The Sporting Emporium

The company is backed by renowned entrepreneur Dermot Desmond, who’s the largest individual shareholder of Celtic Football Club and the ninth-richest person in Ireland. With a man like that behind the finances, and a prestigious address just off Grafton Street in the heart of Dublin city centre, it’s no surprise that they’ve grown from a simple concept to being Ireland’s biggest casino.

Today, if you stop by the Sporting Emporium, you’ll be able to enjoy three different casino gaming levels and play until 6AM on any night of the week. And if we still haven’t convinced you, just wait to see what else we have to tell you.

How it All Began

Dermot Desmond’s Vision for the Emporium

Let’s go back to 2005, when the Sporting Emporium casino Dublin first opened its doors. The first thing to note is that the whole thing wouldn’t have been possible without the Dermot Desmond backing, and indeed it’s the entrepreneur’s funds that ensured that the 2005 establishment was possible in the first place. 

Dermot and his team followed their luxury casino vision to its logical conclusion, establishing an iconic company that’s known for its high-end gaming experience and the fact that it’s splashed a ton of cash on state-of-the-art gaming technology. The two of these come together to create the kind of sophisticated gaming environment that you can’t even find in Vegas.

Part of that is due to Desmond’s business philosophy and his approach to Irish entrepreneurship, which is firmly rooted in Irish tradition. The Emporium isn’t just about making money; it’s about hospitality and welcoming people from all over the world to the Emerald Isle. 

How the Casino Has Grown

It didn’t take long for the Sporting Emporium to grow from a startup to watch into Dublin’s largest casino, establishing a solid reputation along the way and gaining industry recognition as Ireland’s premier gaming destination. And there’s a good reason for that.

Since its inception, the company has invested heavily in its gaming technology, expanding its offering so that it includes a ton of table games and a wide variety of slots. The goal is to make sure that there’s something for everyone, and that’s a goal that they’ve staked their professional reputation on.

It’s a strategy that’s clearly worked out for them, and the expansion of their gaming floors and the introduction of new technology have helped to build their reputation amongst Irish players and international clientele alike. It’s no surprise that they’ve become the recipients of some well-deserved industry recognition in the form of awards and other acknowledgements.

Where to Find the Emporium

If you want to pay a visit to the Sporting Emporium Dublin, you’ll want to head to the Anne’s Lane location at 5 Anne’s Lane, Anne Street South, Dublin 2. If you’re struggling to find it, remember that it’s known for its Grafton Street proximity and so you can always just head for Dublin city centre and make your way from there.

That’s because the Sporting Emporium Dublin is located smack bang in the middle of the city’s thriving shopping and business district. That means that as well as benefitting from the area’s lively and welcoming vibe, it’s also easy to get to, with great transportation links to many of the city’s main attractions including Trinity College, St. Stephen’s Green and Temple Bar.

This integration with Dublin’s cultural quarter, along with the area’s great parking and impressive transportation links, means that you can easily fit a visit to the Emporium into any schedule, whether you’re visiting the city on business or whether you’re there with family. It’s pretty clear that the Emporium’s location has played a key role in its success to date.

The Emporium’s Gaming Facilities

Live Gaming and Table Games

If you’re lucky enough to pay a visit to the Sporting Emporium, you’re not going to be disappointed by the amount of choice. There are a ton of live gaming options on offer, including all of the classic table games like Blackjack, Roulette, Brag, Punto Banco and Sic Bo.

Poker fans are in for even more of a treat, because the Emporium hosts tables for a bunch of different poker variants and prides itself on its professional dealers, who are a vital part of the luxurious environment that they aim to create.

The Emporium’s three levels and state-of-the-art equipment are one thing, but its ethics are quite another. Unlike many of their competitors, they make sure that they have appropriate minimum and maximum betting limits, and they also go out of their way to welcome beginners just as much as they welcome the more experienced players. When someone new comes through the door, they want to make sure that they keep coming back in the future.

Poker Room

If the Sporting Emporium Dublin is known for only one thing, that would have to be its 14-table poker room. This impressive claim to fame is one of the main reasons why people visit in the first place, although if you want to enjoy the tables yourself then you’ll need to head along from Thursday to Sunday, starting at 8:30 PM, which is when the poker room is open.

While there, you’ll be able to enjoy a range of cash games and tournaments, such as Texas Hold’em No Limit games with their own buy-in structures and rake systems. All of these aspects of the game are clearly outlined so that all players know what to expect before the game begins.

In fact, its commitment to high-stakes gaming is one of the reasons why players love the Emporium in the first place. They can enjoy a range of poker tournaments and cash games, with private rooms for those who are feeling flush (pun intended). 

Becoming a Member of the Sporting Emporium

If you want to become a member of the casino you’re not the only one. As you can imagine given everything we’ve talked about, there’s no shortage of people who want to become members.

If you want to enjoy the Emporium’s impressive range of VIP services and loyalty programs, you’ll need to become a member. Luckily, the membership requirements are fairly simple. First off, membership is only available to over-18s, and you’ll need photo ID such as a passport or driver’s license to prove that you are who you say you are. These will be required during your first visit.

When you visit the Sporting Emporium Casino Dublin, you’ll be expected to adhere to their dress code (which is smart casual) and to be respectful towards both employees and other players. In exchange, the Emporium promises a safe place to play which is powered by its dedication to responsible gaming, including support for first-time visitors and international guests.

Opening Hours

The Sporting Emporium is open every night of the week until 6am, with that 6am closing acting as a reminder to players that it’s time to head home and get some sleep. They know that they won’t have to wait for long until the tables open again, though. With extended hours and its commitment to opening seven nights a week, the company is able to accommodate people from all walks of life and with a variety of schedules and preferences.

You can expect a boisterous buzz during peak times in the late evenings and over the weekend, while there are quieter periods when they first open and during the wee hours of the morning. But it’s the late-night gaming that the Emporium is mostly known for and which distinguishes it from other venues. Simply put, there’s nothing quite like it anywhere else in the city. 

What Players Say

As we’ve seen throughout this article, the Sporting Emporium towers above the competition when it comes to what they have to offer, but is that backed up by the reviews? Well, the short answer is yes. In fact, if you look at customer testimonials for the Sporting Emporium Casino Dublin, you’ll see that the vast majority of them are positive.

In particular, the casino’s customers praise the professional service and refined atmosphere that they enjoy every time they pay the place a visit, two factors that its competitors are just unable to offer.

These high standards and great testimonials all help to make sure that the Sporting Emporium can maintain its reputation for being the best casino in the city. Why bother going anywhere else?