Most online casinos in the UK accept different payment options but none are as popular as debit and credit cards. In fact, many people enjoy using credit card for gambling as a valid payment option, but the UK Gambling Commission recently made revisions to its rules, changing how you can use credit cards for gambling. Continue reading to discover how credit cards work at online casinos and whether or not they can be used in the UK.
When it comes to using credit cards at online casinos, they work just like any other payment option. All you need to do is register with an online casino that accepts credit cards as a valid payment option and then, once you’ve logged in, you simply need to navigate towards the casino’s cashier.
From here, you’ll need to select credit cards as your primary method, enter your credit card details and how much you wish to deposit, and then simply confirm the payment. Once confirmed, the payment will be credited to your account almost instantly, allowing you to begin playing casino games. However, it’s important to note that credit cards cannot be used for withdrawals.
While most online casinos today accept credit cards as valid payment options, UK casinos do not. The reason for this is due to the implementation of a recent ban on using credit cards for gambling.
Back in April 2020, the UK Gambling Commission, the regulating body for all gambling activities in the United Kingdom, implemented its ban on using credit cards for gambling. The ban applies across both online gambling websites and all real-life venues too, preventing anyone from using credit cards as valid deposit methods.
The ban was first announced back in January and the decision was made after the UK Gambling Commission held a consultation on the use of credit cards for gambling, and after the UK Government conducted a review on how the gambling industry contributes to UK economy and how gamblers can be protected.
In its official announcement, the Commission revealed that around 24 million adults in the UK gamble, around 10.5 million gamble online, and around 800,000 of said gamblers use credit cards as their primary payment method. The Commission also explained that around 22% of all online gamblers that use credit cards are classed as problem gamblers, a statistic it wants to change with the ban.
Since credit cards can no longer be used at online casinos in the UK, you have one main option; find an alternative payment option. Thankfully, there are plenty of different options to enjoy, you’ll just need to find one that suits your needs.
As already mentioned, UK online casinos tend to accept different payment options, and there are dozens of different methods you can enjoy. We’ve created a quick summary of all the various payment options you can use below so you can work out which is best for you.
Debit cards are the next-best alternative to using credit cards. Now, the main difference between using credit and debit cards, and all other payment options listed here, is you can only use the money you have available. However, debit cards work just like credit cards in that you only need to share your card details, enter the amount you want to deposit, and then confirm the payment to make a deposit.
What’s even better is that unlike credit cards, debit cards can be used for withdrawals too. In addition, debit cards are accepted at all online casinos in the UK so you won’t have any trouble finding sites that accept them.
PayPal is a well-known payment method that is often used for day-to-day online purchases. However, PayPal, which is associated with eBay, is also a popular method for online casinos! The reason for this is because PayPal processes payments incredibly fast, and it’s one of the safest methods since you don’t have to share any personal information.
PayPal can be used for both deposits and withdrawals, but the only drawback is that not all online casinos in the UK accept it as a valid method – it may be hard to find an online casino you like that accepts PayPal. Find more information about the best PayPal casino sites here.
Skrill and Neteller are two popular e-Wallet payment options which are primarily used for online gambling. These methods work just like PayPal in that payments are processed quickly and within a few hours. They can be used for both deposits and withdrawals too, so you won’t have to worry about swapping payment methods.
Unfortunately, there are drawbacks to using these payment methods. For example, they cannot be used to claim welcome bonuses or other promotions at online casinos, and some online casinos charge you fees for using them to make deposits. However, casinos that accept Skrill and Neteller are more common than all other payment options.
There are several other popular payment options available for you to use, although these are all somewhat harder to find in the UK than the methods we’ve already listed here. Some of these methods include:
You’ll find some online casinos accepting methods like this, but they’re few and far between. There are other popular payment options that aren’t available at UK casinos too including Bitcoin, Zimpler, and so plenty of others. However, these can only be used overseas.
We’ve already explained that online casinos in the UK tend to accept numerous payment options. However, some sites accept more than others so if you’re thinking about registering with an online casino that accepts lots of methods, take a look at our suggestions below along with links to our in-depth reviews:
PlayOJO Casino is a very popular online casino from SkrillOnNet that is known for being extremely fair. It has won numerous awards and continues to be one of the UK’s most popular online casino websites for its great customer support, its huge selection of games, and for accepting most major payment methods including VISA/MasterCard debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafecard, and more.
Klasino is an online casino from White Hat Gaming Limited. The site provides players with a clean design as well as a decent selection of casino games including slots, jackpots, table games, and live casino content too. If that isn’t enough, Klasino also accepts payment methods like PayPal, Neteller, Paysafecard, Skrill, and VISA and MasterCard debit cards – all of which are processed quickly.
The Sun Play is an online casino operated by Nektan which is themed on the popular Sun Newspaper in the UK. The site offers a gigantic selection of casino games as well as numerous promotions for both new and long-term customers to enjoy. Finally, the payment options accepted here include PayPal, Boku, Paysafecard, Trustly, VISA and MasterCard debit cards, Neteller, and Skrill too.
Mr Play is an online casino and sportsbook which allows you to play traditional casino games as well as make bets on sports games. The site is known for its generous promotions as well as its great customer support. It also accepts several notable payment options including PayPal, Skrill, Paysafecard, and VISA and MasterCard too.
SlotsMillion is an online casino that specialises in only offering video slots. Right now, the website provides players with thousands of video slots from various game developers, each with their own gameplay mechanics, special features, and visuals. Although there is no welcome bonus, there are plenty of promotions to enjoy as well as slot tournaments. The accepted payment options here include Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz, and VISA and MasterCard debit cards.
Now, one question you’ll have after reading through all of this is; can’t I simply register with an overseas casino and use my credit card there? Yes, you’re completely free to do so but, as we’ve said before on countless other pages, we suggest you avoid doing so.
The reason for this is because casinos located overseas do not hold licenses from the UK Gambling Commission which means that they are unregulated. This makes these casinos risky to play at since they may use rigged games, may charge insane fees for withdrawals, may not offer customer support, and many other issues.
So even though it may be disappointing that you cannot use credit cards at an online casino in the UK, we suggest you simply find an alternative payment method from those we listed above and continue playing at a UK-licensed online casino – it’s much safer and better for you in the long run.
