Dublin’s casino scene is compact, city-centre focused and very different from Las Vegas-style resort gaming. For visitors, the most useful approach is to choose a venue by game type, location and opening hours rather than looking for one “best” casino.
Quick answer: which Dublin casino should you choose?
- For live tables and poker: The Sporting Emporium, just off Grafton Street.
- For poker and a broad mix of games: D1 Club on Lower Dorset Street.
- For slots and electronic roulette in Dublin South: Jesters on Aungier Street.
- For casual electronic gaming near O’Connell Street: Playland on Talbot Street.
- For another central option: Carlton Casino on Upper O’Connell Street; confirm current hours and game schedules directly before travelling.
Last checked: 11 August 2026. Opening hours, table schedules and entry policies can change, so confirm time-sensitive details directly with the venue before visiting.
Dublin casinos at a glance
There is no single public register that currently gives a simple, definitive count of every operating casino-style gaming club in Dublin. Ireland’s gambling regulation is in transition, and casino games and gaming machines are not yet part of the first phase of the new Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland licensing rollout.
For travellers, that makes a verified venue list more useful than repeating an uncertain city-wide number. The establishments below have current official websites or recent evidence of operation that could be checked in August 2026.
| Venue | Area | Useful for | Dress / entry | Opening information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Sporting Emporium | Anne’s Lane, Dublin 2 | Live tables, poker | 18+; photo ID required on first visit | Open daily from 8pm |
| D1 Club | 63 Lower Dorset Street, Dublin 1 | Poker, blackjack, roulette, Punto Banco, slots | Free membership; government photo ID; smart casual | Check directly before visiting |
| Jesters Dublin South | 78 Aungier Street, Dublin 2 | Slots, auto roulette | 18+; valid photo ID; smart casual | Open 7am till late |
| Playland Casino | 8/9 Talbot Street, Dublin 1 | Slots, roulette, casual gaming | 18+; instant membership; smart casual | 10:00–00:30 Sun–Thu; 10:00–01:00 Fri–Sat |
| Carlton Casino | Upper O’Connell Street, Dublin 1 | Central casino option | 18+ | Confirm directly before visiting |
Best casinos in Dublin by type of visit
Best for live tables and poker: The Sporting Emporium
The Sporting Emporium is one of the clearest choices for visitors specifically looking for live casino tables and poker in Dublin city centre. It is located on Anne’s Lane, just off South Anne Street and close to Grafton Street. The venue’s official site states that it opens daily from 8pm and requires first-time visitors to be 18 or over and present photo ID.
Its current poker activity is easy to verify: the venue publishes cash-game and league information on its own website. If poker is the main reason for your visit, check the casino’s current schedule before setting out, as cash games, leagues and tournaments do not necessarily run on the same timetable every night.
Best for poker and game variety: D1 Club
D1 Club is at 63 Lower Dorset Street. Its official membership and rules pages confirm free membership, government-issued photo ID, an 18+ age requirement and a smart-casual dress code.
The club’s current sign-up material lists blackjack, roulette, Punto Banco, dice, cash poker, tournament poker, slot machines and electronic roulette among the games visitors can express an interest in. That makes D1 one of the more relevant Dublin options for travellers who want a mixture of poker and casino games.
Important: do not rely on old claims that D1 is a 24-hour casino. We could not verify a current 24/7 schedule on the venue’s official pages in August 2026. Check the club directly for same-day opening and live-table times.
Best for slots and electronic roulette: Jesters Dublin South
Jesters operates several Irish venues. Its Dublin South location is at 78 Aungier Street in Dublin 2. The official venue page describes three floors focused on slots and auto roulette and currently states “Open 7am till Late”.
Jesters also publishes clear visitor guidance: guests must be 18 or over, valid photo ID may be requested, and the group describes its dress code as smart casual, asking visitors to avoid sportswear, football colours and overly casual clothing.
Best for a casual city-centre stop: Playland Casino
Playland is at 8/9 Talbot Street, just off O’Connell Street. Its official site focuses on slots and roulette and publishes unusually clear practical information for visitors.
As of August 2026, Playland lists opening hours of 10:00 to 00:30 from Sunday to Thursday and 10:00 to 01:00 on Friday and Saturday. It operates as a private members club: first-time visitors are asked to bring proof of identity, membership is described as instant, and guests must be over 18.
The published dress code is smart casual with closed footwear; shorts and sportswear are not permitted, while a jacket and tie are not required.
Another central option: Carlton Casino
Carlton Entertainment Group currently operates a casino-branded website describing casino entertainment in the heart of Dublin and an 18+ entry requirement. Carlton Casino is associated with Upper O’Connell Street, making it a convenient option for visitors staying around the north city centre.
Because its current official public pages provide less practical detail than the venues above, confirm opening hours, live-table availability and entry requirements directly before making a special journey.
Casinos in Dublin city centre
If location matters more than a particular game, several of the better-documented venues are easy to combine with a central Dublin itinerary:
- The Sporting Emporium: close to Grafton Street, St Stephen’s Green and Dawson Street.
- Jesters Dublin South: on Aungier Street, within walking distance of the south city centre.
- Playland: on Talbot Street, close to O’Connell Street and Connolly Station.
- Carlton Casino: on Upper O’Connell Street.
- D1 Club: further north on Lower Dorset Street but still accessible from central Dublin.
If you are planning the evening around food or a pint first, see our guide to pubs near Dublin casinos.
Where to play poker, blackjack and roulette in Dublin
Poker
The Sporting Emporium and D1 Club are the two venues on this list with clearly documented current poker activity. The Sporting Emporium publishes current cash-game league information, while D1 maintains detailed poker rules and references both cash and tournament poker in its membership material.
Always check the day’s schedule before travelling specifically for poker. A venue may be open while a particular cash game or tournament is not running.
Blackjack and other live table games
D1’s official registration material lists blackjack, roulette, Punto Banco and dice. The Sporting Emporium also operates live casino gaming alongside its poker offer. For exact table availability and minimum stakes, contact the venue directly rather than relying on old third-party listings.
Slots and electronic roulette
Jesters Dublin South and Playland are the clearest options in this guide for visitors interested primarily in slots and electronic or automated roulette. Both venues describe those products directly on their current official websites.
ID, membership and dress code
Do not assume that every Dublin venue uses exactly the same admission policy. The safest approach for an international visitor is to carry an original, valid government-issued photo ID and check the individual venue before travelling.
- The Sporting Emporium: 18+ and photo ID required for first-time visits.
- D1 Club: free membership, government-issued picture ID, 18+, smart casual.
- Jesters: 18+, valid photo ID, smart casual.
- Playland: 18+, proof of identity on first visit, instant membership, smart casual, closed footwear, no shorts or sportswear.
Policies can change and staff retain discretion over admission. If you are unsure, smart casual is the safest default.
Are casinos legal in Ireland in 2026?
Ireland’s gambling law is currently moving from its older framework to the system created by the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 and the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI).
The rollout is phased. GRAI licences for remote betting and betting intermediaries began on 1 July 2026. The regulator states that casino games, slot machines and other gaming activities are to be licensed later, with further gaming licence categories scheduled to open during 2027 and 2028.
That means it is no longer accurate to describe modernised gambling legislation as something merely “expected”. The new regulatory system exists and is being introduced in stages, while parts of the legacy framework continue to apply during the transition.
For the wider legal context, read our guide to Ireland’s gambling regulation and the GRAI.
Opening hours: check before you go
Opening hours are one of the fastest-changing details on casino pages. The official information we could verify on 11 August 2026 was:
- The Sporting Emporium: open daily from 8pm.
- Jesters Dublin South: open 7am till late.
- Playland: 10:00–00:30 Sunday to Thursday; 10:00–01:00 Friday and Saturday.
- D1 Club: check directly for current hours.
- Carlton Casino: check directly for current hours.
Holiday hours and live-table schedules may differ from general venue opening hours.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best casino in Dublin?
There is no single best venue for every visitor. The Sporting Emporium is the strongest starting point for live tables and poker in the south city centre; D1 is useful for poker and a broad mix of games; Jesters Dublin South and Playland are better suited to visitors focused on slots and electronic roulette.
Are there casinos in Dublin city centre?
Yes. The Sporting Emporium, Playland, Jesters Dublin South and Carlton Casino are all in or close to central Dublin. D1 Club is on Lower Dorset Street, north of the core shopping and tourist district.
Which Dublin casino is open 24 hours?
We could not verify a current 24-hour Dublin casino schedule from official venue information in August 2026. Older pages may still describe D1 Club as 24/7, but travellers should confirm current hours directly rather than planning around that claim.
Do Dublin casinos have poker?
Yes. The Sporting Emporium currently publishes poker cash-game information, and D1 Club’s official material includes both cash poker and tournament poker. Check the specific day’s schedule before visiting.
What is the dress code for Dublin casinos?
Smart casual is the safest default. D1 and Jesters explicitly use smart-casual policies. Playland specifies smart casual, closed footwear, no shorts and no sportswear. Check directly with other venues if dress is a concern.
Do I need ID to enter a Dublin casino?
Yes, you should carry valid government-issued photo ID. The venues above publish age and/or identity checks, and first-time visitors may also need to complete membership registration.
Is gambling legal in Ireland?
Gambling is regulated in Ireland, but the legal framework is in transition. The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 established the GRAI, and the new licensing regime is being rolled out in phases. Casino games and gaming machines are due to enter the new licensing system later than remote betting.
The Final Word
Dublin does not need dozens of casino venues to make a gaming-focused city break work. The useful choices are relatively compact: live tables and poker around The Sporting Emporium and D1, electronic gaming at Jesters and Playland, and additional central options such as Carlton.
The most important practical rule is simple: verify the venue on the day you plan to visit. Opening hours, live-table schedules, membership procedures and game availability can change faster than a travel guide can be updated.
Sources and last verification
Venue and regulatory information last checked: 11 August 2026.
- Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland — licensing rollout
- GRAI — commencement of remote betting licences, 1 July 2026
