Zack Wilson is an experienced sports writer with over a decade’s worth of professional work behind him. After cutting his teeth at Goal.com, one of the world’s biggest football websites, Wilson moved into the world of rugby league, and helped take Love Rugby League to its position as one of the UK’s premier rugby league websites. Particular highlights of his career include interviewing the dual-code rugby legend Jonathan Davies, and working in the press box the first time that Scotland played Australia, at Hull, and then England, at Coventry, in rugby league internationals.
Credit Card Betting Sites
Sports betting with a credit card used to be very popular in the UK. Changes to legislation in 2021 mean that using a credit card on betting sites is no longer legal for British residents, however.
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.
New customers only. Min. Deposit £5. Bet credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Funded account required, or have placed a bet within 24 hours. 18+ Geo restrictions apply.
New customers only • Promotion valid until March 16th, 2021 • 18+ • Min deposit of £/€/$10 with promo code CHEL40 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £/€/$10 on Horse racing• Min odds 1.50 • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet placement and on the 16th March 2021 and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Restrictions apply to withdrawals, payment methods, and countries. Full T&Cs apply
New UK+IRE customers only. Paypal & some deposit & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 4 days, stake not returned. No cashout, restrictions. 18+ begambleaware.com T&Cs apply
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 2021, 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.
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.
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 and Mastercard debit cards
Visa and Mastercard debit cards 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 and 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 sports betting sites 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.
Ewallets like PayPal, Skrill and 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 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.
New customers only • Promotion valid until March 16th, 2021 • 18+ • Min deposit of £/€/$10 with promo code CHEL40 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £/€/$10 on Horse racing• Min odds 1.50 • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet placement and on the 16th March 2021 and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Restrictions apply to withdrawals, payment methods, and countries. Full T&Cs apply
New UK+IRE customers only. Promo code: 20FREE. Paypal and certain deposit types and bet types excluded. Min £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4 x £/€5 free bets. Free bets valid for 4 days on sports, stake not returned, restrictions apply. T&Cs apply
New customers only. Deposit £10 min and claim in ‘my offers’ 1×100% mobile in-play profit boost. Max stake £10. Max extra winnings £100. Valid for 30 days. Skrill/Neteller deposits do not qualify. 18+ www.begambleaware.org. T&C’s apply
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 2021. So, the reason that you cannot find any sites that allow betting with a credit card is due to this change in UK law. But 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 ewallets?
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. Ewallets 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.
Look at the range of sports
One thing that you should always check when looking at potential betting sites is the range of sports on offer. While there should always be a good selection of markets on mainstream sports like football and cricket betting, a good betting site should also offer variety. If you want to bet on Aussie Rules football or Gaelic games like hurling, you should have the opportunity. Special markets, like those on TV shows and politics, add another level of entertaining variety.
Make sure there are plenty of live betting options
You might not be able to find any UK betting sites or greyhound betting UK providers that accept credit cards anymore, but that does not mean that you should be ignoring the potential of in-play betting as entertainment. Live betting can be really exciting, and there should always be a wide range of sports and events on offer for fans of in-play wagering.
Does the welcome bonus offer good value?
You should always look at the welcome bonus and other promotions on offer at a potential sports betting site. Betting with a credit card may no longer be allowed in the UK, but that does not mean that you cannot pick up some tempting offers for opening a new account.
Is there live streaming of some sports?
Another thing to check carefully when you are looking for a good online sportsbook is the presence of live event streaming on the site. This is particularly useful if you enjoy live betting – an experience that is always improved by being able to see what is occurring in the event on which you are betting. Many betting sites have really comprehensive streaming services, especially for horse racing, so always check this feature before committing to opening an account.
Assess the effectiveness of the customer service team
Betting with a credit card may no longer be legal, but you still need to be able to trust the site at which you are wagering. Transparent, effective and fast customer service is very important when you are assessing a betting site. It is a good idea to ask the customer service team a question before you commit to opening an account, if this is possible. A quick enquiry about the bonus offer or the in-play betting options can give you an illuminating impression of the effectiveness of the customer service team.
Check the availability of a mobile app
Everyone uses their mobile devices for entertainment nowadays and that includes sports bettors. A top sports betting site should do much more than simply be optimised for use in your device’s internet browser. There should also be an app. The app should enable you to not just place bets, but also contact customer service, deposit and withdraw funds from your account, and watch live streams of events if they are available. The app should also be easy to find online and to download – take a look at our best horse racing app and best app for cricket betting guides for good examples.
Find out about the range of payment methods available
As there are no longer any UK betting sites that accept credit cards, checking the range of payment methods on offer at a potential sportsbook is really important. If you use a particular debit card or ewallet then you should ensure that it is accepted at the site. Always check how using a particular method will affect your ability to claim the welcome bonuses and other offers at the site. You should also check on the process behind withdrawing winnings, and make sure that you can get your hands on anything that you have won speedily and efficiently. Ideally, you should be able to withdraw winnings to the same payment method you used to deposit funds in your account.
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
❓Can I use credit cards to withdraw winnings from sports betting websites?
The law around using credit cards at sports betting websites in the UK changed in April 2021, and this has caused some issues for sports betting punters who liked to use credit cards as their primary payment method. If you want to know more about which payment methods are accepted at specific sports betting sites then you should make use of the resources on offer here at Betting.co.uk. We can help with a wide range of gambling queries.
💳Do sports betting websites allow you to use debit cards?
For many people, debit cards are a very convenient payment method to use to purchase goods and services online. If you want to find out which payment methods are accepted at which sports betting sites then it is a good idea to read our betting site and casino reviews here at Betting.co.uk. As well as telling you all about the range of payment methods on offer, you can also find out important details like the quality of the promotional bonuses, what the customer service is like, and whether or not you can download an app.
🥅How do I withdraw my winnings from a sports betting website?
If you want to know how to withdraw winnings from a particular sports betting website then you should read our operator reviews here at Betting.co.uk. In those, you can find details about which payment methods can be used to make withdrawals, how long the process takes, and whether or not any charges are applied to your withdrawals. Whatever the nature of your gambling query, we at Betting.co.uk can help!
New customers only • Promotion valid until March 16th, 2021 • 18+ • Min deposit of £/€/$10 with promo code CHEL40 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £/€/$10 on Horse racing• Min odds 1.50 • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet placement and on the 16th March 2021 and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Restrictions apply to withdrawals, payment methods, and countries. Full T&Cs apply
New UK+IRE customers only. Promo code: 20FREE. Paypal and certain deposit types and bet types excluded. Min £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4 x £/€5 free bets. Free bets valid for 4 days on sports, stake not returned, restrictions apply. T&Cs apply
New customers only. Deposit £10 min and claim in ‘my offers’ 1×100% mobile in-play profit boost. Max stake £10. Max extra winnings £100. Valid for 30 days. Skrill/Neteller deposits do not qualify. 18+ www.begambleaware.org. T&C’s apply
New customers only • Promotion valid until March 16th, 2021 • 18+ • Min deposit of £/€/$10 with promo code CHEL40 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £/€/$10 on Horse racing• Min odds 1.50 • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet placement and on the 16th March 2021 and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Restrictions apply to withdrawals, payment methods, and countries. Full T&Cs apply
New UK+IRE customers only. Promo code: 20FREE. Paypal and certain deposit types and bet types excluded. Min £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4 x £/€5 free bets. Free bets valid for 4 days on sports, stake not returned, restrictions apply. T&Cs apply
New customers only. Deposit £10 min and claim in ‘my offers’ 1x100% mobile in-play profit boost. Max stake £10. Max extra winnings £100. Valid for 30 days. Skrill/Neteller deposits do not qualify. 18+ www.begambleaware.org. T&C's apply
New UK+IRE customers only. Paypal & some deposit & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 4 days, stake not returned. No cashout, restrictions. 18+ begambleaware.com T&Cs apply
New customers only. Min. Deposit £5. Bet credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Funded account required, or have placed a bet within 24 hours. 18+ Geo restrictions apply.
New customers only • Promotion valid until March 16th, 2021 • 18+ • Min deposit of £/€/$10 with promo code CHEL40 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £/€/$10 on Horse racing• Min odds 1.50 • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet placement and on the 16th March 2021 and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Restrictions apply to withdrawals, payment methods, and countries. Full T&Cs apply
