Gambling exercise amongst younger adults in Ireland has seen a pointy improve in early 2025, pushed partly by main sporting occasions. New knowledge from Bank of Ireland reveals that card spending on playing rose by 19% amongst people aged 18 to 25 within the first quarter of the 12 months, regardless of a slight total decline in gambling-related card funds throughout all age teams.
Bank of Ireland’s evaluation highlights that 90% of all playing transactions throughout this era had been performed on-line, with 99% of these funds made utilizing debit playing cards. Men accounted for almost all of betting exercise, inserting 71% of the overall bets. The counties displaying essentially the most notable will increase in playing embody Wicklow with a 37% rise, Kilkenny up by 24%, Limerick at 20%, and Laois with a 17% improve. These developments coincided with high-profile sporting occasions such because the Cheltenham Festival and the Six Nations rugby match, that are believed to have performed a big position in driving playing conduct.
In distinction, playing amongst people over the age of 65 noticed a marked decline, dropping by 8% over the identical time-frame.
Bank of Ireland Launches Card Blocking Feature
In mild of the regarding rise in betting, particularly amongst youthful demographics, Bank of Ireland has launched a brand new voluntary function that enables clients to block gambling-related transactions on their debit playing cards. This initiative permits each private and enterprise account holders to request a restriction that forestalls funds to any playing operators, together with these linked to on-line casinos, lottery websites, and slot machines.
According to the financial institution, this function is meant to assist monetary wellbeing and scale back the dangers related to drawback playing, which might have severe penalties for people and their households. “Problem gambling can have a devastating effect not just on the person involved, but also on families, friends and loved ones,” stated Áine McCleary, Chief Customer Officer at Bank of Ireland. “This initiative we are launching is designed to help customers take positive steps to improve control over their finances.”
The card block function is at the moment obtainable for debit playing cards, and the financial institution has confirmed will probably be prolonged to incorporate bank cards within the close to future. Customers based mostly within the Republic of Ireland can activate the function by calling 1818 200 423, whereas these in Northern Ireland can attain out through 0345 6016 157. Additional info can also be accessible by the financial institution’s web site at www.bankofireland.com/playing.
Advocates Applaud Initiative to Curb Gambling Harm
The transfer has been welcomed by GamblingCare.ie, which works to assist people affected by playing habit. Oisín McConville, representing the group, emphasised the significance of interventions like this in tackling the rising drawback amongst youthful audiences. “We can see from the latest gambling spend insights that betting amongst younger people is on the rise. To combat the scourge of problem gambling, a wide range of supports is essential to prevent the issue from becoming overwhelming for those impacted,” he stated.
He additional famous that the introduction of these card blocks marks “another step in the right direction” in defending susceptible clients and selling more healthy monetary conduct.
Bank of Ireland’s new function is an element of its broader ambition to boost the monetary well-being of its clients, significantly these going through tough circumstances. The lender has positioned this transfer not solely as a software for particular person management but additionally as a contribution to wider neighborhood assist efforts.
Source:
Bank of Ireland introduces voluntary gambling blocks, Bank of Ireland, May 2025.
