Gambling Commission pinpoints banking disruptors in new operator credit card guidance

The Gambling Commission (UKGC) has called on UK banks and operators to prevent gamblers from making credit card deposits through e-wallet and electronic payment services.

Singling out money service businesses (MSB), the regulator reiterated its prior stance that operators should not accept any payment from an MSB unless it has mechanisms in place to prevent credit cards being used in payments.

The UKGC highlighted challenger bank Revolut as an example for failing to block customers from adding money using credit cards, as those funds could then be used for online gambling.

“It is important for operators to ensure that the credit card ban cannot be easily circumvented by simply topping up an e-wallet or online money transfer account directly from a credit card, where those funds could then be used for gambling with very little friction in the transactional process,” said the regulator.

Credit card gambling became prohibited in April when the UKGC introduced licence conditions to ban the practice.

UK high street banks including HSBC have extended the credit card ban to customers as part of their own responsible gambling measures.