Bank of Ireland Introduces Gambling Payment Block for Customers
Bank of Ireland has introduced a gambling transaction block for its customers, becoming the latest financial institution in Ireland to adopt harm-reduction tools. The move comes amid ongoing efforts by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) to coordinate with the banking sector on consumer protection measures and prepare the launch of a national exclusion register.
Regulator Engages Financial Sector on Gambling Harm
In recent months, the GRAI has engaged with the Irish Banking Culture Board, the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland, and individual banks to promote consumer protection mechanisms, particularly for individuals either experiencing gambling problems or seeking to self-exclude.
Bank of Ireland now joins AIB, EBS, and Revolut in offering gambling transaction blocks, a tool that allows customers to prevent their accounts from being used for gambling-related payments. According to the regulator, further banks are expected to implement similar functionality in the near future.
The GRAI has positioned gambling blocking as one of several strategies aimed at reducing exposure to gambling. Additional measures promoted by the regulator include software-based gambling blocks and reducing targeted advertising online. Detailed advice on these tools is available through the authority’s website.
In parallel, licensed gambling operators in Ireland are expected to provide their own self-exclusion systems, giving individuals further control over their gambling behaviour.
National Exclusion Register in Development
A central pillar of the regulator’s harm-reduction strategy is the upcoming National Gambling Exclusion Register. The GRAI, established earlier this year, is currently advancing the necessary IT infrastructure to support the register and ensure it becomes operational as soon as possible.
“The establishment of a National Gambling Exclusion Register is an important step forward in helping people experiencing gambling harm,” the authority said. It will be both founded and administered by the GRAI.
Once live, the register will require online gambling operators to integrate with the system as a condition of their licence, effectively formalising the exclusion process across the regulated market.