Gambling Blocks Now Available to Bank of Ireland Customers

This initiative is part of a broader effort led by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland to address gambling harm through practical and system-wide interventions.

This development follows sustained engagement between GRAI and various financial industry bodies, including the Irish Banking Culture Board and Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI). With this addition, Bank of Ireland joins the ranks of other financial institutions such as Allied Irish Banks (AIB) and modern banking brand Revolut in offering gambling transaction blocks to British customers.

The gambling block feature is designed to help individuals who want to take control of their gambling habits, whether due to gambling harm concerns or simply a personal decision to reduce exposure to gambling environments.

This banking measure complements the GRAI’s wider regulatory strategy, which includes the upcoming launch of a National Gambling Exclusion Register. The centralised register will enable individuals to self-exclude from all licensed gambling operators across Ireland, both online and in-person. While many operators currently offer self-exclusion options independently, the new register aims to unify and standardise the process under direct regulatory oversight.

The exclusion register will be administered by the GRAI and will become a mandatory integration point for all licensed online gambling operators in Ireland. Technical development for the system is already in progress.

Since the GRAI’s official launch in March 2025, the regulator has focused on building structural safeguards to reduce gambling-related harm. These include advocating for banking blocks, promoting gambling-blocking software, and encouraging the use of ad-filtering tools to reduce gambling exposure online.

The combination of financial self-exclusion tools and national regulation signals a significant shift in Ireland’s approach to gambling oversight. After years of people accusing the authorities of outdated legislation, these reforms mark a clear turn toward a more coordinated and proactive framework aimed at protecting vulnerable individuals.