a first deposit of €20+ within 7 days, depending on how much you lodge. 18+. T&Cs apply.
How long does a NetBet withdrawal take?
There’s an internal review of 2–24 hours first. After that, e-wallets pay out within 24 hours, cards within 4 working days and bank transfers within 8 working days.
Can I watch races on NetBet?
No. NetBet doesn’t offer live streaming, so you’ll need to watch races and matches elsewhere.
Is PayPal accepted at NetBet?
Yes. NetBet accepts PayPal, as well as Skrill, Neteller, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Paysafecard and bank transfer.