Which Countries Prohibit Credit Card Gambling

Digital payment methods have become an integral part of online gambling, allowing players to effortlessly transfer funds to and from their real-money accounts. Online gamblers now face a cornucopia of convenient, swift, and cost-effective banking solutions that facilitate highly secure casino deposits and withdrawals.

Online banking, e-wallets, prepaid solutions, and credit cards are the most common ways to bank at online casinos. That said, the number of countries that enforce restrictions on credit card gambling has consistently risen in recent years.

Credit cards have fallen into disfavor among gambling regulators, and several jurisdictions have already vetoed their use for gambling purposes in an effort to protect players, curb problem gambling, and prevent overspending with borrowed funds.

In this article, we examine the jurisdictions that currently prohibit credit card gambling, the reasoning behind the bans, and the alternative payment methods available to online players from these countries.

No Credit Card Gambling for UK Players

As many as 24 million people in Great Britain gamble, and 10.5 million of them prefer to do so online. Credit cards were the preferred funding method for hundreds of thousands of British players, but their use for gambling purposes is no longer possible.

Following an extensive consultation, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) enforced a blanket ban on gambling with credit cards in 2020. The prohibition extends to nearly all forms of gambling one can think of, including:

• Online sports wagering
• Online casino gaming and bingo games
• Online lotteries
• Lotteries that facilitate purchases over the telephone
• On-course wagering
• Retail sports wagering at high-street betting shops
• Land-based casinos, arcade halls, and bingo rooms

The British gambling watchdog conducted research during the consultation period, establishing that more than 22% of local online players who funded their casino accounts with credit cards were problem gamblers. The percentage of those at risk of experiencing gambling-related harm was even greater.

These findings prompted the regulator to ban credit card gambling in an attempt to curb addiction and promote more responsible play. The blanket prohibition was announced in mid-January 2020, and came into effect in mid-April of the same year.

Impact of the Credit Card Ban in the UK

It appears the ban has been largely effective in reducing gambling with borrowed money, according to survey figures released by the UK Gambling Commission in late 2021.

Around 76% of the players who reported having previously gambled with credit cards have ceased using borrowed capital for betting. Only 15% reported that they had started borrowing from other sources as a result of the prohibition.

Those who continued to use borrowed money did so to a lesser degree in most cases.

*The use of loan money from other sources continues to be tracked because of the smaller sample sizes at the time of the survey.

Credit Card Gambling Strongly Discouraged in Ireland

In late August 2021, sportsbook operators in Ireland unanimously agreed to enforce a prohibition on credit card wagering as part of a new Code of Practice proposed by the Irish Bookmakers’ Association (IBA). As a result, local bettors can no longer fund their wagers with credit cards at either online or retail bookmaking shops operated by IBA members.

Most Irish Bookies Have Already Adopted the Measure

Revolut Blocked Credit Card Transfers for Irish Gamblers

Irish Legislators Could Fully Outlaw Credit Card Gambling

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Most Irish Bookies Have Already Adopted the Measure

Some bookmakers implemented the measure immediately, while others were given a deadline to enforce the voluntary ban by the end of 2021. The IBA, established in spring 2005 as the official representative body of the country’s bookmaking sector, now comprises more than 750 major retail and independent sports wagering operators.

Below are some online betting companies that have adopted the credit card ban.

• Bet365
• Betway
• Casumo
• William Hill
• Boylesports
• QuinnBet
• SBOBet
• All Entain (formerly GVC Holdings) brands, including Sportingbet, Bwin, Ladbrokes, and Coral
• All Flutter Entertainment brands, including Betfair, Sportsbet, and Paddy Power
• Tote Ireland

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Revolut Blocked Credit Card Transfers for Irish Gamblers

The popular payment app Revolut followed suit in early 2022, announcing that it would no longer process credit card related transfers to gambling sites that serve the Irish market. Users can typically fund the app with debit or credit cards, or via standard bank transfers.

Revolut developed technology that detects transfers drawn from credit cards and blocks them from being used for online gambling transactions. The decision was largely prompted by IBA members’ statements that some Irish gamblers were using apps like Revolut to circumvent the credit card restrictions.

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Irish Legislators Could Fully Outlaw Credit Card Gambling

Local lawmakers are preparing a major overhaul of Irish gambling regulations, and a blanket ban on credit card gambling is on the agenda, along with the prohibition of free bets and similar initiatives.

Members of the Sinn Féin Party have already drafted legislation aimed at fully prohibiting gambling transactions made with credit cards. Aptly titled the Betting (Prohibition on Use of Credit Cards) Act 2021, the bill proposes adding the credit card ban as a condition for obtaining a gambling license in the country.

Operators that already serve the local market would have three months to comply with the new requirement and enforce the ban, provided the bill gains approval from Seanad Éireann, the upper chamber of the Irish Parliament.

The Betting (Prohibition on Use of Credit Cards) Act 2021 is presently before Dáil Éireann, the lower parliament chamber, and has reached the second stage of discussions. The bill must pass the Committee, Report, and Final Dáil stages before it heads for discussion in the Seanad. SuperCasinoSites will keep you updated on its progress.

In the meantime, we recommend that Irish online gamblers use the following payment solutions when funding their betting accounts: Visa Electron, Maestro, Payforit, Click to Pay, Paysafecard, and wire transfers.

Electronic wallets like PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller are also viable alternatives for the time being. However, if the Betting Act 2021 passes into law, Irish gamblers will not be able to use such wallets if the funds in their balances originate from credit cards.

Belgium Banned Credit Card Deposits in 2019

Online gambling has been regulated in Belgium since 2011, but local legislators introduced stricter measures to curb gambling-related harm eight years later, in 2019.

The restrictions in question came as a result of an overhaul of the Gambling Act of 7 May 1999, approved by the Belgian Parliament in early April 2019. The new, tougher curbs include:

Article 58 of the amended 1999 Gambling Act clearly states transactions with credit cards are fully prohibited in Class II, III, and IV gambling establishments, as well as in gambling sites offering chance-based games.

Licensees of the Belgian Gaming Commission must conspicuously inform their customers about the prohibition. The ban also extends to automatic teller machines in gambling establishments that hold Class I, II, III, and IV licenses.

Germany Outlawed Credit Card Gambling in 2020

Germany adopted the same approach as Belgium and Great Britain, introducing a wave of stricter regulations and player-protection measures a couple of years ago. German legislators approved the ban on credit card gambling in the summer of 2020 and effectively prohibited online casinos that target local players from facilitating any transactions via Visa- and Mastercard-branded credit cards.

In turn, banking institutions across the country were instructed to block all credit card payments to and from gambling sites that serve local bettors. Gambling operators themselves also had to remove any references to this form of payment from their German-facing websites.

Heavy Taxation and Severe Restrictions Drive Operators Away

As a result of these measures, German players have been left with very few reliable payment methods. Some industry experts cautioned that the clampdown on credit cards could have an adverse effect, driving local gamblers toward gaming sites that are not properly regulated.

The stricter regulations have indeed prompted many reputable brands to flee the German market, further limiting the number of adequately regulated options for local players. The most recent brands to depart include:

Unibet

Betfair Exchange

William Hill

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Unibet

Kindred Group’s flagship brand Unibet recently announced its decision to exit the local market, citing severe restrictions and the burden of heavy taxation.

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Betfair Exchange

Betfair Exchange withdrew from Germany in late June 2021. The renowned brand operates in more than forty countries but was deterred by the 5.3% turnover tax Germany imposes on sports betting operators.

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William Hill

William Hill likewise said ‘auf Wiedersehen’ to Germany and closed its Mr Green sportsbook in the country because of high taxes. The company has chosen to focus on expanding its reach in other markets such as Italy, Sweden, and Spain.