Credit card funded e-wallet gambling rule

What the credit card funded e-wallet gambling rule says

The rule has two parts. The licence condition itself, LCCP 6.1.2 on the use of credit cards (opens in a new tab), says that licensees must not accept payment for gambling by credit card, and that this includes payments made by credit card through a money service business. An e-wallet that passes your credit card payment to a casino is one way that could happen.

The Gambling Commission’s consumer guidance on gambling using a credit card (opens in a new tab) spells out the e-wallet angle: a gambling business accepting payment from an e-wallet such as PayPal or Skrill should make sure the money was not loaded from a credit card. Put simply, credit card money is not allowed to reach a gambling account, whether directly or through a wallet.

This page focuses on that e-wallet loophole. For the wider ban, including its scope across betting shops and casinos, see our main credit card gambling ban page, and for every payment rule in one place, the latest casino payment rules.

Why the Commission closed the e-wallet route

A ban on credit cards would mean little if a player could load an e-wallet with a credit card and then gamble from the wallet. The Commission’s January 2020 announcement, Gambling on credit cards to be banned from April 2020 (opens in a new tab), set out the case for the ban as a whole:

• UK Finance estimated that 800,000 consumers used UK-issued credit cards to gamble in 2018.
• Commission research found that 22% of online gamblers using credit cards were problem gamblers.
• The Commission pointed to people building up ‘tens of thousands of pounds of debt’, and to credit card fees as a factor that can lead people to chase losses.
• The then Chief Executive, Neil McArthur, said the aim was to reduce the risk of harm from ‘gambling with money they do not have’.

Closing the money service business route was part of the same decision. Without it, a wallet funded by credit would become the easiest workaround.

Who the rule applies to and what it covers

LCCP 6.1.2 applies to all remote licences, including ancillary remote betting and lottery licences, plus non-remote general betting, pool betting and betting intermediary licences. It does not apply to gaming machine technical, gambling software or host licences, which do not take payments from players.

The Commission’s guidance does not address overdrafts or other forms of borrowing, so we don’t describe their status here. The rule is about where the money comes from at the point of payment, not about your wider finances.

How the e-wallet rule works in practice

Most e-wallets let you store several funding sources: a balance, a bank account, a debit card and sometimes a credit card. The Commission does not say how an operator must check where wallet money came from, so methods differ between casinos and wallet providers. What matters to you is that a payment drawing on a credit card should not reach a gambling account, and the casino has a duty to try to stop it.

Worked example: a mixed PayPal setup

Say your PayPal account has a debit card and a credit card linked, and the credit card is set as the preferred payment source. You try to deposit £40 at a casino. If PayPal draws that £40 from the credit card, the payment breaks the rule and should be declined or blocked. Change the preferred source to the debit card or bank account and the same £40 deposit is acceptable, assuming the casino accepts PayPal.

Worked example: a wallet balance

Suppose you top up Skrill with £100 from a credit card for online shopping, then later try to send £50 of that balance to a casino. That £50 traces back to credit, which is exactly what the Commission says operators should guard against. Top up the wallet from a debit card or bank transfer instead if you plan to use it for gambling.

Which of our partner casinos list e-wallets

None of our partners accepts credit cards, as required. The table shows which e-wallets each lists, based only on our facts file. ‘Not published’ means the casino’s own help pages don’t list it; check the cashier.

Coral’s deposit methods help page (opens in a new tab) lists the cashier options, and Coral and Ladbrokes also limit UK customers to three active payment methods in a rolling 30 days. For the detail by casino, see Coral payment methods, Coral bonus excluded payment methods and PlayOJO payment methods.

Why e-wallet deposits often miss out on bonuses

This is a separate issue from the credit card rule, but it catches many players. Several welcome offers exclude e-wallet deposits even when the money came from a debit card. Coral’s current offer excludes Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards. Ladbrokes’ excludes prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers. Casinos don’t always give a reason; our answer to why can’t I use PayPal for the bonus explains the reasoning.

In pounds: deposit £10 by PayPal at Coral and bet it on slots, and you would not receive the 100 spins worth £10 in total (100 × 10p). Deposit £10 with an eligible debit card, bet £10 on slots, and you qualify, subject to the other terms. Read the full PayPal casinos guide for how PayPal works for deposits and withdrawals.

What the credit card funded e-wallet rule does not cover

• Unlicensed sites. Offshore casinos without a Gambling Commission licence are not bound by LCCP 6.1.2 and may take credit cards, with none of the UK protections. See offshore casinos explained.
• Northern Ireland law. The LCCP applies to Commission licensees for Great Britain; Northern Ireland has separate law.
• Withdrawals. The rule controls payments into gambling. Withdrawals follow the casino’s closed-loop policy, which usually sends money back to the method you used.
• Debit cards and bank transfers. These remain permitted, though banks can block gambling payments at your request.

How to set up an e-wallet for gambling the right way

1. Open your e-wallet’s settings and list the funding sources linked to it.
2. Remove any credit card you don’t need, or at least make sure a debit card or bank account is the preferred source.
3. Top up the wallet from that debit card or bank account only.
4. Check the casino accepts your wallet for deposits and withdrawals, and whether the welcome offer excludes it.
5. Set a deposit limit at the casino when prompted, and consider a separate limit or budget in the wallet.
6. If a deposit is declined, don’t try another credit-linked route; check the funding source and the casino’s payment help page.

If you want a firmer barrier, many banks let you block gambling payments from your card. The Commission keeps a page on how to block gambling payments with your bank (opens in a new tab), and our bank gambling blocks guide lists which banks offer one.

Credit card and e-wallet gambling rule timeline

What to do if a casino accepts credit card money

If a UK-licensed casino lets you deposit by credit card, directly or through an e-wallet you know is funded by credit, stop using that route. Contact the casino’s support in writing, and if you are unhappy with the response, use its complaints procedure; after eight weeks you can take an unresolved complaint to the approved ADR provider, as explained in complaints and ADR. You can also report the issue to the Gambling Commission, which uses reports to target its work.

If you are using credit to gamble because of money worries, that is a sign to pause. The National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 is free and open 24/7, and the gambling debt help guide lists free debt advice services.

What could change next for e-wallet and card rules

The credit card condition has not changed since it started on 14 April 2020, and the current LCCP version from 29 July 2026 still contains it. Related rules have moved on: casinos must prompt you to set a financial limit before your first deposit (since 31 October 2025), and run a public-record financial vulnerability check when net deposits pass £150 in 30 days (since 28 February 2025). Any change to payment rules will be dated on our UK casino rules hub.

Where to play with an eligible payment method

Both casinos below hold Gambling Commission licences and don’t accept credit cards. Offers were checked on 5 October 2026; 18+ only and terms apply.

• Coral Casino: deposit with an eligible method and bet £10 or more on slots to get 100 free spins at 10p each on selected games. New players only, 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027; accept within 48 hours and use within 7 days; no wagering on winnings from the spins. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don’t qualify.
• PlayOJO: first deposit of £10 or more for 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each, with no wagering, so winnings are paid in cash. New UK customers only, excluding Northern Ireland; can’t be combined with other offers; only via the designated offer link. Check the cashier for accepted payment methods.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set deposit limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.