Best Casinos to Play Around Galway (IE)
Galway is one of Ireland’s most iconic cities and Ed Sheeran even released a song about it: Galway Girl. However, apart from being a bustling picturesque tourist hub, the city is also home to a handful of top-notch casino entertainment venues.Â
Whether you want to win life-changing amounts of money, take your partner or date for a night out, or have a ball with the wolfpack, there are reasons enough to visit one of Galway’s casino entertainment venues to have an unforgettable evening.Â
In this Best Casinos to Play Around Galway guide, we will discuss the pros, cons, and key takeaways from the 5 best casinos around Galway so that you can make a more informed decision on which casino to spend an evening out and play at.
Eglinton Casino & Card ClubÂ
Located right in the Eglinton Court in the middle of Galway city on Eglinton Street and founded in 2007, the Eglinton Casino & Card Club is one the most well-known poker clubs in the country. The club offers players access to all sorts of Poker (Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Stud) and other casino card games like Blackjack.Â
Apart from being a second home for seasoned card players, the Eglinton Casino & Card Club also features a wide variety of slot machines, video poker machines, and roulette games. Additionally, the venue hosts events like the Irish Poker Tour and the Galway Poker Festival.
To join the card club, one must pay a yearly membership fee. This gives the player access to all the perks the club has to offer, such as complimentary snacks, tea, coffee, and alcoholic beverages.Â
The Eglinton Casino & Card Club is open 24/7 and there is always at least one cash game or house game one can attend if enough seating is available.Â
Caesars Palace Casino
The Caesars Palace Casino in Galway is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It features games from Apex, EGT, Amatic Industries, R. Franco Digital, Novomatic, Ainsworth, and eGaming, ATM machines, smoking areas, and free Wi-Fi.Â
One of the most unique takeaways of Caesars Palace Casino in Galway is that it has a VIP program in place for its most loyal members, called Vantage Club Rewards.Â
Vantage Club membership benefits include free bets in Caesars Palace Casino venues and online, the opportunity to unlock fantastic rewards, free access to prize draws, and free participation in VIP jackpots.
Caesars Palace Casino is accessible online via Slotbox so that players never have to leave their houses to play their favorite slots and other casino games. Nothing beats playing games of chance from the comfort of your own home and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Caesars Palace Casino franchise decided to launch an online variant of their offline venues.
The land-based Caesars Palace Casino is located at 202 Upper Salthill Rd, Salthill, Co. Galway, and has a smart casual dress code in place.Â
4 Aces Casino
Based at 19 Dominick Street Upper Galway and open 7 days a week from 12 pm, the 4 Aces Casino offers its players countless slot machines, Blackjack, Roulette, and Poker games. The interior is spacious and elegant, has comfortable chairs, sofas, and lounges, and has a vibrant atmosphere.Â
From time to time, the 4 Aces Casino hosts poker tournaments where players can win significant prizes. Apart from just being a casino, 4 Aces is also a socializing hub. Visitors are free to dine in the in-house restaurant without gambling at all.
To enter 4 Aces Casino, one must be at least 18 years old, carry a valid photographic ID like a driver’s license or passport, and something that shows one’s current address. A recent utility bill or bank statement not older than three months will tick this box.Â
New patrons only have to bring their ID and proof of address documentation once. After they have filled in their mandatory membership registration form, they are considered a member and don’t have to bring additional documentation during subsequent visits.
As the name of the casino might suggest, its key focus is Poker, No Limit Texas Hold’em Poker, to be more precise. Every evening, cash leagues are played, and Mondays feature a guaranteed €1,000 prize pool.Â
A, perhaps overlooked addition to the 4 Aces Casino, is the in-house Grand Sports Bar. After all, a casino is as much about entertainment as it is about gambling. In the Sports Bar, patrons have the chance to eat, drink, socialize, make friends, and have a laugh.Â
As the menu changes regularly, we recommend checking the casino’s official website ahead of time to avoid unnecessary disappointments during your visit.Â
One of the most significant downsides of the 4 Aces Casino compared to the other casinos and gambling venues mentioned in this guide, is the fact that it has no active player rewards, loyalty, or VIP program.Â
Although the casino doesn’t have a reward program in place for loyal players, getting to the 4 Aces Club couldn’t be easier. It is basically located at the spot where the River Corrib starts to turn into the canal. It is close to the Galway Cathedral and on the opposite side of the river, one will see Jurys Inn and RóisÃn Dubh. Public transport is situated nearby, across the river, at the Domnick Street bus station.Â
Alternatively, one could choose to travel via Henry Street Station about a minute away from the club or the Galway Train Station, which is good for at least a fifteen-minute walk from the venue.Â
Seapoint Leisure
Located right at the Galway city promenade, Seapoint Leisure has been providing casino entertainment as a family business since 1949. It features a casino, kids entertainment area, and 940-seat bingo hall.Â
Seapoint Leisure is known for its excellent customer service and eye for detail. Additionally, players get lucky from time to time and win gigantic bingo and casino jackpots at the venue. Another key feature of Seapoint Leisure Casino is the fact that it has a free to apply for loyalty card available.
This loyalty card provides the bearer with benefits, such as safe contactless money transfer between slot machines, club points, access to member-only events, and complimentary food and beverages.
The staff at Seapoint Leisure Casino in Galway promotes responsible gambling. Additionally, it takes the privacy of its patrons in high regards and ensures that GDPR standards are met at all times.
Seapoint Leisure’s casino is modernly designed and is decked out with all the latest equipment. Players receive complimentary refreshments while they play and the air is completely changed out every ten minutes. Added to this, the casino conducts regular sanitising and features contactless cash out slot machines.
Seapoint Leisure’s bingo hall can seat well over 900 players and is the home of a daily bingo game that starts at 8pm sharp, with a 30 minute break. Door’s open at 6:50, and as the venue encourages early arrivals, those that buy tickets before 7:10 are allowed to participate in a free €110 90-ball bingo game.Â
The guaranteed prize pool of each bingo game is a staggering €3,100 per evening. Additionally, all players can participate in a €5,000 daily jackpot game. The amount of balls played in this jackpot game increases by 1 per month and has a minimum payout of €500 daily.
Added to this, there is the Flyer Game, which is won in 47 numbers or balls drawn. The prize pool for this bingo game starts at €1,000 and increases by €100 daily and €500 weekly if not won.
Kids and toddlers can have fun for hours in Seapoint Leisure’s Amusement Center, which features the latest drivers, shoot them ups, and other arcade games. Additionally, kids can play pool in the adjectant pool area, pinball machines, or try their luck at a myriad of teddy cranes.Â
In total, the Seapoint Leisure Amusement Center features over 100 games that reward players with tickets. These tickets can then be redeemed for prizes in the casino’s prize shop.Â
Claude’s Casino
Located at the Upper Salthill Road, Claude’s Casino offers players a wide range of slot machines, card, and table games. Seven days a week, from 9am to 1am, patrons are free to walk in and play a game of Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, or slots.
Claude’s Casino features a lively sports bar, where visitors can enjoy a drink or snack. However, it is not only this bar or the casino’s slot machines that draws both tourists and locals to the casino daily.Â
Apart from a wide range of slot machines and other games of chance, the venue provides a range of non-gambling related entertainment activities, such as simulated rally racing, shoot me ups, and other arcade games.Â
The Claude’s Casino staff is friendly, professional, and attentive. If you ever have a question or run into a problem whilst playing at the venue, you can simply address your situation and expect to be assisted in the most seamless way possible.
Online Gambling In Ireland
Apart from land-based casino venues, one can also visit one of the many Irish online casinos, bingo sites, book makers, and poker rooms. These gambling sites use the latest technologies and feature the newest game releases, which they cater to the masses.Â
Mobile gambling is the new standard as most online casinos are fully responsive, meaning that the text and buttons on the sites automatically adjust to the screen size of the mobile device of the user.Â
Added to this, most modern online casinos continue to develop their sites and apps by constantly adding games, adding payment methods like Bitcoin, Litecoin, and other cryptocurrencies, integrating VR, etc.Â
We recommend only playing at licensed and regulated online casinos so that you know beforehand that they will pay you out as they should and that their games on offer aren’t rigged in favor of the house.Â
You can compare the available games, bonuses, promotions, available payment methods, and more between different casinos using casino review, affiliate, and informative websites.
Some of the key advantages of online gambling versus offline gambling include:
- Open 24/7 – You don’t need to travel to the casino and are able to play from the comfort of your own home.
- Casino Bonuses – Online casinos shower both new and existing players with better bonuses and promotions compared to land-based casinos.
- Budget-friendly – Slots and other casino games featured in online casinos often have lower minimum betting levels than land-based games of chance.Â
- Wide Variety of Games – Online casinos tend to have a wider variety of casino games on offer compared to land-based casino venues.
Examples of drawbacks of online gambling include:
- Cashout Times – Cashing out your winnings at online casinos usually takes between 1 and 5 business days, which is significantly longer than the instant payments land-based casinos pay out within.Â
- Bonus Terms – Most online casinos offer casino bonuses to attract and retain their players. However, almost every online casino bonus comes with strict terms one must adhere to to be able to cash out the received bonus funds.Â
- No Personal Interaction – Playing at an online casino doesn’t come with the level of personal interaction one would enjoy when playing in a land-based casino.Â
The Best Casinos to Play Around Galway (IE) – Conclusion
Now that you know what the best casinos are to play around Galway, Ireland, the only thing that there is left to do is travel to one of the venues, hit the tables, and try your luck! We highly recommend setting a clear budget for yourself, partner, or group of friends, and sticking to it, drinking modestly, and following general casino etiquette to get the most out of your evening out at the casino.