Is it better to use a mirror site or another foreign bookmaker?

What is a mirror site?

A mirror site is, as its name suggests, a site created to resemble another site in every way. That’s the name given to a second version of a site which foreign bookmakers have had to create, with a URL ending in .ie rather than .com version, in order to receive a licence or authorization in a particular country. For example, Betfair.xx is the mirror site of Betfair.com. There are very few differences between the two, apart from the fact that one is just for players in Ireland while the other is accessible by everybody…except your players from Ireland.

There are some other differences too : on the licensed version in Ireland the odds are lower, the tipsters are less reliable and Asian handicaps are prohibited which means you’ll have fewer betting possibilities. Gamblers will be forced to pay heavy taxes that don’t exist on Betfair.com or Pinnacle.com, the bonuses won’t be as appealing and you’ll have access to fewer games. In short, boycott them!

Why all these differences, you may wonder ? Well, quite simply its because these are precisely the things that the government considers dangerous. But are they really? It should be understood that when the government speaks of danger they are referring, first and foremost, to players. It’s not because speed is dangerous that the state attempts to lower speed limits more and more every year, but rather for the public’s protection, because speed in itself is not dangerous, it doesn’t cause accidents: it’s foolish drivers who cause accidents. It’s not alcohol that kills but rather drinking too much of it.

View from Unibet on the Major League on a local version.

The same is true for Unibet.com : odds are a minimum 10% higher. This operator does not yet have a reputation for delivering the best odds.

Why do gambling authorities limit sports betting?

The same principle operates with anything that is suppressed by the law. Similarly, under the pretext of fighting against gambling addiction which affects some of your fellow citizens, the government uses this fact to limit everyone’s use, for your protection. Consequently, it’s at your own risk and peril that you wager with international bookmakers: remember that since they are free of overly-restrictive regulation (but they are regulated by other authorities), they’ll do all they can to get you to keep playing because that’s also the best way for them to make more money.

As a matter of fact, some bonuses are prohibited here for example because they create unfair competition; but that’s usually what interests players the most. Be sure however, despite how good it appears, to always carefully read the terms and conditions of whichever bonus you choose to prevent falling victim to a real scam. But once you begin keeping your guard up, with all due respect to local regulating authorities, things can only go smoothly. The only purpose of regulation is to discourage you from gambling on these sites, and it works. The most naïve general audience of players don’t give this issue any consideration and so they continue, and will always continue, to gamble on sites with the easiest access.

But for players who want to win more and be able to gamble on foreign sites, there’s no doubt that you’re not risking much. Certainly, gambling with foreign bookmakers will prove a bit more of a challenge because you’ll have to get a VPN, Skrill or Neteller account and use a broker. If that seems daunting, keep playing with the bookmakers in Ireland and you won’t have any worries. But if you feel ready, then don’t hesitate any longer and increase your winnings right now!