Over the rise of online casino play in the UK, we have witnessed many evolutionary changes on the gaming front. New variations of games have regularly redrawn the way traditional games such as blackjack, roulette, and poker are played. New innovative features have continued to excite casino enthusiasts too.
However, another aspect that has altered the industry in a significant way is the legislation in place. Rules and regulations were designed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), along with the UK Government, to provide a secure and responsible framework for online gambling in the UK to operate under.
One of the biggest amendments to online casino legislation in recent years centred around the use of credit cards. While credit cards are still widely used in society, their acceptance in the online casino world suddenly changed in April 2020.
Ban on Credit Cards
Nearly six years ago, a big decision was made by the UKGC. Deemed too risky for vulnerable players, the organisation decided to place a ban on the use of credit cards for gambling purposes. This of course covered activity on online casinos and online bookmakers. This new legislation was part of an overall shift towards a stance against gambling problems such as addiction and debt and remains in place to the present day.
What about other countries?
Although this ban is in place on UK-licensed operators, this is far from the case in most markets worldwide. Only a handful of other countries have followed the UK’s example. They include Australia, Brazil, Norway, and now, Sweden. In other markets such as Italy and Singapore, credit cards are still fully accepted.
The situation gets slightly trickier in countries such as the U.S and Spain. Legislation in the U.S is state-dependent, while Spaniards can use credit cards until they hit a loss of €600, or €200 for under-25s. All this goes to show the increasing complexity of the topic. The conversation over bans on credit cards for gambling is now being entertained by more markets. But as it stands, the option still appears on many online casinos and bookmakers across the world.
What does it all mean for UK players?
Norway was the first market to ban credit cards in 2010. But with the UK being the first leading market to implement such a ban, the attitude globally is slowly turning. However, due to the accessibility afforded within the digital realm, it is still possible for UK-based players to access international operators and play on a credit card casino. But this does come with the additional warning of a lack of protective coverage by the UKGC on overseas platforms.
Overall, the higher levels of accessibility and convenience created by the online gambling industry allows for fluid movement. The UK has a splendid array of online casinos and bookmakers but does have a ban in place. This does not look like it will change anytime soon either. With other markets wrestling more with concept of credit cards and gambling risk, there could be more widespread change in the future.
