Betting With Credit Card 2025

Sports betting with a credit card used to be very popular in the UK. Changes to legislation in 2020 meant that using a credit card on betting sites is no longer legal for British residents.

In this article, you’ll discover that there are plenty of alternatives to using a credit card on betting sites now. Those alternatives include debit cards and eWallets.

Finding a good betting site is about more than just payment methods, though. So our experts will also tell you that in order to find the best betting site for you, you need to check the bonus offers, the customer service options and the all-round site design. You should also check out our betting site reviews here at Betting.co.uk.

Using A Credit Card At Betting Sites In The UK

Online betting with a credit card is not allowed anymore. The law around this issue changed in April 2025, with the UK government being motivated to make the change by a desire to offer greater protection to gamblers who might be at risk of falling into financial difficulties. Using a credit card on betting sites is now illegal on UK betting sites, but there are alternative methods available like PaySafe Sports Betting.

This should not place too large a burden on anyone who enjoys sports betting, however. There are alternatives to sports betting with a credit card, such as the  and we’ll look at some of the other payment methods that you can use next - such as betting in a casino with a Visa prepaid card or other debit cards.

Why Are Credit Cards Banned At UK Betting Sites?

On April 12, 2020 all UK licenced bookmakers were told they could not accept credit cards for any form of payment - this meant no credit cards to withdraw or deposit funds.

This move came directly from the UK Gambling Commission and it was brought in to try and protect customers from getting into more debt by using credit cards to fund their gambling needs.

In the past few years, the betting world has informed customers about gambling sensibly and this is one of the methods they introduced.

Alternatives To Credit Cards At UK Betting Sites

So now there are no UK betting sites that accept credit cards, what methods can you use instead? There are three options that all have their advantages depending on your personal preferences and circumstances. We’ll look at those now.

Visa & Mastercard Debit Cards

Visa and Mastercard Betting are widely accepted and are very safe and secure to use. Using debit cards will mean that you can claim welcome bonuses without any hindrance in most cases.

If you have previously played at betting sites that accept credit cards then the process of using a debit card will be familiar to you. It follows much the same process as using a credit card. Many punters like to use debit cards as they are usually linked directly to their bank account, and you should find most sites are Mastercard casinos online now.

Paysafecard & Other Prepaid Cards

There are other kinds of debit cards that can be used at betting sites. These are called prepaid cards, and you purchase cards with a certain, pre-set value. Those funds can then be transferred into your sports betting account in the same way as with a normal debit card. One prominent brand of prepaid cards is paysafecard.

This brand is widely accepted by UK bookmakers as well as online casinos. One thing of which you do need to be aware when betting with a paysafecard, though, is that you cannot withdraw winnings to it.

E-wallets Like PayPal, Skrill & Neteller

Ewallets are very popular payment methods that are very convenient and also widely accepted at many online sportsbooks. If you’re looking for an alternative payment method now that using a credit card on betting sites is illegal in the UK, then you might want to consider using Skrill, Neteller betting sites or PayPal.

One thing that you should always check with these payment methods, though, is how they affect your ability to claim welcome bonuses and other offers from the betting site. Many online sportsbooks do not allow ewallet users to claim bonuses, so always check this before you commit to opening an account. It's always a good idea to check with the site’s customer service team if you have any issues like this.

Betting Site Credit Cards - Important Things You Should Know

Below is a few answers to some popular queries when it comes to using credit cards at UK betting sites. Being armed with this information should ensure your betting journey goes a little bit smoothly regarding betting site payment methods.

Why Can’t I find Any UK Betting Sites That Accept Credit Cards Anymore?

Betting sites that accept credit cards in the UK are now illegal, after changes to legislation in April 2020. So, the reason that you cannot find any sites that allow betting with a credit card is due to this change in UK law.

While using a credit card on betting sites is no longer legal, there are plenty of alternatives available. You can find out about many of these by checking out our range of payment method articles here at Betting.co.uk. As well as sports betting sites, we also review poker sites.

Now That Betting With A Credit Card Is Illegal, Can I Still Use My Debit Cards?

Using a credit card on betting sites is illegal now in the UK, but you can still use debit cards. The most widely used debit cards are gambling sites that accept Visa and Mastercard. These are widely accepted and you can usually claim welcome bonuses and other offers when you use them. Debit cards are also a very secure and safe payment method thanks to the providers’ own security systems.

Can I Claim Welcome Offers If I Use E-wallets?

Now that betting with a credit card is no longer allowed in the UK, you may well be thinking of using an ewallet such as Skrill or PayPal instead. It used to be the case that betting sites that accept credit cards would almost always allow credit card users to claim the welcome bonus and other offers from the site.

E-wallets are very convenient and widely accepted, but you should always check the terms and conditions of the bonus offers at the site at which you are using them. Many betting sites do not allow ewallet customers to claim bonuses. Check with the site’s customer service team if you have any further issues.

How To Find A UK Betting Site: 7 Things To Look For

So now that you can no longer find betting sites that accept credit cards in the UK, how should you begin your search for the best online sportsbook for you? Here are seven features that you should look at when you are assessing whether a betting site is right for you.

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Betting With Credit Cards Conclusion

While betting with a credit card is no longer legal in the UK, and you can no longer wager using a credit card on betting sites, there are still plenty of other payment methods available.

Debit cards and ewallets both offer security, flexibility and are widely accepted at online sportsbooks. When you are looking for a good betting site, you should make sure that there is a tempting welcome bonus on offer, a good range of payment methods, and plenty of additional features such as live streaming and a mobile app.

Using credit card on betting sites may not now be legal in the UK, but we at Betting.co.uk can still help you find the right online sportsbook for you too. Make sure you read our operator reviews to help you in your search.

Betting With Credit Card FAQs