New Feature
Ireland’s Allied Irish Bank, one of the biggest banks in the country, has announced a voluntary feature will be introduced to accounts that will allow customers to block all gambling activities on both their credit and debit cards.
A Positive Step
The news has been welcomed by those within the industry as Ireland looks to address problem gambling. The service has been launched in collaboration with Gamblingcare.ie, one of the leading gambling care providers in Ireland.
It will give those suffering from gambling addiction a chance to control their usage. It is also being made available through the EBS Bank, which is owned and operated by the Allied Irish Bank.
This is not the first banking provider to take the step in Ireland, with Revolut banning all transactions to gambling sites in 2022. However, this option does provide customers with the option to restrict themselves, as opposed to it being imposed upon them.
Additional Support
Gambling addiction in Ireland is becoming a big problem, with The Rutland Support Centre revealing that around 20% of its admissions in 2023 were as a result of gambling addiction. The Irish market remains largely unregulated compared to neighbouring countries, which allows for predatory practices from unlicensed operators.
AIB has addressed this problem, stating that financial services in the country need to do more to help problem gambling. As such, the company is also providing links to additional resources and providing extra care for customers who might be affected.
In a statement about the new feature, AIB Managing Director of Retail Banking, Geraldine Casey said: “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 AIB does what we can to help them stop the harm.
That is why we are putting in place additional supports for customers who wish to take steps to protect themselves from problem gambling.’’
