The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has launched a national campaign aimed at helping parents and guardians recognise the warning signs of underage gambling.
The guidance, developed in partnership with the Health Service Executive (HSE) Addiction Services, provides families with advice on how to identify gambling behaviours, start conversations with young people and access support when needed.
To support the guidance, GRAI has launched a public awareness campaign across video-on-demand services, radio, digital audio and social media platforms.
GRAI said the need for greater awareness has grown as the line between entertainment and gambling becomes increasingly blurred, particularly online.
Speaking about the risks of gambling among young people, GRAI CEO Anne Marie Caulfield stated: “We have launched this campaign to help parents start an important conversation about the risks of underage gambling. Children and young people are among the most at-risk members of Irish society when it comes to gambling exposure and harm.
“Children’s brains are still developing the judgement and impulse-control systems used to weigh up risk, which makes gambling appealing to them. With online gambling available at any time of the day, it is easy for the warning signs to be hidden. The guidance the GRAI developed with the HSE Addiction Services sets out some of the key behavioural signs to look out for in your child.”
Child protection is a key principle of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. Once the Act is fully commenced, Ireland will have among the heaviest penalties in the EU for allowing children to engage in gambling.
Earlier this month, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland began issuing its first remote betting licences under a new regulatory framework.
Online betting turnover in Ireland reached €1.2bn ($1.4bn) for Q1 2026, marking the first quarter to exceed the €1bn threshold
