Responsible Gambling in Ireland

This page is for you if gambling has started to feel less like a choice and more like a pressure. It is also for you if you are watching someone else and wondering whether to say something.

You do not need a crisis to use any of the services below. They are for people who want to change something early, for people who are already losing sleep, and for family members who need support in their own right. The contact details sit high on the page so you can reach them quickly.

Where to get help

These services are free and confidential unless stated otherwise. Family members can ring them too.

• National Gambling Helpline 1800 936 725, free, confidential, 24 hours, 365 days a year, run by the Gambling Awareness Trust, gamblingcare.ie
• Extern Problem Gambling problemgambling.ie, 089 241 5401, free specialist counselling, the Stop Gambling app, and the Women’s Gambling Support Network
• Gamblers Anonymous Ireland gamblersanonymous.ie. Dublin 01 872 1133, Cork 087 285 9552, Galway 086 349 4450, Tipperary 085 783 1045, Kerry 087 114 1003, Waterford 089 400 9638
• HSE addiction services hse.ie
• Family Addiction Support Network fasn.ie, 042 935 5251
• Samaritans 116 123, 24 hours
• MABS for money and debt
• GRAI help page grai.ie/gambling-safety/get-support/get-help

Signs worth taking seriously

A checklist cannot tell anyone whether gambling is a problem. It can name the patterns that people often describe when they look back. None of these signs means something on its own.

• You borrow money to keep playing, or to cover what has already gone.
• Sessions run much longer than you planned at the start.
• You have started hiding how much time or money goes on it.
• A losing session is followed by an urge to win the money back quickly.
• You open the app to change how you feel rather than for entertainment.
• Money or time that used to go to other parts of life now goes missing.

What makes online gambling harder to stop

An online casino is available at any hour. There is no closing time, no walk to the exit and no staff member calling last orders. The only break in the session is the one you impose.

A balance on a screen does not feel like notes in a pocket. Money becomes a number that rises and falls, and a deposit of 50 euro can start to feel like points rather than cash.

Many games are designed around speed. The next round starts immediately, so a decision to stop has to be made over and over. Near misses look close to a win, and a payout smaller than the stake can still be presented as a win.

None of this is secret. It follows from how the product is built, and it explains why a person can spend more time and money than they set out to spend.

The number people underestimate

A player who deposits 50 euro, wins a few small payouts, and keeps betting 2 euro a spin can stake 200 or 300 euro before the balance is gone. The original deposit was still only 50 euro.

That gap is turnover. Bank and payment statements show deposits, so a person can look at a monthly total of 200 euro and miss the hundreds of euro of stakes behind it. The deposit figure is the start, not the whole picture.

Tools you can use today

The tools below sit inside most licensed online accounts. They work best when you set them in a calm moment, before a session starts. A tool makes a limit binding, where an intention only lasts until the next spin.

1. Open the safer gambling settings

   Find the responsible gambling or safer gambling page inside your account. Most operators put it in the menu or under account settings.

2. Set deposit and loss limits

   Choose a daily, weekly or monthly deposit cap first. Then set a loss limit so a bad run stops before the balance falls further.

3. Set a time limit and reality check

   Decide how long a session can run. A reality check pops up with elapsed time and spend at set intervals.

4. Use cooling-off for a fixed break

   Cooling-off blocks play for a short period, often from 24 hours up to six weeks, while you step back.

5. Ask for closure if you want the account gone

   Operators must close your account on request. Ask for permanent closure and confirmation in writing.

• Deposit limit A cap on how much you can add in a day, week or month.
• Loss limit A cap on how much the balance can fall before play stops.
• Time limit A cap on how long a session can run.
• Reality check A pop-up that shows elapsed time and spend at intervals.
• Cooling-off A short block, often 24 hours to six weeks, while you step back.
• Account closure Operators must close your account on request.

Setting a limit does not close the account. It puts a brake on the next deposit or session.

Self-exclusion in Ireland right now

There is no single national self-exclusion scheme you can join in Ireland today. The National Gambling Exclusion Register is set out in the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, but the register has not commenced. Until it starts, exclusion is per operator. You can read the wider framework in our guide to gambling regulations in Ireland.

To exclude, go to each account you hold and use its self-exclusion tool. Ask for permanent closure instead of a cooling-off period, because a temporary setting leaves the door open for a return in weeks. Ask for written confirmation that the account is closed.

Some operators that also serve Britain use GAMSTOP. GAMSTOP covers British-licensed operators, and it does not cover Irish-licensed betting. If an account is licensed in Ireland, you still have to exclude with that operator directly.

Blocking gambling sites and payments

Start with the payment layer. A bank or app-based gambling block stops the transaction no matter which website is open, and several banks include a delay before the block can be switched off. Revolut and Monzo both offer one, and you should check whether your own bank does too.

Next, put controls on the device you use most. Ask someone you trust to hold the passcode, because a restriction that depends on willpower alone is weaker in the moment.

A network or DNS filter can block gambling domains for every device in a home, which helps when more than one phone or laptop is involved.

Dedicated blocking software can add another layer. The features that matter are wide device coverage, difficult uninstallation and a delay on removal. None of these measures closes an account, so you still need to ask the operator for closure. A block buys time, and time is the point.

Money and debt

Money and debt problems can sit underneath gambling. MABS, the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, gives free and confidential help with debts. Debt is a solvable problem, and it is easier to face with someone who sees the full picture.

This page does not give advice on specific debts, because every situation is different. The useful step is to call or message MABS and ask for an appointment.

If you are worried about someone else

You may be reading this because someone close to you is gambling more than they seem to realise. The same services above take calls from family members, and the Family Addiction Support Network supports families in their own right.

You cannot change another adult’s gambling. You can make support available and keep your own boundaries clear.

Under-18s

Gambling in Ireland is for people aged 18 and over. Licensees have to verify age. The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 restricts advertising aimed at children and bars broadcast and streaming gambling advertising between 05:30 and 21:00.

Loot boxes, in-game cases and social casino apps share mechanics with gambling. A young person often meets a paid random outcome there first. Their classification varies between jurisdictions, and Ireland has not settled a single position across every format. You can read more about social casino apps on our casino apps page.

Practical steps help. Turn on parental controls in app stores and payment settings. Remove saved card details from any shared device. Keep the conversation about odds and randomness rather than about blame.

If you are in crisis

If someone is thinking about suicide, contact emergency services or Samaritans on 116 123 now. Samaritans is free, 24 hours, and confidential.

This page is part of CasinoCraic’s legal and trust information. Our about us page explains who publishes the site, and our how we review page explains the transparency score.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a national self-exclusion register I can join today?

The National Gambling Exclusion Register is not yet available to join. It is provided for in the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 but has not commenced. Until it starts, self-exclusion has to be done separately with each operator.

Do I need a diagnosis or a big loss to call the helpline?

You can call the National Gambling Helpline if you are worried about any amount of gambling, whether it is your own or someone else’s. No diagnosis is required, and calls are confidential.

Can I still use a credit card for gambling?

Credit cards cannot be used for gambling in Ireland since 5 February 2026. That includes online gambling and in-person betting. Debit cards are unaffected.

Will blocking a gambling site close my casino account?

Blocking a site does not close an account. You still need to ask the operator to close the account, and you can ask for written confirmation. A block adds friction, and it is not the same as a closed account.

Are loot boxes regulated as gambling in Ireland?

Their classification varies between jurisdictions, and Ireland has not settled the matter for every format. They share mechanics with gambling, so the same caution applies to any paid random outcome.