GAA is short for the Gaelic Athletic Association, which is the largest sporting organisation in Ireland. Founded in 1884, the sport was founded to make athletics more accessible to the people and to bring back people’s sense of culture and identity. The GAA promotes Gaelic games such as Hurling, Gaelic Football, Rounders, Handball betting and also works hand in hand with other organisations to promote Camogie and Ladies’ Football.
Top Irish Bookmakers for GAA Betting (July 2024)
-
BoyleSportsNew Customer Exclusive –> BET €10 GET €40 IN FREE BETS -
Casumo100% Bonus up to €300 and 50 Bonus Spins
-
22bet100% Up To €122
-
Bet365Bet €10 & Get €50 in Free Bets
-
BetwayBet €10 Get €30 in free bets
-
IvibetWelcome Bonus: 100% Welcome Package up to €150 in Free Bet Credits The value of the Ivibet welcome bonus can vary but often includes a percentage match on the initial deposit, providing additional betting funds to new users. Eligibility requirements involve being a new customer and meeting specific age and jurisdiction criteria. The activation process typically involves creating an account, making a qualifying deposit, and possibly entering a promo code. Time restrictions may apply, such as the bonus expiring after a certain period if not used. Wagering conditions may necessitate betting a certain amount before withdrawal.
-
888Sports100% Bonus up to €150
-
NovibetBet €10 Get Up To €50 In Free Bets
-
LeovegasBag up to €30 in Free Bets! Official partner of Manchester City!
-
Rhino BetWelcome Bonus: Bet €20 Get €20
-
10bet50% up to €50
What is GAA?
For those of you who are unfamiliar with GAA betting, it is a range of sports that you should really get into. With over 2,200 clubs in all 32 counties of Ireland, the GAA is the heartbeat of every parish and is loved by nearly all. Amazingly, the GAA is a fully amateur sport even though players train for nine or ten months every year.
How to bet on GAA?
If you are new to GAA betting and are just getting started, the first thing to do is choose what bookmaker you want to use using our list of recommended bookmakers above. If you decide to go for the Bet365 or Paddy Power platforms, firstly you need to download the app from the App Store or the Google Play Store. Once you have that done, you will then need to provide some personal details and choose a username and password. Once this step has been completed, open up the app and create your account.
After you have logged into your brand new account, you will then be able to see every one of the available GAA betting markets once you find the dropdown for Gaelic Sports. Simply choose the market that you wish to bet on and then enter your stake in the betting slip box provided. Once you have completed this step, your bet is now on with the bookmaker, and you will be able to follow live updates on your match through the app.
Another step to keep in mind is that once you have created your new account, you will have to deposit some funds into it in order to place your bets. With most bookmakers, you will be able to do this via credit or debit card, PayPal, or a number of other methods including bank transfer. When your account is funded with money, you are then good to go to start your betting journey.
To place a bet on the app, simply navigate to either the GAA hurling or football markets that you want to bet on. When you select your market and bet that you want to place, click on the available odds and they will pop up on the screen on your betting slip. Enter your stake in the box provided and then submit your bet by clicking on the ‘Place Bet’ button. Your bet is now on, and if it turns out to be a winner you will win a sum judged on the odds that were available when you backed it.
GAA Betting Markets
There are so many markets to choose from when betting on the GAA and there is value to be had. Below, we list the most common GAA markets that are usually offered by bookmakers in Ireland.
Outright Betting
This is where you back a team to win a tournament before the event even starts. For example, if you think Kerry will win the All-Ireland Football Championship, you can back them to do so before a ball is kicked. GAA outright betting is available for all major tournaments in the country, including the club championships and the provincial championships.
Win Betting
This is probably the simplest form of betting available. For any particular match, you choose the home team to win, the away team to win, or else you go with the draw. Interestingly, as GAA is so high scoring you will always get odds of 10-1 or bigger on a draw so if you feel that a particular match will be very tight, there could be value to be had.
Draw No Bet
As the draw is often a pretty large price anyway, the draw no bet market on GAA doesn’t make a whole lot of sense but it is there as an option. If you back a team to win in the draw no bet market, you will get all of your stake fully refunded if the match ends as a draw. It isn’t a bad option if you want to play very cautiously.
This is probably the simplest form of betting available. For any particular match, you choose the home team to win, the away team to win, or else you go with the draw. Interestingly, as GAA is so high scoring you will always get odds of 10-1 or bigger on a draw so if you feel that a particular match will be very tight, there could be value to be had.
Winning Margin
Some nice prices can be available in the winning market markets on the GAA. Generally, these markets are broken up into batches so for example, you can back a team to win by one to four points, or you can back a team to win by 15 or more points too. The choice is ultimately yours and you will be rewarded handsomely if you find a winner here.
First or Last Goalscorer
This is a very difficult bet to pull off as there are 30 players on the pitch but you will generally see odds starting off at around 7-1 for a player to score the first or last goal in a match. If your favourite team is Limerick in the hurling, you might think following their main talisman Aaron Gillane is the way to go for a first goalscorer bet.
First Scoring Play
You can also have a bet on the first scoring play of the match. This could be a point from open play for a team, a goal from open play for their opponents, or even a free to be the first scoring play of the match. There is zero skill involved in this method of betting. It really is the same as doing the lottery.
Handicap Bets
Another very common bet placed on the GAA, handicap bets are introduced to level or balance out a match. They are especially helpful when one team is far superior to the other. For example, if Dublin are playing Wexford in the Leinster Football Championship, Dublin might be 1-50 to win the match so who is going to back that? The handicap might be Dublin minus 15 points at close to even money or Wexford plus 15 points at around the same price.
Double Result
This is a bet where you have to predict the outcome at both half time and full time. For example, a team might be 6-4 to win their match, but that same team might be 3-1 to be leading at half time and then go on to win the match. There is great value to be had in this market if you really fancy a team to take the lead early and go on to win.
Cards
GAA can be a physical sport at times, to say the least. It is an intense contact sport so that means that altercations, arguments and nasty challenges are inevitable. You can back how many cards there will be in a match now, and you can also back a player to be booked or to be sent off. It can be a lucrative market in a heated final.
Total Match Goals
Some GAA matches can have very few goals and in general there are fewer goals in Gaelic football than hurling. Hurling as already mentioned is a very exciting sport and can often throw up a lot of goals in the championship. You can back how many goals you think there will be on any particular match in both sports.
Man of the Match
At the end of every match, a player will be awarded the “Man of the Match” award. This can be a very difficult bet as there are 30 players on the pitch and in general it will be awarded to a player on the winning side. With that in mind, you will see starting odds of 10-1 on this market at times so it will pay if you are successful.
Total Points Odd or Even
Total Points Odd or Even: Another flip of the coin sort of betting market, the total points market is like betting on red or black. If you think that the total points will finish on even numbers, you can bet on that. Alternatively, if you think the total points in the match will finish on an odd number, you can also bet on that. The choice is yours!
Footballer and Hurler of the Year:
Once the All-Ireland Football and Hurling Championships get underway, one player will generally stand out throughout the season more than any. At the end of the championship once the dust has settled, one hurler and one footballer will be crowned footballer and hurler of the year. It is a huge award to get and you can bet on this market throughout the year.
Betting In-Play on GAA
The fantastic thing about modern betting these days is that you don’t have to bet before the match. Once the ball is thrown in, there are plenty of in-play betting markets available in both hurling and football betting. There are also several player markets still available in running throughout the 70 minutes game time, along with several other betting markets on the match outcome with live updates in odds.
Hurling is without doubt the most exhilarating sport in the world and as scoring can happen so fast, we have witnessed some fantastic comebacks over the years. In-play betting ensures that if you fancy a big turn in the game at half-time, or anticipate a big run of scores from either team, you can make it pay financially. Hurling betting is gaining traction all over the world now and is going through a phase of electrifying, intense matches at all levels.
A team could take a seven or eight point lead in the first 10 minutes of a match which can drastically increase the price of the opponent. As a game can swing so fast, bookmakers can often get stung if they aren’t too clued up about the sport. GAA is still a pretty niche sport globally still so those who follow the game religiously will have an advantage on the betting front. Weather conditions can always have a strong effect on a game too. A strong wind behind the backs can make a team build a sizable lead at half time and that is where you can employ a clever in-play betting strategy.
Top Irish Bookmakers with GAA Betting
Now that we have gone through everything GAA related and how you can bet on the sport, it is now time for you to choose the best bookmaker to place your bets with. Below are the very best Irish bookmakers with GAA betting services.
Boylesports GAA Betting
Boylesports is arguably Ireland’s largest independent bookmaker, and GAA betting is a daily staple for all Irish players who use their platform. Boylesports do a huge amount of sports but their GAA offering is second to none. Why not start your journey with them today and take advantage of their welcome offer and daily promotions!
Pros
- GAA live streaming
- Combine your odds feature
- Stylish modern betting app on iOS and Android
- Many GAA markets
Cons
- For GAA betting specifically, there are no negatives to note
Boylesports GAA Betting Features
Despite the global superiority of the other sports such as football or soccer, betting on Gaelic football and hurling remains hugely popular on the Emerald Isle. You will find a vast array of GAA betting markets for each match including outright bets, handicap betting, draw no bet, double result, as well as first and last goalscorers, scoring specials and half time markets. There is also another cracking option where you can ‘combine your odds’.
This is done by selecting up to three selections on First Goalscorer and Winning Margin markets to boot. Any bet of your choice can be added to your betting slip in one swift tap of the button. Boylesports also have daily GAA Price Boosts online plus offer ante post markets for the All-Ireland Senior Football, Hurling and Camogie Championships and All-Ireland Club Championships. You will even find GAA betting tips on the Boylesports platform.
Paddy Power GAA Betting
On the Paddy Power online sportsbook, you have the choice to bet on any of the 24 Gaelic Games competitions available on the platform. Some of the most popular competitions include the All-Ireland Hurling Championship, All-Ireland Football Championship, Munster Championship Football, Leinster Championship Football and much much more.
Pros
- Simple and easy to use mobile app
- The speed of the site is terrific
- Huge amount of GAA betting markets
- Live streaming of matches
Cons
- Irritating marketing banners on the site
- Poor customer service
- Hard to get in touch with
Paddy Power GAA Betting Features
When it comes to the betting side of things on the Paddy Power app, you will love it if you are a GAA fanatic. The Paddy Power welcome bonuses are very attractive and once you join there are daily rewards and free bets. Paddy Power’s GAA betting odds are very competitive and reasonable, and if you are stuck to work out a bet you have placed they also have a betting calculator that you could find to be a useful tool. There is a terrific live streaming service at Paddy Power, along with a great in-play offering. All you have to do is select your match, place your bet and watch away to your heart’s content. Their betting limits are very good and you can win up to €100,000 from a GAA bet if you were to be lucky enough.
Bet365 GAA Betting
Bet365 is an excellent choice if you are looking for a very user-friendly betting site for both beginners and gambling veterans. They might not have as diverse a GAA betting package as the likes of Paddy Power and Boylesports, but they pack a punch in many other areas and it is no surprise that they are the biggest online sportsbook in the world.
Pros
- The user interface is very reliable and easy to use
- Bonuses are another huge plus with daily loyalty bonuses
- Site is very easy to use
- Cash Out
- Great payment options
Cons
- Don’t have a huge GAA betting offering
- Don’t offer GAA live streaming
Bet365 GAA Betting Features
The Bet365 app layout and interface is without doubt the best in the industry. Our experience shows that the platform always strives to use the latest innovative and modern technologies. Bet365 has a reputation as being the industry leader when it comes to offers and promotions for existing and new customers and as a Bet365 customer you can be sure that you will be well looked after and appreciated.
They offer the best in-play betting facility of any bookmaker to be fair and it is also great that they have a fantastic Cash Out feature which gives you the opportunity to take the money and run if you aren’t feeling too confident about your bet. Overall, Bet365 really has it all and we couldn’t deter you from opening an account with them.
22Bet GAA Betting
22Bet has entered into the foray of Irish betting sites, and our first impression of them is highly positive. 22Bet might not have the powerful branding behind them like a Paddy Power or Bet365, but they do have a very good sportsbook and in particular for GAA betting. Let’s move on and take a look at the pros and cons plus best features of 22Bet below.
ros
- Offer a competitive GAA betting market
- Live in-play betting
- Great betting bonuses
Cons
- Lack of GAA live streaming
- Layout of odds visually unappealing to Irish players
22Bet GAA Betting Features
When you decide to join 22Bet, you can claim a terrific exclusive welcome bonus offer when you first deposit. Sign up, and new players will receive a 100% matched deposit bonus up to the value of €122 to bet with. They also have a loyalty program at 22Bet where you can earn while betting on your favourite GAA matches.
Unlike other bookmakers, the great thing about 22Bet’s GAA offering is the fact that they also offer National Football League and National Hurling League markets. That is a massive plus point so credit to them on that front. They have the traditional home away draw markets but also have over and under, a team to score the next goal, double result, handicap betting and winning margin.
888sport GAA Betting
888sport is a sportsbook that has made its way into the Irish market and they are a decent option if you have never used them before. Available now to all Irish players, 888sport offers a comprehensive selection of GAA betting markets to choose from. It also carries a massive brand name into the Irish market, providing peace of mind for punters.
Pros
- Robust welcome bonus
- 24/7 customer support available
- Respected and trustworthy brand
- Slick and functional website
Cons
- Limited GAA markets
- No GAA live streaming
- No loyalty program
888sport GAA Betting Features
888sport could do an awful lot to improve their GAA betting offering but they do cover the biggest matches and tournaments. Their National League offering is very poor and they seemingly only pick out the biggest game of the weekend and offer markets for that one match. Irish people love to place GAA accumulators so if they want more business from Irish players, that will have to improve.
The website itself is nice and easy to use, and the odds are very clear and competitive. They offer markets such as match winner, handicap betting, over and under, total goals and half time betting but they do not offer first or last goalscorer which is rather poor. Overall, they aren’t a bad firm to side with for all there are better options out there.
Best Betting Odds for Irish Players
If you are based in Ireland and you are looking for the best GAA betting odds available on the Emerald Isle, then look no further because we can provide the answers for you. We do all of the hard work for you and our team of experts have come up with the best five bookmakers in the country in terms of competitive odds and prices.
Using our vast amount of betting knowledge and experience, we have researched and used every Irish bookmaker using a number of different criteria which include betting variety, mobile experience for players, best payment options, overall user experience, plus customer support and the all important welcome offers.
Our results have come back and they prove that the best online betting sites in Ireland are Boylesports, Bet365, Paddy Power, 22Bet and 888sport. All five of these firms have terrific GAA betting odds and prices, a terrific mobile experience, lots of GAA markets and more so don’t hesitate to use them.
GAA Maximum Payouts
GAA betting and Irish bookmakers will cover all Gaelic sports including hurling and Gaelic football. When it comes to maximum payouts, they will vary between every bookmaker who offers GAA markets. If you really fancy a massive accumulator bet that could return a fortune, then our advice is that you should be siding with the bigger bookmakers like Bet365 and Paddy Power where maximum payouts will be greater.
As GAA is a niche market, maximum payouts will not be as large as something like the Premier League as this is a massive market. The best thing to do is to check the terms and conditions of each bookmaker and that will put your mind at ease.
GAA Betting Rules
When a player is handed a black card in the GAA, that player must leave the field of play for ten minutes. In that time, no replacement can come onto the field so effectively the team is down to 14 men for that period of time. Should a player be handed a black card followed by a yellow card at any other time in the match, that player will be issued with a red card and will be ordered to leave the pitch for the remainder of the game.
For the black card, the offending player’s time in the sin bin will commence when the referee restarts the game after the foul. Once the 10 minutes in the sin bin has ended, the player can then return to action once there is a break in play and the referee is happy for him or her to come onto the field of play. When a goalkeeper receives a black card, he will most likely be replaced by one of the outfield players as a goalkeeper cannot have a straight replacement either. A black card can also carry into extra time.
Black Card Offences
- To deliberately pull down an opponent.
- To deliberately trip an opponent with the hand, arm, leg or foot.
- To deliberately collide with an opponent after he has played the ball away or for the purpose of taking him out of the movement of play.
- To remonstrate in an aggressive manner to match officials.
- To threaten or to use abusive or provocative language or gestures to an opponent or teammate.
Types of GAA Sports & Rules
Gaelic Football Sports
Gaelic Football is without doubt the most popular of the Gaelic sports. The game is played on a rectangular grass pitch with H-shaped goals at each end, just like rugby. Our game is known to be one of the most thrilling on the planet – bringing speed, accuracy, precision, intensity and a high octane vibe. It is played with a specialised round firm leather ball made by O’Neills. Both hands and both feet are used to control and pass the ball around the park.
There are 15 players on each team, with one referee and side officials on the touchline. The primary objective is to amass the greatest amount of points possible. If the ball is sent over the crossbar of the goals, this will equate to a single point. If the ball goes under the bar, this is known as a goal and it equates to three points. Whoever has the highest score at the end of the match will be the winner.
Gaelic Football rules
The football can be carried in the hand for a maximum distance of four steps and can be kicked or hand-passed, which is a striking motion with the palm of the hand or the fist. Once the four steps have been completed, the ball must be either bounced or solo-ed.
Soloing is an action where the ball is dropped onto the foot and kicked back up into the hand. The ball cannot be bounced twice in a row. In order to contest or challenge for the ball from an opposing player, you may do so by going for it with the hand or with your shoulder by contacting an opponent side-to-side with shoulders only. These are the facts about Gaelic football.
GAA Hurling Sports
Hurling is known to be one of the most electric and fast-paced sports not only in Ireland but also the world. It is a stick sport played on a grass field, the exact same field that Gaelic Football is played on. Two teams of 15 players go head to head in two 35 minute halves. The idea behind the game is to move the ball up the field to score again either a point or a goal through the H-shaped goals.
If the ball hits the back of the net for a goal, it is worth three points and if it goes between the posts and over the crossbar it is one point. The correct term for the stick is a hurley, which is long and made from the ash tree with a flat, wide base to strike the ball and balance the with when soloing. The correct term for the ball is a sliotar. It is made from hard stitched leather, similar to an American baseball.
Hurling rules?
The sliotar cannot be picked straight up off the ground directly with the hand. You must use the hurley to roll, jab, lift or flick the sliotar into your possession. The sliotar may be caught while in the air or bouncing along the ground, but can be transferred to the hand two times maximum. When the sliotar hits the ground, the count is reset to zero again.
The sliotar can be hit with the hurley on the ground or in the air, but it can also be kicked or hand passed, using just a single hand for that movement. You may not throw the sliotar. After four consecutive steps, you must make use of the sliotar. The sliotar can be balanced on the hurley for an unlimited time. You can not challenge an opponent while the sliotar is not present, and you may not grab or hold another opponent’s hurley. A fair shoulder to shoulder challenge is permitted.
Top GAA betting events for Irish players
The GAA is far from one dimensional and people of all ages and backgrounds get involved. There is something for everyone in the GAA and below we have highlighted the biggest tournaments in the GAA calendar across Ireland every year.
All-Ireland Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship is the pinnacle of the sport of Gaelic Football where 33 teams do battle to win the coveted Sam Maguire Cup every year. You might be wondering how there are 33 teams when there are just 32 counties in Ireland? County Kilkenny doesn’t field a football team in the championship every year, but New York and London are also represented in the championship which brings the number to 33. The most successful team in history is Kerry but the Dublin Gaelic Football team won six titles in a row between 2015 and 2020.
All-Ireland Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship is the pinnacle event in this sport and has been contested every year bar one time since 1887. As hurling is a more specialised sport, only 17 counties do battle every year to try and win the coveted Liam McCarthy Cup. Kilkenny, nicknamed The Cats, are by far the most successful county in the competition. Although they are a very small county, as previously mentioned they don’t have a proper Gaelic football team but instead all of their focus and attention goes into the sport of hurling from a young age and that breeds success.
Provincial Championships
The country of Ireland is divided up into four different provinces, not only geographically but also for GAA competitions too. The winner and runner-up from each province in general move on to the All-Ireland phase of the competitions. Connacht, Munster, Ulster and Leinster are the four provinces in question.
There is no Connacht Championship for hurling and as Galway are the only big hurling county in Connacht, they play in the Leinster Championship. The hurling structure is far more complicated than Gaelic football and even Antrim who are the only big hurling county in Ulster need to qualify for the All-Ireland phase via the Joe McDonagh Cup.
National Leagues
In January of every year, the National Leagues start and they are essentially a warm-up competition for counties to build fitness for the All-Ireland championships. This is a good time to give fringe players a chance to prove their worth. There are four divisions in the National Football League and five divisions in the National Hurling League. With relegation and promotion in each division every year, the smaller county teams tend to take it more seriously and it can be very fun to bet on as there are many shocks.
Club Championships
We have talked about the inter-county GAA scene but the Club Championships are the real heartbeat of the sport. Each county will have a squad of players made up from their entire county but the best players from each parish form a club team and there are over 2,000 clubs in Ireland. The objective is to win your local county championship every year, and if you do so you will then qualify for the provincial club championship before moving onto the All-Ireland club championship if you are successful in that. Betting on club championships is readily available across the island with several bookmakers.
All-Ireland Camogie Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship is the female equivalent pinnacle competition for inter-county teams. Named the O’Duffy Cup, eight counties do battle every year to try and win the coveted prize and Cork are the most successful team in its history.
All-Ireland Ladies’ Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Ladies’ Football Championship is the pinnacle of Gaelic Football for women in Ireland and every county does battle to try and win the coveted Brendan Martin Cup. Kerry and Cork are the most successful teams in the land.
Tailteann Cup
The Tailteann Cup is the second tier of the Gaelic football pyramid and it was formed in 2022 in order to give the smaller or weaker counties in the country a “B” format so that they have a chance to prolong their season and also have a chance to win a trophy. It has been a resounding success already and it is here to stay.
Joe McDonagh Cup
The Joe McDonagh Cup is another second tier competition but this time it is for the sport of hurling. It forms the secondary competition for the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship and teams who simply aren’t good enough to compete for the Liam McCarthy Cup do battle in this event.
FAQ
-
When are the biggest GAA tournaments on?
-
Where can you watch GAA?
-
Is betting on GAA simple?
-
What bookmaker is best for GAA betting?