Independent Casinos » Credit Card Casinos

Credit Card Casinos

credit card casinos uk

Credit cards have been accepted globally as a form of payment on online casinos for several years. Up until now, they have been one of the most popular methods for deposits and withdraws in UK casinos, too. But a recent change in the law will change that.

In an effort to combat gambling addictions, casinos offering credit card payments will be forced to remove this option for UK players. It came into effect on the 14th of April 2020 and follows a public consultation which took place between August and November 2019.

  • Of the 10.5 million online gamblers, an estimated 800,000 use credit cards.
  • The ban will apply to all types of gambling (online and offline) excluding non-remote lotteries.

One of the most common questions is understandable: How will the ban affect casinos? Of the 10.5 million online gamblers, it is thought that 800,000 of those pay by credit card. Statistically, this shouldn’t affect casinos too much. Those figures account for less than 10% of players.

credit card casinos data
As presented in the graph, only 7,62% of the gambling users have credit cards as their preferred deposit method. Taking the enormous amount of transaction into aspect, it does however concerns a very big amount of money.

UK Credit Card Casinos Pros and Cons

There are several pro’s & con’s with credit card casinos. The biggest pro of using a credit card in an online casino is the undeniable safety aspect. Credit cards are often more secure than debit cards as credit card providers tend to offer more protection against fraud.

Credit card-specific bonuses will be missed from now on in the UK but, hopefully, these bonuses will just be transferred to other payment methods. Of course, the biggest disadvantage with a credit card in an online casino is the potential danger to fall into massive debt.

While credit cards are one of the safest methods of playing in online casinos, using borrowed money to pay is potentially dangerous. However, there are safe ways to pay

Alternative Payment Methods

If you’re used to playing in online casinos with a credit card and do so because of the safety methods – don’t panic. There are still a lot of safe methods out there for you to use. Like anything else, these all come with their advantages and disadvantages.

A lot of online casinos offer payment methods in the form of eWallets, which are often considered a safe payment method. Skrill and Neteller payout the fastest, but there is also the highly regarded PayPal. Sometimes using an eWallet, however, can come with a service charge.

Payment Methods

If you want to start using an eWallet as an alternative, all you need to do is head to one of their respective websites and create an account. Link your debit card and top up, or use it to keep an eye on your deposits and withdrawals.

Credit Cards in UK Casinos

If you’re a player in the UK and still wanting to play with your credit card for whatever reason, there is a loophole that you can use and still be on the right side of the law. Just use a casino that isn’t native to the UK.

What’s the point?

This measure is being put in place by the government as an attempt to thwart gambling addiction. An estimated 22% of the 800,000 users of UK-issued credit cards are classed as ‘problem gamblers’, meaning that they are susceptible to falling into debt or other gambling-related issues.

By putting this ban in place, the government is simply trying to save those 180,000 or so players from themselves. The idea is that a player is less likely to gamble too much with a debit card, where the money is “real”.

  • If you need to pay by credit card, use a foreign site.
  • Or ideally, use a safe method like an eWallet.

Debit Cards

Debit cards will still be accepted by online casinos as a form of payment method but this is not always the best method to use when gambling. The government’s hope is that if gamblers use debit cards, they ill be more mindful of their spending.

However, debit cards do not always come with the automatic security of credit cards. It’s always best to use a completely trusted site anyway but, for added security, we recommend at least linking your debit card to an eWallet service like PayPal to keep your funds safe.

UK Credit Card Casinos

uk credit card casinos

It’s worth remembering that the processing times of debit cards can seem rather long, with an average of 5-7 days. This is simply too long for some players, so we’d recommend the likes of Skrill, which has a processing time of 24 hours.

If you’re really struggling to decide what to do, we suggest you get in touch with your bank directly. They will be able to offer all sorts of expert advice regarding the latest ban on credit cards for casinos as well as advise you further.

  • Consumer protection levels are lower with debit cards.
  • Processing times can be too long.

Player Assistance

If you feel as if you could be one of the 180,000 ‘problem gamblers’, there are several places you can reach out to for help. The NHS’s website offers a candid questionnaire for you to test yourself on. They also give advice on where you can seek help.

GamCare is one of the best for advice – they run the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) and is a safe and understanding in-person counseling service. Help and support is out there, but the first step must come from the problem gambler and a phone call.

Offshore Casinos

If you still feel it is best to pay with a credit card, we can point you in the direction of some of the best non-UK companies.

As mentioned on Wagerweb before you can find a lot of independent casinos and casinos not registered on Gamstop self-exclusion scheme. These casinos are based outside the UK and doesn’t have a UKGC license, which means they can accept credit cards on their casinos.

What else will be affected?

It is not just casinos that will be affected by this ban. The sale of lottery tickets (both online and in person) via credit cards will also be banned. Credit cards will also no longer be used for scratch cards and other soft games.

Cons of Using an Offshore Casino

There are several cons when it comes to using an offshore casino. One of the biggest concerns is of course safety. While credit cards have a high level of consumer protection, explaining to your bank what you were doing gambling on an offshore site might be difficult.

Then there’s the simple fact that deposit amounts are limitless when you’re using a credit card. What with all the tempting bonuses out there on online casinos, you could fall into debt very easily. A debit card would be better, but as we’ve pointed out, not always ideal.

Almost all casinos around the world will accept credit cards as a payment option for both deposits and withdrawals. In fact, credit cards are one of the more accessible and easy-to-use payment options. However, there may sometimes be some catches for UK players.

While many casinos allow credit card payments, UK casinos can no longer do so. UK players may be able to use this method at overseas casinos, but should be aware that such transactions may be considered to be cash transactions and incur a fee.

  • UK casinos do not accept credit cards
  • Fees can be attached

There are a lot of pros to using credit cards, and this is something we will cover throughout this article. For UK players, we will also look at where can you use credit card at casino sites around the world, rather than in the UK.

No credit card casinos in the UK

As we mentioned, UK casinos will no longer accept credit card payments as of April 2020. This means that any UK player that used to use this method will have to change the way that they pay at these sites in order to continue playing.

This change was brought into effect because credit cards enabled problem gambling a lot more than other payment options. This simply means that player protection and safety has been increased, making the process more secure. Players can still use credit cards at non-UK licensed sites, though.

  • UK players cannot use credit cards for payments at UK casinos
  • Outside of the UK credit cards can still be used

How to use a credit card when gambling

Anywhere else, using a credit card to pay for gambling at online casinos is perfectly legal. As gambling is permitted in the UK, using a credit card at a non-UK casino will not cause the card to get blocked in any fashion.

However, it is best to use a credit card from the same country that the casino is in. In some cases, players need to be aware that an operator might block the first transaction, especially if the credit card is from a new player.

Depositing with credit cards

Depositing using a credit card is essentially the same process as buying something online. Players simply need to add in the billing address and the full card number, complete with any security codes and the name of the card. Finish this with the deposit amount and confirm.

Withdrawing with credit cards

Withdrawals take longer than deposits, but essentially follow the same process in reverse. Players will need to input the card number and the amount they would like to withdraw. Patience is key, as there can be pending periods to this type of withdrawal.

Verification with credit cards

One of the plus points with a credit card, outside of payments, is that it can be used to verify an account. Most casinos require a card and utility bill for this process. By using a credit card, this can make verification easy.

It is a legal requirement for UK-licensed casinos to perform what is known as the Know your Customer (KYC) procedure. Although credit cards are no longer accepted as a payment method, UK players can still use their credit card as part of the verification process.

  • Credit cards can speed up verification
  • UK players can still use credit cards in this manner

Types of credit cards

There are a number of different credit cards out there. Most of these come from the big brands such as Visa, MasterCard and, to a lesser extent, American Express and Maestro. For the most part, casinos will accept the former two options.

There’s no special benefit, though, between using either Visa or Mastercard – it’s really just a case of which one players use or have already. However, fees and processing times might vary ever so slightly, depending on the casino that the player has joined.

Fees at credit card casinos

While using a credit card has a number of advantages, there are a couple of disadvantages, too, and one of these is the fees. As this is classified as a cash transfer at many sites, deposits will often come with a fee from the card provider.

For those using interest-free credit cards, this fee will be applicable to purchases only, rather than cash transactions. However, this means the interest may need to be paid to the casino, and can be as much as 30%. UK players can use fee-free debit cards instead.

  • Fees are paid to the provider
  • Some fees may be owed to the casino and can be high
  • Debit cards will avoid fees

Advantages to credit cards

However, there are a ton of advantages to playing with credit cards. One of the main factors is that of security. Anyone playing online is always concerned about any payments and whether money can go astray. Not so with a credit card payment.

Credit cards have high-level fraud protection in place, which means that if something does go wrong, players will not lose all their money. However, as this is UK-based, players will need to check how it works when playing at casinos from other jurisdictions.

Limited liability

Players using credit cards have limited liability for the payments made. This means that if the casino is fraudulent, or not selling themselves truthfully, players can make a claim against the casino and the card issuer. However, online use for gambling in the UK is now illegal.

Credit scores

Credit scores show the financial risk group the player is in. This just restricts the type of card a player can get, but also increases interest and fees. If players have a low credit score, it might be better to avoid credit card payments and opt for debit.

How secure are credit cards?

As we have touched upon, credit cards are one of the more secure payment methods out there. The payments are guaranteed immediately after they have been authorised, making them trusted by casinos. Players trust them more due to their limited liability to players.

However, for payment providers, credit cards can be risky as it means extended credit is built on trust of the player. This is why the fees, limits and interest rates differ so much, as it all depends on the player’s previous financial history.

Final thoughts on credit card casinos

While credit cards are accepted at most online casinos, they are now illegal to use at UK sites due to concerns of overuse by problem gamblers. UK players can still use credit cards at non-UK sites, although they need to check any liability.

Credit cards do make some of the best payment methods around as they are very secure. With this in mind, we have created the best credit card casino list so that UK players interested in this option can find the best site quickly.

UK Credit Card Casinos: A Conclusion

We hope you’ve found the information in this article useful and have been able to weigh up your options. It is a frustrating – but necessary – ban when you look at the numbers we have provided.It’s probably best to stick with UK casinos but find an alternative payment method.

This will be the best way to ensure the security of your funds, as well as make sure that online gambling is nothing more than fun for you. Consider all the pros and cons – such as processing times and fees. Every method has advantages and disadvantages.