Report

Prohibition of gambling on credit cards

This report focuses on research conducted around the prohibition of gambling on credit cards

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Published
2 November 2021

Last updated
10 February 2026 - Changes

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Contents

• Prohibition of gambling on credit cards

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• Executive summary
• Background and approach
• • Background
  • Evaluation Activity
• Methodology and limitations
• • Methodology for key sources
  • Limitations of the ban and evaluation
• Operator Implementation and customer behaviour
• Credit cards and digital wallets
• Deposits prior to the introduction of the ban
• Displacement to other high-cost credit sources​
• Displacement to illegal sources of funds​
• Bypassing the ban through other behaviours​
• Displacement to unlicensed gambling sites​
• Inconvenience to leisure gamblers​
• Conclusions and next steps​
• Appendices​
• • Appendix 1: ToC Participating Organisations
  • Appendix 2: Online Tracker Survey Questions
  • Appendix 3: 2CV Questions

Appendix 1: ToC Participating Organisations

The following organisations kindly contributed to the development of a Theory of Change in a workshop session held in January 2020 and hosted by the Gambling Commission:

• Citizens Advice
• Illegal Money Lending Team
• Money and Mental Health Policy Institute
• Stepchange.

In addition, the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling provided input by correspondence.

Next section
Appendix 2: Online Tracker Survey Questions

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Last updated: 10 February 2026

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Link to ABSG removed following closure.