DEPOSIT GUIDE · EN-GB / GBP
Credit cards and online casino deposits in Great Britain
No: a gambling operator holding the relevant Great Britain licence must not accept a credit-card payment for online casino gambling. The Gambling Commission introduced the restriction on 14 April 2020. It also says operators should ensure that e-wallet money used for gambling was not loaded from a credit card.
What the restriction covers
The Commission’s guidance covers online betting, casino and bingo, as well as listed retail gambling sectors. A customer should not treat a credit card routed through an e-wallet or money-transfer account as a permitted workaround. A declined payment is not a cue to try another path.
| Situation | General GB position |
|---|---|
| Credit card used directly at an online casino | Prohibited for licensed GB online gambling |
| E-wallet funded with a credit card, then used for gambling | Operators should prevent this route from bypassing the restriction |
| Debit card | Not covered by the credit-card ban, but may still be declined by an issuer, bank block or operator rule |
| Certain retail lottery purchases | The Commission notes limited exceptions for some non-remote lottery purchases; this is not an online casino exception |
The exact legal scope depends on the operator’s licence and activity. Check the current Commission guidance and the operator’s status on the public register. Great Britain here means England, Scotland and Wales; Northern Ireland is outside this project’s GEO.
If your card is declined
Do not try to disguise or re-route the source of funds. Ask the issuer which card type and transaction it sees. If the card is a debit card and an amount is pending, see pending card payments. If the bank applied a gambling block, read bank gambling blocks.
Sources
- Gambling Commission: preventing credit-card use
- Gambling Commission: public register
- Gambling Commission: age and identity requirements
FAQ
Does the ban mean debit cards always work?
No. Banks and payment providers may decline transactions for other reasons, including account controls, limits or security checks.
Can I put money on a wallet with credit and then gamble with the wallet?
That is not a permitted workaround. The Commission says operators should ensure e-wallet funds used for gambling were not loaded from credit cards.