Bank of Ireland has introduced a new feature allowing customers to voluntarily block transactions with gambling operators from their accounts, a significant step taken without any legislative requirement to do so.
The voluntary restriction, which differs from existing 90-day statutory exclusion measures, can be implemented indefinitely on both personal and business accounts. Customers can now request that debit card transactions with registered gambling operators be blocked completely.
The initiative follows research conducted by the bank in early 2024, which revealed that 90% of gambling transactions occur online, with 99% of all bets funded through debit cards.
Chief Customer Officer Áine McCleary explained that the feature is part of the bank’s broader financial wellbeing strategy, designed to help customers gain better control over their finances.
Oisín McConville of GamblingCare.ie welcomed the move, describing it as an important component in the range of supports available to individuals struggling with problem gambling, helping prevent situations from becoming overwhelming.
While new gambling regulations in Ireland will eventually ban credit card use for gambling, prohibit daytime advertising, and establish a licensing authority for operators, The Journal has reported that there is currently no timeline for implementing these laws.
Bank of Ireland has also announced plans to introduce similar preventative measures for credit card transactions, which gambling addiction experts consider particularly dangerous as they often enable betting with money people cannot afford to lose.