Ireland’s Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRAI) has launched a nationwide awareness campaign aimed at helping parents and guardians recognise the warning signs of underage gambling, as the country continues to strengthen consumer protection under its new gambling regulatory framework.
Developed in partnership with the Health Service Executive (HSE) Addiction Services, the initiative combines online guidance with a multimedia public information campaign running across video-on-demand platforms, radio, digital audio services and social media. The campaign encourages families to identify early indicators of gambling-related harm, have open conversations with young people and seek professional support when necessary.
The regulator said the campaign is supported by research from Ireland’s Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), which found that people who gamble before turning 18 are around twice as likely to experience gambling problems later in life. The study also reported that 64% of surveyed adults had gambled while underage, while gambling as a minor increased the likelihood of developing future gambling-related problems by between 83% and 87%.
Researchers further found that individuals with a parent who gambled were approximately 80% more likely to develop gambling problems themselves, highlighting the influence of family environments and the importance of early prevention efforts.
As part of the campaign, parents are advised to watch for behavioural changes such as mood swings, unusual secrecy around money and increasing time spent on gambling-related activities. The guidance also highlights gambling-like mechanics in video games, including loot boxes and other randomised reward systems, which can expose children to risk-taking behaviour despite not being legally classified as gambling.
The initiative forms part of Ireland’s wider implementation of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, which established the GRAI and introduced stronger safeguards for minors. The legislation grants the regulator broad enforcement powers while placing stricter obligations on licensed operators, including enhanced age verification, advertising controls and consumer protection measures.
The GRAI has already begun rolling out its licensing programme on a phased basis, with remote betting licence applications opening earlier this year as Ireland transitions to its new regulatory regime. Future licensing phases will gradually extend to additional gambling sectors over the coming years.
Ireland’s campaign follows similar international efforts to reduce gambling harm among young people, reflecting growing concern among regulators that online gambling products and gaming features are making gambling increasingly accessible to children and teenagers.