# Seven checks when a phone or tablet is shared

> Seven checks for a betting app on a shared phone, tablet or family device: profiles, passcode, sign-out, notifications, payments, child limits and what to do.

Source: https://beforeyouinstall.com/guides/shared-phone-or-family-device-checks/
Updated: 2026-11-07

If a betting app sits on a phone or tablet that other people use, seven checks keep the account yours: separate profiles, a device passcode, signing out, quiet notifications, no saved payment methods, child restrictions and a plan for when a child gets in. Children may not take part in betting under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 (s.158). Each check below has a fail condition.

## What you need

- The shared device, unlocked by you.
- Your own betting account details, so you can sign out and change settings.
- The family settings of the phone: Screen Time on iPhone, Family Link on Android.

You do not need to open the betting app to run most checks. You only look at the device that holds it.

**In short:** the device is the weak point, not the app.

## The seven checks and what counts as a fail

**Seven checks for a shared device. Source: editorial method, Gambling Regulation Act 2024 · checked 7 November 2026**

| Check | What you do | Fail if |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Separate profiles | Keep the betting app in your own profile or user account, where the device offers one. | The app sits on a profile that others open. |
| 2. Passcode | Protect the device and the app with a passcode or biometrics that only you use. | Another person knows the passcode. |
| 3. Sign out | Sign out of the betting account when you finish. | The app opens straight into your account. |
| 4. Notifications | Switch off betting notifications, so previews do not show on a shared screen. | A bet or balance appears in a preview. |
| 5. Payment methods | Remove saved cards and check which wallet the device pays with. | A saved card or wallet can fund a deposit without you. |
| 6. Child restrictions | Set app limits and content limits for each child profile. | A child profile can open the app or the store page. |
| 7. A plan for access by a child | Decide in advance who you call and what you change. | You have no written plan. |

Step pages for each check:

- Passcode and biometrics: [secure your betting account on your phone](https://beforeyouinstall.com/guides/secure-your-betting-account-on-your-phone/).
- Notifications: [switch off betting app notifications](https://beforeyouinstall.com/guides/control-betting-app-notifications/).
- Saved cards and wallets: [the credit card ban and mobile payments](https://beforeyouinstall.com/guides/credit-card-ban-and-mobile-payments/).
- Child restrictions: [Screen Time on iPhone](https://beforeyouinstall.com/guides/block-betting-apps-with-screen-time/) and [restrictions on Android](https://beforeyouinstall.com/guides/restrict-betting-apps-on-android/).
- Payments at bank level: [a gambling block in your banking app](https://beforeyouinstall.com/guides/switch-on-a-bank-gambling-block/).

**In short:** one fail on any line means the device is not ready.

## If a child gets into a betting account

1. Sign out on the device and change the account password.
2. Contact the operator in writing and ask to close the account (s.171 covers closure on a written request; confirm the wording in the Act).
3. Change the passcode and turn on the child restrictions from check 6.
4. Ask for help if the situation worries you: Gambling Awareness Trust on 1800 936 725, or Family Addiction Support Network on 042 935 5251 (24 hours).

An operator must verify identity and age before an account opens (s.169). A child who uses an adult's login skips that step, so the account holder fixes the weak point.

**In short:** sign out, change the password, ask the operator to close the account, then add restrictions.

## What the law says about children

- Children (under 18) may not take part in gambling, and an account may not be opened for them (s.158).
- Identity and age are verified before an account opens (s.169). [How that works](https://beforeyouinstall.com/guides/verify-age-and-identity-in-a-betting-app/).
- A licensee must link to parental control from its main page (s.174). Checked on 7 November 2026 against the GRAI compliance note; the wording of s.174 is still to be confirmed in the Act.

Sections 158 and 169 have been in force since 5 February 2026.

**In short:** the operator has duties, but a shared device is still your job.

## How we checked

- Law: Gambling Regulation Act 2024 sections named above, via the GRAI compliance note. Checked on 7 November 2026.
- Apple Family Sharing and Google Family Link help pages: Not checked in this build. The step pages quote them with a date once read.
- We did not open accounts or test any app.

**In short:** the checklist is a method; device menus change, so confirm on your own screen.

## Help and limits

18+ only. Gambling can be addictive – play responsibly. Set limits, take breaks and never bet more than you can afford to lose.

Free 24/7 support: 1800 936 725 · gamblingcare.ie. More numbers are on the [Responsible gambling](https://beforeyouinstall.com/responsible-gambling/) page. Browse all [limits, breaks and blocks](https://beforeyouinstall.com/guides/limits/).