Despite stinging austerity measures imposed by the Irish government back in 2008, the business world has still managed to thrive over the last six years. Although times have certainly been tough for everyone looking to make a few euros, the facts speak for themselves when it comes to overall growth.
According to a statement by the Central Bank at the start of 2016, the Irish economy is expected to grow by 4.8% in 2016. While that figure is just a projection, it's certainly a sign that things are continuing to move in the right direction.
Irish Economy on the Up in 2016
In fact, the Central Bank's chief economist, Gabriel Fagan, is to be believed, then there will be much of the same in 2017, albeit at a slightly slower rate. Essentially, whichever way you look at it, the Irish economy is doing well in spite of what the man on the street might feel.
Naturally, there are many reasons the books are looking a little more balanced than they once were, but one of the major reasons is the gaming industry in Ireland. Ever since Atari pitched up in Tipperary in 1979, Ireland has had something of a love affair with the gaming industry.
When you browse the list of top 1,000 businesses in Ireland according to the Irish Times, high on the list is a number of gaming operators. From traditional market players such as Microsoft to those at the other end of the gaming spectrum and online casino companies, the Irish business world is awash with gaming brands of all shapes and sizes.
Indeed, whether you're into real-life simulators, arcade-style games or online casino options such as blackjack and roulette, you find it all when you trawl through the country's list of revenue makers and generators.
In fact, such is the prowess of Ireland's gaming sector that you can literally find a link back to the Emerald Isle wherever you look.
Ireland as a Gaming Hub
For example, if you're a fan of blackjack and slots you can get the lowdown on best virtual platforms courtesy of a review sites such as Casinosonline.ie and find a number of Irish operators listed in the country's Top 1,000 companies. Standing alongside the likes of EA, Activision and Microsoft in terms of global reach and stature, the online casino companies often reviewed by the likes of Casino Online have certainly helped the Irish economy to thrive in recent years.
While the presence of major brands is great from a PR perspective, it would all count for nothing if the companies weren't generating any money. Fortunately, Ireland's gaming companies are paying their way and, thanks to recent iGaming regulation, they'll be paying even more in the coming years.
According to estimates by the Gaming and Leisure Association of Ireland, online casino gaming in Ireland could be worth €7.5 billion and create 10,000 new jobs by 2020. When combined with the video game industry which is worth more than €3 billion currently and growing, it's easy to see why gaming is such an important industry for the Irish economy.
