Credit card gambling ban comes into force in United Kingdom

Consumers in the United Kingdom are no longer allowed to gamble using credit cards under new rules which came into force today.

In January, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced the credit card ban as another vital layer of protection for consumers. 

The regulator said it was an important step forward in protecting the 10.5m people who gamble online, with statistics showing that 800,000 individuals in the UK used credit cards to gamble.

“This credit card ban will further protect consumers from financial harm and from today, nobody in Great Britain can use a credit card to gamble,” said UKGC chief executive Neil McArthur. “It is a ban which ultimately reduces the risks of harm to consumers from gambling with money they do not have.

“The ban also comes at a vital time as we are seeing an increase in the use of some online products, such as online slots and virtual sports, and our online search analysis shows an increase in UK consumer interest in gambling products since the lockdown began. This highlights just how important it is for gambling operators to keep people safe and the credit card ban will help that.

“This is another milestone and we will continue to look for ways to make gambling safer.”

The regulator also warned operators that they can only accept customer payments via e-wallets if those e-wallets prevent credit card use for gambling.