Irish gambling regulator urges parents to be awake to dangers
Ireland’s gambling regulator has launched a nationwide campaign urging parents to speak with their children about the dangers of gambling, warning that young people are among the groups most vulnerable to gambling-related harm.
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), in partnership with the Health Service Executive (HSE) Addiction Services, has published new guidance for parents and guardians on recognising the warning signs of underage gambling and how to intervene before problems escalate.
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The campaign is being rolled out across video-on-demand services, radio, digital audio and social media, directing families to the GRAI’s website for practical advice on spotting gambling behaviours, starting conversations with children and accessing support services.
The regulator said the initiative comes as the lines between gaming, online entertainment and gambling continue to blur, exposing children to gambling-style mechanics from an increasingly young age.
Research commissioned by the GRAI and conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) found children who gamble are twice as likely to develop a gambling problem later in life than adults.
GRAI Chief Executive Anne Marie Caulfield said the campaign aims to encourage early conversations between parents and children before gambling behaviours become harmful.
“We have launched this campaign to help parents start an important conversation about the risks of underage gambling,” Caulfield said.
“Children and young people are among the most at-risk members of Irish society when it comes to gambling exposure and harm.
“With online gambling available at any time of the day, it is easy for the warning signs to be hidden.”
The guidance encourages parents to discuss gambling with children from an early age, explaining the risks in age-appropriate language and revisiting the topic as they grow older.
It also highlights that gambling exposure is no longer limited to sports betting sites, with loot boxes (popular in esports games) and other randomised in-game rewards capable of familiarising young people with wagering-style behaviour despite not being legally classified as gambling.
Parents are also encouraged to watch for warning signs including repeated requests for money, secrecy around spending, declining school performance, mood changes, withdrawal from family or friends, poor sleep and increased interest in gambling.
The campaign forms part of the implementation of Ireland’s Gambling Regulation Act 2024, which places child protection at the centre of the country’s new gambling framework.
Once fully commenced, the legislation will introduce some of the toughest penalties in the European Union for operators that allow children to participate in gambling activities.
