The UK Credit Card Ban
The UK Gambling Commission enforced its credit card ban on April 14th after announcing it back in January 2020. From now on, customers in the UK are no longer allowed to use credit cards to fund their online casinos and use credit cards to fund eWallets to deposit at online casinos.
The ban was announced after the Commission conducted a review of online gambling operations and after the Commission’s public consultation on the use of credit cards between August and November 2019.
As of now, customers who used credit cards have two options; either use a different payment method at your current online casino or register with an online casino overseas. There are positives and negatives to both solutions but they are now your only options. You can read more about them right here.
Online Casinos with an Overseas License
Users who wish to continue using their credit cards can register with an overseas casino. Registering at an overseas online casino is easy, as you simply have to sign up like you would at any other online casino operating in the United Kingdom. The main difference between overseas casinos and those operating in the UK is that they are not regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, a prospect which can prove to be worrying for many people.
However, there are positives and negatives to registering at an overseas casino and you must consider all of them before registering with an overseas casino so you understand the dangers as well as the advantages before committing to anything.
Pros
- No annoying verification checks
- Can play in any country
- Accepts credit cards
Cons
- Unregulated and can be unsafe
- Unreliable customer support
- Can be difficult receiving winnings
The Positives
As stated above, overseas online casinos usually lack the strict verification procedures found at most online casinos in the UK now. This can be seen as a huge positive to many people, but the verification procedures are actually incredibly important in helping to prevent customers from overspending and checking that customers are of sound age to gamble. Since overseas online casinos lack these verification checks, it may be easier for customers to overspend and for young people to gamble.
However, playing at an overseas online casino means you will be able to play anywhere and shouldn’t face being blocked from the site no matter which country you are in. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, particularly if you are playing in countries where gambling has been completely banned.
In addition, playing at an unregulated online casino means you may be able to use payment options not accepted at UK casinos, such as credit cards, and may be able to claim bigger and better bonuses since overseas casinos are subject to the tight and strict regulations of the UK Gambling Commission.
The Dangers
However, it’s important to note that many overseas online casinos may be unregulated which means they may not follow safety and security regulations. This can be a problem when it comes to your money and winnings, as unregulated casinos can delay withdrawals, potentially rig games, void winnings, use pirated versions of games, impose large fees on deposits or withdrawals, and even offer unhelpful or non-existent customer support.
As you can see, this can be incredibly worrying as you wouldn’t want to have deposited hundreds of pounds and made some impressive wins only to be left frustrated that they haven’t been paid for several days and continue to get delayed. What’s more, since you’re playing offshore the UK Gambling Commission and other regulatory bodies are unable to help you, making it dangerous to participate.
Although you may find several unregulated and untrustworthy online casinos, there will be dozens of overseas sites you can trust and register with. Just make sure to check out player reviews and ask questions on gambling forums to find out as much as you can before registering.
Alternatives To Credit Cards
If you’re not willing to register at an overseas online casino it’ll be a good idea to find an alternative payment option that works for you and is supported by the UK Gambling Commission. Luckily for you, there are countless of accepted payment options available in the UK which you can use. Just take a look below to learn about them.
Debit Cards
Debit cards remain one of the most popular forms of payment at online casinos as it allows users to deposit funds into their accounts instantly. What’s more, the payment will still be accepted long after the ban as it currently only allows customers to deposit money they have in their account. All online casinos in the UK currently accept the payment option too, so you won’t have to worry about switching between methods on a regular basis.
A drawback regarding debit cards is that it can take several days for withdrawals to reach you, usually between five to seven business days. This can be too long for many customers causing them to seek out alternative payment options which are much quicker and convenient.
Notable casinos that accept debit cards:
All online casinos in the UK
Skrill, UPayCard, & Neteller E-Wallets
Skrill and Neteller are e-Wallet payment options which are incredibly popular among gamblers. Payments made via Skrill and Neteller appear instantly in your casino account and are among the fastest for withdrawals, reaching you several hours after your withdrawal has been approved. What’s more, Skrill and Neteller are known for being incredibly safe as no personal information is provided to the online casino, only your e-Wallet account details!
Unfortunately, many online casinos ban customers from using these e-Wallets to claim bonuses and promotions, which means players looking to claim a welcome bonus or other promotions must swap out to a different method. We’ve also noticed that some gambling operators tag on additional fees for depositing and withdrawing via Skrill and Neteller while other payment options are completely free to use.
In addition to Skrill and Neteller, there’s also UPayCard, another e-Wallet that allows you to make online purchases and make deposits at online casinos. It’s available in more than 20 currencies and is free to use! You can discover more about UPayCard in our detailed guide here.
Notable casinos that accept Skrill and Neteller:
PlayFrank, Genesis Casino, Casumo, SlotsMillion, Mr Green Casino, Dunder, Wixstars, Metal Casino, LeoVegas Casino
PayPal
PayPal is a payment option best known for being used with eBay but is often accepted at online casino sites. PayPal is a safe and fast method to use for deposits and withdrawals at online casinos. Similarly to Skrill and Neteller, payments appear instantly in your casino account and are processed to you within several hours once your withdrawal has been approved.
However, there are some drawbacks to using PayPal. Firstly, not all online casinos accept the payment option and you may find that PayPal charges some fees for being used at an online casino. What’s more, reports have claimed that PayPal may be included as part of the ban on credit cards and may not be available to use from April. However, this has not yet been confirmed.
Notable casinos that accept PayPal:
PlayFrank, BGO Casino, PlayOJO, Casino Gods, ICE36 Casino, Mr Play, Chilli Casino, Volt Casino, 888 Casino
Boku
Boku is a hidden gem in the online casino industry. This mobile payment option gives you two options; you can either deposit money into your casino account by using your pay-as-you-go credit or by adding your total deposit amount to the end of your monthly phone bill. Deposits via Boku and other mobile payment options such as Payviaphone appear instantly in your casino account but cannot be used for withdrawals.
What’s more, most online casinos which accept the payment options (And not a lot of online casinos do) generally add hefty charges to your deposits or deduct money from your deposit as a fee. Unfortunately, the payment options have also been criticised for allowing gamblers to overspend as its incredibly easy to forget how much you’ve deposited and added to your phone bill, with some gamblers reportedly amassing large bills because of this, so watch out.
Notable casinos that accept Boku:
Genesis Casino, Casino Gods, All British Casino, Jackpot Paradise, Kerching, The Sun Play
How Do Credit Cards Work At Online Casinos?
Credit cards provide cardholders with credit which allows them to make purchases or transfer balances. They’re mostly used as a helpful tool when cardholders want to purchase something but currently do not have the money in their current bank account. However, any credit used via the credit card must be paid back either by the end of the month or at a fixed rate across several months.
There are various types of credit cards available, some offering cashback and rewards while others offering zero interest on particular products. The credit card best for you depends on your credit history as well as what you will be using it for; will it just be for online casinos or will you be purchasing goods too? Have a think and consider all options before registering for a credit card.
Credit cards work just like most other online casino payment options as you simply need to log in, select your preferred deposit method, enter your credit card details, enter the amount you wish to deposit, and then confirm the payment. The money will then be deducted from your credit card balance and transferred to the online casino where it can be used on games.
Right now, before the credit card ban comes into effect, credit cards are a popular form of payment at online casinos due to their safety since there are strict regulations surrounding them. However, there are also drawbacks to using credit cards as they often have long withdrawal waiting times of up to five to ten business days and some providers may incur additional charges to your deposits or withdrawals at online casinos.
It’s also important to understand that all money spent on a credit card must be paid back or you will face penalty charges for missed or late payments as well as rising interest charges. There has been a rising concern that many gamblers use credit cards to borrow money to fund their gambling and later struggle to pay it back, one of the many reasons the credit card ban was confirmed.