Credit card gambling ban

Updated 21 September 2026Checked against the UKGC registerEditorial desk, GamblingBet

On this page

Who the ban binds
The one exception, and the e-wallet rule
What still works

Credit cards stopped working for gambling in Great Britain on 14 April 2020. The Gambling Commission announced the ban on 14 January that year and introduced licence condition 6.1.2 to enforce it, with one stated purpose: to reduce the harm of gambling with money people do not have.

What UK casinos accept instead

UKGC casinos that take PayPal deposits

Every casino below holds a current Gambling Commission licence. We list the welcome offer as the operator publishes it, with the wagering requirement and the minimum deposit next to it.

Ratings table checked against the UKGC register on 21 September 2026.

Narrow the listFree spins includedNo wagering£10 or less to start

19.8DafabetPayPalUKGC licenceSince 2004100% first deposit bonus up to £200Visit Dafabet18+ · T&Cs apply
What we checked at Dafabet
Licence:
UK Gambling Commission
Established:
2004
Welcome offer:
100% first deposit bonus up to £200
Wagering:
see terms
Minimum deposit:
see terms
Deposits:
Apple Pay, Bank transfer, Google Pay, Mastercard, Neteller, Pay by Mobile
Offer checked on 21 September 2026 · source: thegameday.com
29.7Jackpot CityPayPalUKGC licenceSince 1998100% up to £100 + 100 free spins on JackpotCity Gold BlitzWagering 10x · Minimum deposit £20Visit Jackpot City18+ · T&Cs apply
What we checked at Jackpot City
Licence:
UK Gambling Commission
Established:
1998
Welcome offer:
100% up to £100 + 100 free spins on JackpotCity Gold Blitz
Wagering:
10x
Minimum deposit:
£20
Deposits:
Apple Pay, Mastercard, Neteller, Pay by Mobile, PayPal, Paysafecard
Listed by:
4 of 8 UK review desks we track
Offer checked on 21 September 2026 · source: casino.co.uk
39.6888 CasinoPayPalUKGC licenceNo wageringSince 1997Deposit £10, stake £10 — get 100 free spinsWagering none · Minimum deposit £10Visit 888 Casino18+ · T&Cs apply
What we checked at 888 Casino
Licence:
UK Gambling Commission
Established:
1997
Welcome offer:
Deposit £10, stake £10 — get 100 free spins
Wagering:
none
Minimum deposit:
£10
Deposits:
Apple Pay, Mastercard, Pay by Mobile, PayPal, Paysafecard, Skrill
Listed by:
5 of 8 UK review desks we track
Offer checked on 21 September 2026 · source: freebets.comRead our 888 Casino notes
49.4Spin CasinoPayPalUKGC licenceNo wageringSince 2002Stake £20 & get 150 free spins (50 a day for 3 days)Wagering none · Minimum deposit £20Visit Spin Casino18+ · T&Cs apply
What we checked at Spin Casino
Licence:
UK Gambling Commission
Established:
2002
Welcome offer:
Stake £20 & get 150 free spins (50 a day for 3 days)
Wagering:
none
Minimum deposit:
£20
Deposits:
Apple Pay, Bank transfer, Mastercard, Neteller, Pay by Mobile, PayPal
Listed by:
3 of 8 UK review desks we track
Offer checked on 21 September 2026 · source: spincasino.co.uk
59.3UK Casino ClubPayPalUKGC licenceSince 2000£700 welcome package over first five depositsWagering 10x · Minimum deposit £10Visit UK Casino Club18+ · T&Cs apply
What we checked at UK Casino Club
Licence:
UK Gambling Commission
Established:
2000
Welcome offer:
£700 welcome package over first five deposits
Wagering:
10x
Minimum deposit:
£10
Deposits:
Apple Pay, Mastercard, MuchBetter, Neteller, Pay by Mobile, PayPal
Listed by:
1 of 8 UK review desks we track
Offer checked on 21 September 2026 · source: whichbingo.co.uk
69.2PlayOJOPayPalUKGC licenceNo wageringSince 201750 wager-free spins on Book of Dead on first £10 depositWagering none · Minimum deposit £10Visit PlayOJO18+ · T&Cs apply
What we checked at PlayOJO
Licence:
UK Gambling Commission
Established:
2017
Welcome offer:
50 wager-free spins on Book of Dead on first £10 deposit
Wagering:
none
Minimum deposit:
£10
Deposits:
Apple Pay, Debit card, MasterCard, Neteller, PayPal, Paysafecard
Listed by:
6 of 8 UK review desks we track
Offer checked on 21 September 2026 · source: playojo.com
79.1KarambaPayPalUKGC licenceSince 200520 bonus spins on first deposit of £20+Wagering 10x · Minimum deposit £20Visit Karamba18+ · T&Cs apply
What we checked at Karamba
Licence:
UK Gambling Commission
Established:
2005
Welcome offer:
20 bonus spins on first deposit of £20+
Wagering:
10x
Minimum deposit:
£20
Deposits:
Apple Pay, Bank transfer, Mastercard, Neteller, Pay by Mobile, PayPal
Listed by:
3 of 8 UK review desks we track
Offer checked on 21 September 2026 · source: freebets.com
89.0Swift CasinoPayPalUKGC licenceSince 2020100% up to £25 + 100 free spins on Book of DeadWagering 10x · Minimum deposit £10Visit Swift Casino18+ · T&Cs apply
What we checked at Swift Casino
Licence:
UK Gambling Commission
Established:
2020
Welcome offer:
100% up to £25 + 100 free spins on Book of Dead
Wagering:
10x
Minimum deposit:
£10
Deposits:
Apple Pay, Debit card, MasterCard, Neteller, PayPal, Paysafecard
Listed by:
2 of 8 UK review desks we track
Offer checked on 21 September 2026 · source: bookies.com
98.8PlayzeePayPalUKGC licenceSince 2015100% up to £25 + 500 Zee Points on your first depositWagering 10x · Minimum deposit £20Visit Playzee18+ · T&Cs apply
What we checked at Playzee
Licence:
UK Gambling Commission
Established:
2015
Welcome offer:
100% up to £25 + 500 Zee Points on your first deposit
Wagering:
10x
Minimum deposit:
£20
Deposits:
Mastercard, PayPal, Visa
Listed by:
3 of 8 UK review desks we track
Offer checked on 21 September 2026 · source: bonusrated.com
108.7Hippodrome OnlinePayPalUKGC licenceSince 2013100% up to £100 + 100 spins on Big Bass BonanzaWagering 10x · Minimum deposit £20Visit Hippodrome Online18+ · T&Cs apply
What we checked at Hippodrome Online
Licence:
UK Gambling Commission
Established:
2013
Welcome offer:
100% up to £100 + 100 spins on Big Bass Bonanza
Wagering:
10x
Minimum deposit:
£20
Deposits:
Apple Pay, Mastercard, Pay by Mobile, PayPal, Paysafecard, Skrill
Listed by:
4 of 8 UK review desks we track
Offer checked on 21 September 2026 · source: casino.co.uk
118.6NetBetPayPalUKGC licenceNo wageringSince 2001100 free spins when you play £20Wagering none · Minimum deposit £10Visit NetBet18+ · T&Cs apply
What we checked at NetBet
Licence:
UK Gambling Commission
Established:
2001
Welcome offer:
100 free spins when you play £20
Wagering:
none
Minimum deposit:
£10
Deposits:
Mastercard, PayPal, Paysafecard, Visa
Listed by:
5 of 8 UK review desks we track
Offer checked on 21 September 2026 · source: netbet.co.uk

Show all 11 casinosShow fewer

We earn a commission when a reader opens an account through the links above; it never changes the order, which follows our own checks. 18+ only. Play within your limits — support at BeGambleAware.org and GamCare 0808 8020 133, and you can self-exclude from every UK licensee through GAMSTOP.

Who the ban binds

The condition applies to operators rather than to customers, which is why the card is simply declined and nobody sends you a warning. It covers online betting, casino and bingo; high street bookmakers and track bookmakers; and lotteries that take payment online or over the telephone.

The Commission described the measure as a significant layer of additional protection for vulnerable people, and it reaches every product it names, land-based and online alike.

The one exception, and the e-wallet rule

Non-remote lotteries are the exception. You can still buy lottery tickets and scratchcards with a credit card in a shop, alongside the rest of the shopping. Remote society lottery, remote ancillary lottery and remote external lottery manager licences were all brought inside the ban from 14 April 2020, for new and existing customers paying for subscriptions or single entries.

The other half of the rule closes the obvious workaround: the ban extends to gambling paid for by credit card through an e-wallet. Loading a wallet from a credit card and paying a casino from the wallet is the same transaction as far as the condition is concerned, and the major wallet providers block it at their end.

What still works

Debit cards, bank transfers, open banking and wallets funded from a debit card or balance are all unaffected. So is a prepaid card loaded with your own money.

If the reason for reaching for credit is that the debit balance has run out, that is the signal the rule was written for. A deposit limit or a bank gambling block costs nothing to set, and our safer gambling page lists the free helplines.