Ban of Credit Card in Online Gambling Comes Into Effect in the UK UKGC

As of April 14th 2020, all use of credit cards is prohibited in gambling purposes in the United Kingdom.

This is the end-result of the measures brought by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission which are already implemented, as the ban on funding gambling via credit card becomes effective.

It’s Official

This step was announced in January…

…as UKGC and UK’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport announced the consumers in the UK will no longer be able to use credit cards for any form of gambling.

The ban applies to all online and offline gambling products, with the exception of non-remote lotteries, including products such as physical National Lottery tickets and scratchcards purchased in-person at retail outlets.

The ban also covers credit card gambling through eWallets. The regulator reminded operators that they can accept customer payments only if they prevent credit card use for gambling.

Protecting Consumers From Harm

Says Neil McArthur, Gambling Commission’s CEO:

“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. 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 decision to implement the ban comes after the Commission’s review of online gambling and the government’s Review of Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures, while a public consultation on the issue ran from August to November 2019.

Caesars Fine

In the early April…

UKGC has confirmed that it has imposed a record fine of GBP 13 million against Caesars Entertainment UK for breaching social responsibility regulations.

UKGC’s statement revealed that “the failings in this case are extremely serious; a culture of putting customer safety at the heart of business decisions should be set from the very top of every company and Caesars failed to do this.”

Source:

“Protecting the safety of consumers is at the heart of today’s credit card gambling ban”, gamblingcommission.gov.uk,