Ireland's PTSB becomes the latest major bank to offer digital gambling blocks, with regulator GRAI praising the consumer protection initiative.
Apr 21, 2026 · 4 min read
Permanent TSB (PTSB), one of Ireland's biggest retail banks, has launched a new in-app gambling block feature that allows customers to voluntarily prevent card transactions involving gambling activities.
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) welcomed the announcement as a significant step forward in consumer protection measures designed to reduce gambling-related harm.
"We very much welcome PTSB's introduction of an in-app gambling block, this represents a proactive and valuable Consumer Protection measure helping to reduce the risk of gambling-related harms."
— Anne Marie Caulfield, CEO of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland
The initiative follows months of engagement between GRAI and key financial sector stakeholders, including the Irish Banking Culture Board, the Irish Banking and Payments Federation, and individual banking institutions. The regulator has been actively encouraging financial institutions to implement blocking facilities as protective measures for customers experiencing gambling harm or those seeking a break from gambling activities.
PTSB now joins an established group of Irish financial institutions offering gambling blocking facilities to their customers. Bank of Ireland, AIB, EBS, and Revolut already provide similar protective measures, creating a comprehensive network of banking-based gambling harm prevention tools across Ireland's financial sector.
The gambling regulator provides practical guidance on limiting gambling exposure through various methods, including bank blocking, gambling blocking software, and online advertising restrictions. These resources are available through GRAI's official website alongside information about operator-based exclusion systems.
How Banking Blocks Work
Gambling blocking features typically allow customers to set immediate or delayed activation periods, with cooling-off options ranging from 24 hours to permanent restrictions. Most banks require customers to visit a branch or call customer service to remove the block, creating a deliberate friction barrier that prevents impulsive gambling decisions during vulnerable moments.
Since GRAI's establishment in March, the authority has been developing the National Gambling Exclusion Register, designed to become operational following the commencement of the regulator's licensing function. The legislation mandates online operators to interact with this register once implemented.
GRAI continues working with industry stakeholders to expand protective initiatives and ensure comprehensive support systems for individuals requiring gambling harm assistance.
The expansion of banking-level gambling blocks represents a significant shift in Ireland's harm prevention landscape. With five major financial institutions now offering transaction blocking capabilities, operators face increased compliance considerations around customer protection measures. The development signals Ireland's commitment to comprehensive gambling regulation, with the pending National Gambling Exclusion Register likely to create additional operational requirements for licensed operators once the full regulatory framework becomes active.
According to GRAI.
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Written by
Olga MuntyanDirector of Project Management
Olga has been leading project management at We–Right™ Factory since 2020, coordinating multilingual content delivery for iGaming operators and affiliates. She manages timelines, team capacity, and cross-market workflows that keep large-scale content production on track. On iGamingWriter.blog, Olga writes about project coordination, content pipeline management, and operational efficiency in iGaming content teams.
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