Online gambling can be a dangerous place if you don’t control your spending and unfortunately problem gambling is a sad part of gambling that cannot be overlooked.

If you’re gambling online in Ireland, or if you are thinking about it, there are real tools, habits, and protections you can lean on to stay safe.

They’re not foolproof, nothing ever is in life really, but together, they shift things from a roll of the dice toward something more intentional.

Check Before You Bet: Licensing and Awareness

There are some checks that all players can make before they start gambling online on a casino.

First off they can check that the gambling business holds a licence, using a curated list of Irish online casinos you can also check that you can see their address, website domain names, trading names and current licence status.

You can also have a think about why you are gambling as the number one rule to always remember is gambling should not be used to improve personal finances — it is just done for fun — do not bet what you do not have.

A study published on the Gambling Regulatory Authority in Ireland website in 2023, showed that problem gamblers reported spending, on average, more than €1,000 per month on gambling.

This group accounted for 28% of total spending on gambling and showed that over 3 per cent of the Irish population classed themselves as having a problem when it came to gambling — so it is always worth knowing what you can do to avoid adding to that statistic before you head online and spend your money.

Using Tools and Support to Stay in Control

Advice such as taking timeouts from gambling allows you to have a break if you need it, also keep track of how much you are spending and how it is impacting your spending for the rest of the month.
You can also try to keep a clear mind so that you don't become overwhelmed and make sure that you are not becoming dependent on gambling.
If you choose to take a timeout, you can block yourself from gambling for up to six weeks as well which is an offer a lot of websites give you now.

It is not just the websites that are helping, though, but the banks in Ireland are as well.

On their website, the GRAI said back in July that: "The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland is pleased to learn that PTSB, one of Ireland's biggest retail banks has announced that they will now offer a digital voluntary block for customers who wish to stop card transactions involving gambling."

CEO of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, Anne Marie Caulfield added: ‘’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.’’

That block is one of a number that banks now use as The Gambling Regulator has had engagement with the Irish Banking Culture Board, Irish Banking and Payments Federation and individual banks here in Ireland to encourage as many banking groups as possible to try and implement this facility as a consumer protection measure for their customers suffering from gambling harm or wanting to take a break from gambling.
This means that Bank of Ireland now join AIB, EBS and Revolut in offering their customers this gambling blocking facility.

You can also try and avoid gambling sites if that is an option you want to look at. You can block companies on social media and you can block them on Google searches and mute their ads from appearing.

Making Smart Choices When Gambling Online

If you do want to gamble, and know you can do so safely, then it becomes about who to gamble with as much as anything.
First off: do your homework before signing up to any casino online. One of the best ways to spot trouble is from what other players say about their own experiences online. So look at forums, independent review sites, Reddit stories — have a quick look anywhere people talk about how casinos behave once money enters the mix.

You can also check each site out and see what offers they have, when those offers end and what spending limits are applied before you can access your money if you win on those offers. Do your research and make sure when it comes to spending your money you do so in the right way.

That includes how you deposit it in the first place. Stick to safer bets when it comes to getting your money in there and use debit card, bank transfer, or known e-wallets. In fact, Ireland is tightening rules: credit card gambling is being removed as an option for many platforms. (Some banks already refuse to process gambling via credit.) GRAI is also pushing payment transparency and stronger protections (so that gambling operators must clearly report how much players spend, gain, lose, and how much time is consumed).

All in all, the message is do not be afraid to gamble online, but when you do make sure you are taking away the risks.

Set limits with the bank, or use a bank that limits you themselves, set limits with the websites and only bet what you can afford. Do not go on there to try and make a living with the money you win, remember gambling is supposed to be for fun.

Also shop around when it comes to what casino you use, there are enough of them online. And if you need more help when it comes to what to look out for or what to avoid then use sites such as https://www.grai.ie/ for support.
If you do all that gambling can stay fun - and hopefully you can win a bit of cash along the way.