Shanahan Calls on Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB to Follow AIB on Gambling Block
Independent TD for Waterford, Matt Shanahan, has welcomed the news that AIB has finally introduced a Gambling Block, which customers can now activate on their personal or business accounts as of 31 July 2024.
Deputy Shanahan has been raising the issue regularly in the Dáil, hoping that Ireland’s banks, notably the big three of Bank of Ireland, Permanent TSB, and AIB, will follow through on commitments made about the Gambling Blocks in 2019.
“A Gambling Block can be a very important tool that could save millions of euros each year for problem gamblers and their families,” Deputy Shanahan said. “Banks have been watching quietly from the sidelines for decades as problem gamblers blow their wages, mortgage payments, etc., on gambling, straight from their personal bank accounts. It’s about time they get off the sidelines and do something about it. Installing these blocks will allow problem gamblers to have an extra layer of protection at times when they feel most vulnerable. Revolut already has these blocks in place, and I’m delighted to see that AIB has followed suit. I’m now calling on the other major banks in Ireland to introduce these blocks as soon as possible.”
AIB customers can activate their gambling blocks by calling AIB Customer Service on 0818 227 056 (Monday to Friday, 9 am-5 pm). Once the gambling blocks are in place on the account, they can only be removed three working days from the day that they receive a removal request.