SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Allied Irish Bank (AIB) has applied a ‘voluntary block’ on gambling transactions for customers of its debit and credit card services.
The voluntary block on gambling transactions has been made available to all 3.3 million AIB customer accounts and bank app users.
AIB, which operates as the Republic of Ireland’s largest retail bank, stated that the new controls would support vulnerable customers from harm and prevent families from facing financial risk.
This update sees AIB follow Ulster Bank, becoming the second Irish bank to impose a direct block on gambling transactions.
The block has been further applied to the financial services of EBS Ireland, the insurance and lending subsidiary of AIB.
The AIB gambling block feature is optional and can only be activated at the request of the customer. The block will be deployed across all customer accounts, including business services.
AIB customers requesting the gambling block can call the AIB Additional Support Helpline on 0818 227 056 from 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays, excluding bank holidays.
AIB Managing Director of Retail Banking, Geraldine Casey, stated: “We understand that when gambling becomes harmful, it can affect not just the person involved but also their families and friends. It can damage relationships, finances, employment, and mental health.”
“The financial services industry has a role to play in supporting customers as they combat any gambling difficulties they may have, and it’s important that AIB does what we can to help them stop the harm.”
“That is why we are putting in place additional support for customers who wish to take steps to protect themselves from problem gambling.”
However, in Ireland, frustrations continue to mount over whether the Gambling Regulation Bill (GRB) will be brought into law.
At the end of 2022, Ireland’s tri-coalition government agreed on the terms of the GRB to implement a new regulatory framework for gambling in the Republic, replacing the nearly century-old Betting Act of 1931.
The new framework was scheduled to be in effect by the end of 2023; however, the GRB has been under review by the Dáil (Irish Assembly) since July 2023, with the Bill stuck at the Committee stage of the Dáil.
Slow progress saw the GRB placed under an initial legislative review by the Seanad Éireann; however, the legislature has yet to provide a timetable for when it will complete all due diligence procedures for Ireland to launch its new gambling framework.
The legislative procedure is led by Fianna Fáil minister James Browne, who maintains that the GRB remains a priority for the government and its commitment to establishing a new Gambling Regulatory Authority.
