The UK Gambling Commission’s ban on credit card usage comes into force today as the regulator states it will ‘add another vital layer of protection for consumers.’
In January, the Gambling Commission and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced the ban which means that, from today, players gambling will not be able to use a credit card as payment. This also extends to credit card gambling through e-wallets.
Neil McArthur, Gambling Commission chief executive, said: “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.”
The sanctioned credit card ban will apply to all online and offline gambling verticals with the exception of non-remote lotteries.
Research undertaken by UK Finance showed that 800,000 individuals in the UK use credit cards to gaming. It also highlights that 22 per cent of online gamblers using credit cards are problem gamblers, with more said to be suffering some form of harm.
McArthur added: “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 looking for ways to make gambling safer.”
Further developing its 2020 regulatory agenda, the UKGC and the DCMS continue to seek guidance on how new technologies combined with deeper consumer data can help strengthen the UK’s gambling policy frameworks, technical standards and best practices.
UK Culture Minister Helen Whately said: “There is clear evidence of harm from consumers betting with money they do not have, so it is absolutely right that we act decisively to protect them.
“In the past year, we have introduced a wave of tougher measures, including cutting the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals, bringing in tighter age and identity checks for online gambling and expanding national specialist support through the NHS Long Term Plan.
“We have also secured a series of commitments from five leading gambling operators that will include £100m funding towards treatment for problem gamblers.
“But there is more to do. We will be carrying out a review of the Gambling Act to ensure it is fit for the digital age and we will be launching a new nationwide addiction strategy in 2020.”
The credit card ban follows the Commission’s review of online gambling and the Government’s review of Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures with a public consultation carried out between August and November 2019.
