Checklist
Seven checks when a phone or tablet is shared
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.
Editorial team · checked
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
| 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.
- Notifications: switch off betting app notifications.
- Saved cards and wallets: the credit card ban and mobile payments.
- Child restrictions: Screen Time on iPhone and restrictions on Android.
- Payments at bank level: a gambling block in your banking app.
In short: one fail on any line means the device is not ready.
If a child gets into a betting account
- Sign out on the device and change the account password.
- 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).
- Change the passcode and turn on the child restrictions from check 6.
- 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.
- 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 page. Browse all limits, breaks and blocks.
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