Problem gambling: Why were credit cards banned in UK?

Where can you gamble with a credit card?

Why were credit cards banned in the UK’s gambling industry?

The risks of problem gamblers increasing their debts and worsening their addiction were the main reasons for banning credit cards in online and land-based gambling establishments.

Official research shows concerning results

• It showed that around 24 million adults in the UK gamble, with over 10 million of them gambling online;
• Additional research undertaken by the commission showed that 22% of online players using such cards to gamble were classed as problem gamblers;
• Meanwhile, UK Finance estimated that 800,000 consumers used credits to gamble.

Thus, the UKGC enacted the ban to protect players from borrowing money and using it to gamble.

Additional safety measures you can take

If you’re gambling at a newly launched UK casino, double-check the platform’s reliability via the UKGC licensee register and third-party auditors. This also applies to mobile casino sites.

Why isn’t credit card gambling UK allowed?

The low number of credit card gambling sites UK is determined by the major impact credits can have on a player’s health.

As such:

• Credit can cause gambling harm by allowing you to spend more than you have;
• 22% of problem gamblers use credits to gamble;
• High credit card borrowing rates can increase the problem;
• By banning credits, the UKGC ensures you are exposed to fewer potential gambling harms, like debt.

Players have been putting themselves in danger for a rather long time to be able to enjoy casino games, and this has had a wide-scale impact on their well-being.

What’s the use of banning credit cards?

Without the enforcement of stern measures like the credit card ban, the UK gambling industry would have generated tremendously harmful consequences long-term.

Report on credit card gambling UK

Credit gambling UK users

The UK is home to 24 million gamblers: it’s a robust market full of numerous land-based and online casinos, and one of the leading gambling jurisdictions globally.

Out of all the players:

• More than 10.5 million gamblers choose to play at UK-licensed online casinos, especially via UK casino apps;
• 800.000 – 1.000.000 have so far used credit to fund their accounts;
• The UKGC acknowledged that numerous players appealed to credit gambling UK when participating in betting activities. For more than 150.000 – 220.000 gamblers (22%), credit cards served as a source of additional money to gamble.

22% Of problem gamblers use credit

In the face of such evidence that credit card gambling allowed problem gamblers to access additional funds, the UKGC’s Chief Executive announced that:

• Major financial harm can be done by allowing credit card gambling;
• The interdiction is meant to minimize the consumers’ harm risks;
• Besides involving significant debts, credit card gambling can be worsened by the fees charged when using credit cards.

There are now no gambling sites that accept such cards in the UK due to this enforced rule.

Why were credit cards banned UK?

Problem gambling is a grave issue in the UK: the latest figures show that 0.4% of the adult population in the United Kingdom has a gambling problem.

22% of problem gamblers used credits to gamble.

This essentially means using money you do not have and borrowing it at high-interest rates in hope of winning to be able to pay it off.

A typical example of the circular nature of problem gambling

• In many cases, players didn’t win, which led to the accumulation of debt;
• This encouraged excessive gambling in an attempt to solve the debt.

By eliminating credit gambling UK, the ability to gamble easily using credit is removed and, therefore, the risk and harm to players.

Are there any gambling sites that accept credit cards UK?

According to the UKGC, the credit ban applies to all UK gambling businesses, including:

• Online betting, casino and bingo sites;
• Online lotteries and lotteries accepting payments over the telephone;  
• High street bookmakers and track bookmakers;
• High street casinos, bingo halls and arcades.

Thus, if you’re wondering whether you can use credit at the casino, the answer is no.

You can’t use it to bet under any circumstances, including land-based casino betting. In short, there are no credit card gambling sites UK, regardless of whether they feature live casino services or not.

New Gambling Laws UK 2022

The UKGC continually works on improving regulations for operators in response to recent research and industry innovation.

This is what makes the UK one of the safest places to gamble. On April 14th, 2022, the UKGC announced further new rules that will come into effect on September 12th, 2022.

Safety measures that gambling sites can impose

• Monitoring indications of gambling harm;
• Flagging signs of harm and taking timely action;
• Implementing an automatic process for strong indicators of harm;
• Prohibiting marketing campaigns and bonuses dedicated to at-risk players;
• Evaluating the operators’ marketing strategies and interactions with consumers at risk;
• Evidence of such evaluations;
• Ensuring that third-party (affiliates) of operators comply.

The UK is also in the midst of a Gambling Review, which will update the 2005 Gambling Act for the modern internet age with sweeping industry reforms.

While the new laws are not yet formulated, the official White Paper detailing the recommendations is in the final stages.

Gambling sites that accept credit cards UK

There are now no credit card gambling sites UK.

Any licensed, secure gambling site will not offer credit use directly or through e-wallets.

Playing on a UK-licensed site is essential, as this is where you’ll find tested games, regulated payouts, and secure real-money service.