PTSB Introduces 48-Hour Gambling Block Delay in App

Irish banks now offer voluntary gambling blocks that herd card payments based on merchant category codes, but the controls do not cover every transaction route and only reverse their effect after a set delay. The new function is introduced in the Permanent TSB (PTSB) App, and having decided a block, a customer must wait 48 hours before they can unblock their card from gambling.

The block goes out-of-play once a customer unclicks it in-app, but several major players offer the feature. GRAI has been working with the Irish Banking Culture Board, the Banking and Payments Federation and the banks to encourage all financial institutions in the Republic To offer gambling-blocking facilities. The Irish Banking Culture Board is active with its Commitment of Care for Problem Gambling with AIB, Bank of Ireland, and PTSB.

What a Gambling Block Is

A gambling block is a voluntary restriction that a bank places on its customers' cards. The function declines card payments to merchants identified as gambling operators. This is commonly done by flagging the payments as gambling transactions by Merchant Category Code. The bank's system correctly identifies the gambling merchants ensures the feature works as intended, but it does not decrease the willingness of a gambler to try to pay from another source.

The approval takes place on the customer's own account and can quickly be removed. Contrary to a general card block, the customer can continue with transactions as normal while the block is active. It, however, stops gambling transactions, depending on how the system categorizes the merchant.

PTSB's gambling block, which is available in the PTSB App, automatically blocks transactions on the bases of the merchant category code. The bank makes clear that only a manual decision by the customer can unblock the feature, regardless of the precautionary nature of the block.

Which Irish Banks Offer Gambling Blocks

Several major Irish financial institutions now offer gambling-block features. The providers confirmed to do so include:

• AIB
• Bank of Ireland
• Permanent TSB (PTSB)
• EBS
• Revolut

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has been actively engaging with the Irish Banking Culture Board and the Banking and Payments Federation to encourage all financial institutions in the Republic to offer gambling-blocking facilities. While AIB, Bank of Ireland, EBS, and PTSB have confirmed these features, the specific details of the value proposition, including company requirements, remain to be sort out.

Experts advise that customers wishing to set up or modify a gambling block should check with their respective bank for the most accurate and up-to-date information. Many banks, including AIB, Bank of Ireland, and PTSB, offer support and assistance through their websites, phone lines, and in-branch services.

How to Activate a Gambling Block

Customers can set up a gambling block through various channels, depending on their banking provider.

• For AIB, customers can request the block by calling 0818 227 056, from 9am to 5pm on weekdays, excluding bank holidays.
• Bank of Ireland customers in the Republic of Ireland can call 1818 200 423, while Northern Ireland customers can call 0345 6016 157.
• EBS customers can contact 0818 300 107, also from 9am to 5pm on weekdays.
• For Revolut, specific instructions on activating the gambling block are not confirmed in the source. Customers should consult with Revolut directly or refer to their app for details.

Additionally, PTSB customers can contact the Enhanced Customer Support team on 0818 818 721 or +353 1 655 0581 from abroad, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, excluding bank holidays.

The Delay in Deactivating a Gambling Block

One of the key features of the gambling block, as highlighted by PTSB, is the 48-hour delay before the card can be used for gambling transactions again after the block is manually removed. PTSB stresses that the block remains active until the customer deactivates it through the app.

However, it is not yet confirmed whether other banks, such as AIB, EBS, and Revolut, also apply a similar delay when deactivating the gambling block. Further details on this aspect remain to be verified from primary sources.

Help Lines and Support Channels

Several support channels are available for customers seeking assistance with gambling blocks.

• The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) advises customers to contact their bank for help. Additionally, the Irish Banking Culture Board lists support phone lines for AIB, Bank of Ireland, and PTSB on its problem-gambling page. GRAI's protection-tools page details the specific contact for each bank:

- AIB: 0818 227 056, 9am to 5pm weekdays. - Bank of Ireland (ROI): 1818 200 423. - Bank of Ireland (Northern Ireland): 0345 6016 157. - EBS: 0818 300 107, 9am to 5pm weekdays. - PTSB: 0818 818 721 or +353 1 655 0581 internationally, 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

• Bank of Ireland's online support offers assistance via webchat.

Customers are encouraged to utilize these channels for accurate and timely information regarding their specific situations.

What Remains Unclear

Several key aspects of the gambling-block feature remain unclear or unconfirmed:

• The exact merchant-category-code methods banks and card networks use to categorize gambling merchants are not detailed in primary sources such as Visa, Mastercard, or bank technical help pages.
• The specific payment routes a bank gambling block may miss, such as wallet top-ups, cross-border merchants, prepaid instruments, or account-to-account payments, are not explicitly detailed in Irish bank or network documentation.

Comparative data is also lacking:

• A detailed table comparing the presentation of the gambling-block feature in each bank's app, phone service, or branch is not available from each provider's plan pages.

Individual activation processes:

• The exact on/off procedure for AIB, EBS, and Revolut are not detailed, including whether the switch is within card controls, spending limits, or a dedicated gambling setting, from the providers' own instructions.

And:

• Confirmation of a cooling-off delay for deactivating the block other than PTSB's 48-hour delay is missing, as are the exact reversal procedures for most providers.

While claims suggest the block can fail against wallet top-ups or cross-border merchants, direct evidence from a regulator, bank, or card-network source is required. The launch date or legal basis for the common gambling-block commitment, beyond the 2025-2026 announcements, remains unclear, as does primary-source confirmation of Revolut's specific Irish gambling-block feature details and scope.

Conclusion

While major Irish banks have introduced gambling-block features to help combat problem gambling, key questions remain about the effectiveness of these controls. The absence of detailed information on merchant-category-code mechanics, potential blind spots, and cross-border or wallet edge cases highlights the need for further clarity and primary-source verification.

As these features evolve, continued monitoring and reporting by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), Irish banks, and card networks will be crucial in providing a complete picture of the gambling-block landscape and its effectiveness in protecting vulnerable customers.