The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has launched a national campaign aimed at helping parents and guardians spot and address underage gambling. Announced on Monday, the initiative features newly created online guidance developed in collaboration with the Health Service Executive (HSE) Addiction Services, alongside a multimedia public awareness campaign.
This campaign will be promoted through video-on-demand services, radio, digital audio platforms, and social media channels. The GRAI explained that the materials are designed to provide families with essential knowledge to detect early warning signs of gambling behavior, offer advice on engaging in candid discussions about the risks associated with gambling, and guide parents towards available support resources, should they need to intervene.
The campaign was informed by research commissioned from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), revealing a concerning link between early gambling habits and future problems. The study found that children who engage in gambling activities are twice as likely to face gambling-related issues as adults. Among adults surveyed, 64% reported having gambled prior to turning 18, with a stark increase of 83% to 87% in the risk of developing a gambling problem later in life for those who bet as minors.
Additionally, individuals with a parent who gambled were found to be 80% more likely to experience their own gambling problems. This trend was corroborated by the Gambling Commission, which indicated that nearly one in eleven adults in the UK suffered harm due to someone else's gambling in 2024.
The ESRI research also noted that young individuals, with their developing brains and immature impulse-control systems, are particularly susceptible to factors that enhance the allure of gambling. Anne Marie Caulfield, the GRAI's CEO, highlighted the critical role of early parental involvement in safeguarding children. "Children and young people are among the most at-risk members of Irish society when it comes to gambling exposure and harm,” she stated. She added, “With online gambling available at any time of the day, it is easy for the warning signs to be hidden."
The GRAI's guidelines stress the importance of starting early and having age-appropriate conversations about gambling. They also emphasize less recognized forms of gambling, such as loot boxes and randomly rewarded mechanisms within popular video games. Parents are urged to observe shifts in their children's behavior, including mood fluctuations and increased secrecy regarding finances.
This initiative aligns with broader efforts to enhance protections for minors under the proposed 2024 Gambling Regulation Act. Currently pending full enactment, the legislation introduces some of the strictest penalties in the European Union for allowing underage gambling. The GRAI was established last year to support the rollout of this legislation, which grants regulators expanded enforcement powers and imposes significant responsibilities on the gambling industry for age verification, advertising restrictions, and product design to safeguard children.
Ireland is not the only country addressing this issue; Norway recently unveiled a four-year action plan to combat underage gambling, focusing on outreach within schools and clubs as well as digital campaigns geared towards adults. The plan includes tools and training for parents, educators, coaches, healthcare providers, and others to help spot early warning signs of gambling-related harms.
For additional help, the GRAI has referred parents and guardians to the HSE Addiction Services. As awareness of gambling harms increases, there is an expectation that demand for consumer protection and treatment services will rise as more individuals seek referrals.
Ireland recently updated its online gambling regulations through the Gambling Regulation Act of 2024. This new legislation empowers the GRAI with regulatory authority, including the licensing of operators and enforcing protective restrictions throughout the gaming industry. When addressing its licensing process in March, the GRAI indicated that it is adopting a careful, phased approach, stating, "Applications opened on Monday 9 February 2026 in respect of betting licences." They emphasized the thorough requirements operators must meet before approval can be granted.
