On April 14th, 2020, the Gambling Commission’s ban on credit cards as payment methods for online gambling went into effect. It is with this not possible for UK players to use credit cards such as Mastercard as their means of depositing and withdrawing money anymore.
The ban was first announced back in January. The Gambling Commission and DMS said it was an attempt to combat problem gambling in the UK with an overall goal to protect the consumer. Although the ban was originally planned to be introduced in April when it was first introduced, it came in a specific important time with the COVID-19 pandemic causing more people to turn to gamble online.
The ban does not only apply to UK online casinos but also offline gambling with some exceptions. Physical lotteries such as scratch cards and National Lottery tickets bought at kiosks and shops in-person can still be purchased using credit cards. For online gambling, also e-wallets are affected as casinos will only be able to accept payments via e-wallets that prevent credit card for gambling.
The Gambling Commission Shared on Twitter on April 14:
“From today, any consumer gambling online or on the high street will not be able to use a credit card as payment. This extends to credit card gambling through e-wallets. This is an important step forward in protecting the 10.5 million people who gamble online from harm.“
UK players should not be discouraged from playing online although this ban is in effect. The ban has been put in place as an active measure against problem gambling in the UK, but as long as you practise responsible gambling, you can still enjoy the fun of online gambling.
If you have previously used a credit card as your payment method, you simply just need to find another method of your choice. Which payment methods you can currently choose from will depend on which casino you are signed up with.
It is important to note that the ban is on credit cards and that most casinos will still offer payments through debit cards. In addition, there are many mobile and online payment providers available that offer safe, secure and fair payments. Bitcoin is also being accepted at more and more online casinos these days. And lastly, you can still use one-off vouchers such as Paysafecard.
| Debit cards | E-wallets | Prepaid Cards/Instant pay | Other payment options |
| VISA Debit card | Skrill | Paysafecard | Bank transfer |
| VISA Electron | NETELLER | EntroPay | Pay-by-phone |
| Maestro | Zimpler | Bitcoin | |
| Prepaid Mastercard | EcoPayz | Other digital currencies | |
| PayPal |
Update on April 8th, 2020: It has been noted that a loophole in this ban has been discovered, with mobile payments. Read more here.
Have you not found your perfect casino yet? Browse through our top list of casinos all offering a safe and fun experience for UK players!
Sources
https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news-action-and-statistics/news/2020/Protecting-the-safety-of-consumers-is-at-the-heart-of-today’s-credit-card-gambling-ban.aspx
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51103006
https://www.igamingbusiness.com/news/uk-credit-card-gambling-ban-comes-effect
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