Can I use a credit card on a casino app? No. Since 14 April 2020, every gambling business licensed in Great Britain has been barred from taking credit card payments, and that covers apps, websites and e-wallets topped up with a credit card. Use a debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay with a debit card, PayPal or Pay by Bank instead.
Credit cards can’t be used to gamble in Great Britain, on an app or anywhere else, since 14 April 2020.
The ban reaches e-wallets such as PayPal or Skrill if the money came from a credit card.
A credit card stored in Apple Pay or Google Pay is still a credit card: choose a debit card in the wallet.
Apple and Google don’t let casino apps sell credit through App Store or Play billing either.
Debit cards, Pay by Bank, PayPal and prepaid options are the usual alternatives.
Credit card ban in force
14 April 2020
Rule
LCCP 6.1.2
Covers e-wallets
Yes, if credit-card funded
App store billing
Not allowed for real-money gambling
Coral and Ladbrokes
No credit cards accepted
Can I use a credit card on a casino app in the UK?
No. The Gambling Commission’s licence condition 6.1.2 says licensed operators must not accept payment for gambling by credit card, and that includes credit card payments routed through a money service business. The rule has applied since 14 April 2020, and it doesn’t care whether you’re tapping a button in an iPhone app or typing card details into a desktop browser.
This page sits in our casino app questions hub, alongside related answers on payments, deposits and bonuses.
Why credit cards were banned from gambling apps
The Commission announced the ban on 14 January 2020 and switched it on three months later. Two figures shaped the decision. UK Finance estimated that about 800,000 people gambled with credit cards in 2018, and research the Commission cited found that 22% of online gamblers who used credit cards were problem gamblers.
The worry is simple: borrowing to gamble adds interest and debt on top of losses. Casino games carry a house edge, so the expected result over time is a loss, and paying for that with borrowed money makes the damage bigger. The ban removes the easiest route to doing it.
The ban is wider than many people expect. It covers all online and offline gambling, with one narrow exception for non-remote lotteries, such as a lottery ticket or scratchcard bought in a shop that sells other goods. Nothing in a casino app falls into that exception.
Credit card ban: what is and isn’t allowed in a casino app
Payment route
Allowed for gambling?
Why
Credit card added directly in the app
No
LCCP 6.1.2 bars credit card payments
PayPal or Skrill topped up by credit card
No
Operators should make sure e-wallet funds weren’t loaded from a credit card
Credit card stored in Apple Pay or Google Pay
No
The wallet passes on the stored card; the card type is what counts
Debit card
Yes
Gambling Act s.81 treats a full debit card payment as not being credit
Debit card in Apple Pay or Google Pay
Yes, where the app lists the wallet
Same underlying debit card
App Store or Google Play billing
No
Apple and Google bar in-app billing for real-money gambling
The Gambling Act 2005 helps explain the line. Section 81 of the Act (opens in a new tab) defines a debit card payment as one taken from a bank account with a card that isn’t a credit-token under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. That’s the test: is the card drawing on your own money, or on borrowed money?
Credit cards in Apple Pay, Google Pay and e-wallets
A phone wallet isn’t a separate pot of money. Apple says Apple Pay works with credit, debit or prepaid cards you’ve added, and Google Pay replaces your card number with a virtual one when you pay. In both cases the money still comes from the card underneath.
That means a credit card sitting in your wallet is still caught by the ban. If your wallet has both a credit and a debit card, set the debit card as the one you use for Apple Pay deposits or Google Pay deposits, and check which card is selected before you confirm with Face ID or your fingerprint.
E-wallets follow the same logic. The Commission says a business taking money from PayPal or Skrill should make sure it wasn’t loaded from a credit card. If you fund a PayPal casino app balance, use a linked bank account or debit card, not a credit card.
Some banks add their own layer. HSBC says it blocks credit card gambling payments automatically, separately from its optional debit card gambling restriction.
Can I pay through the App Store or Google Play instead?
No, and this catches out people who have a credit card on their Apple ID. Apple’s App Review Guidelines (opens in a new tab) say apps may not use in-app purchase to buy credit or currency for real-money gaming of any kind. Real-money casino apps must also be free to download on the App Store.
Google Play has the same principle. Its real-money gambling policy says these apps must be free to install and must not use Google Play’s in-app billing. So your Play balance or the card on your Google account can’t be used to fund a casino balance.
If an app is charging you through the store for casino chips, it is almost certainly a social casino app with play-money coins, not a real-money casino. Those coins can’t be cashed out.
What to use instead of a credit card in casino apps
Most UK casino apps accept several payment methods that use your own money. The table below shows what our three closest partners publish in their help pages. Methods change, so check the cashier in the app before you rely on one.
Payment methods listed by Coral, Ladbrokes and PlayOJO
Method
Coral
Ladbrokes
PlayOJO
Debit card (Visa, Mastercard)
Yes
Yes
Yes (debit cards named)
Apple Pay
Yes
Yes
Yes
Google Pay
Yes (£5 minimum)
Yes (£5 minimum)
Not named on help page
PayPal
Yes
Yes
Not named on help page
Pay by Bank / Trustly
Yes (£5 minimum)
Yes (£5 minimum)
Trustly named
paysafecard
Yes (account only)
Yes (account only)
Not named on help page
Credit card
No
No
Not permitted under UK rules
Coral and Ladbrokes, both run by LC International Limited, cap each UK deposit at £2,000 and limit customers to three active payment methods in a rolling 30 days. PlayOJO lists debit cards, Payz, Apple Pay and Trustly on its help page and says to check the cashier for the full list. For a wider comparison, see our debit card casino apps and Pay by Bank pages.
How to switch from a credit card to a debit card in a casino app
If a deposit has failed because you tried a credit card, the fix takes a couple of minutes. These steps work for most apps, although the exact screens vary.
Look at the card itself or your banking app: it will say “debit” or “credit”. Many banks print this on the front.
Open the casino app and go to the cashier or deposit screen.
Remove the credit card if the app saved it, using the payment method or saved cards option.
Add a debit card in your own name, or choose Apple Pay or Google Pay with a debit card selected.
Check the deposit limit you set when you joined; UK apps have prompted a limit before the first deposit since 31 October 2025.
Enter an amount you’re comfortable losing and confirm.
Overdrafts, buy-now-pay-later and other borrowing
The Commission’s published rule is specifically about credit cards and credit-card-funded e-wallets. Its pages don’t set out a position on overdrafts, so we won’t claim one either way.
The spirit of the rule is still worth taking seriously. If you find yourself dipping into an overdraft, a loan or money set aside for bills to fund a casino app, that’s a strong sign to pause. A deposit limit and a bank gambling block are two of the quickest ways to put a barrier in place.
The National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare on 0808 8020 133, is free and open 24 hours a day if money worries and gambling have started to overlap.
Credit card rules in Northern Ireland and abroad
The Gambling Act 2005 and the Commission’s licence conditions cover Great Britain. Northern Ireland has its own gambling law and no full online framework, so Commission protections can’t simply be assumed there. Our page on casino apps in Northern Ireland explains the gap.
Outside the UK, a UK-licensed app is geo-restricted under Apple and Google rules, so you generally can’t play it abroad anyway. Any site that does take credit cards from British players is not following Commission rules, which is a reason to avoid it rather than a perk.
Credit-card-free casino apps with a welcome offer
Every partner app below follows the credit card ban, so any welcome offer has to be claimed with a debit card or another eligible method. Watch the exclusions: Coral and Ladbrokes both shut out several e-wallets and prepaid cards from their offers. All offers are 18+ and terms apply.
Coral: new players, 18+. Running 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027. Make a deposit (Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don’t qualify) and bet £10 or more on slots to receive 100 free spins on selected games at 10p each. Accept within 48 hours; spins last 7 days; no wagering on winnings.
Ladbrokes: new customers, 18+. Deposit and spend £10 or more on slots to receive 50 free spins a day for the first 10 days, up to 500, at 10p each on selected games. Claim before 23:59 each day; spins last 7 days; no wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits are excluded.
PlayOJO: new UK customers aged 18+, excluding Northern Ireland. A first deposit of at least £10 brings 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each, with no wagering and winnings paid in cash. Only through the designated offer link and not combinable with other offers.
None of these offers can be claimed with a credit card, and the Coral and Ladbrokes offers also exclude several e-wallets and prepaid cards. 18+, terms apply.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open another; check the terms first.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Coral app reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Time limitClaim daily for 10 days; each batch valid 7 days
Worked valueUp to 500 spins at £0.10 (up to £50 in spins)
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Ladbrokes app reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our PlayOJO app reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, Gambling Commission account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a credit card on a casino app in the UK?
No. Gambling businesses licensed in Great Britain have been banned from accepting credit card payments since 14 April 2020, under licence condition 6.1.2. The rule applies equally to apps and websites, so adding a credit card to a casino app’s cashier won’t work. Use a debit card, a phone wallet with a debit card selected, or Pay by Bank instead. Our credit card ban page has the full background and dates.
Does Apple Pay with a credit card work on a casino app?
Not legally. Apple Pay simply presents a card you’ve stored in Wallet, so if that card is a credit card, the payment is still a credit card payment for gambling. Pick a debit card in Wallet before you confirm the deposit. Apps such as Coral and Ladbrokes list Apple Pay, and our Apple Pay casino apps page compares the options for iPhone users who want to pay that way.
Can I top up PayPal with a credit card and then deposit?
No. The Gambling Commission says operators accepting e-wallets such as PayPal or Skrill should make sure the money wasn’t loaded from a credit card. Routing credit through an e-wallet doesn’t get round the ban. Fund PayPal from a bank account or debit card if you use it for gambling. Note that Coral and Ladbrokes exclude PayPal from their welcome offers, as our payment exclusions guide explains.
When did the UK ban credit cards for gambling?
The ban took effect on 14 April 2020. The Gambling Commission announced it on 14 January 2020, giving operators three months to stop accepting credit cards. It covers online and offline gambling, with an exception only for non-remote lotteries such as a scratchcard bought in a shop selling other goods. The UK rules hub lists the other dated rules that shape how casino apps work.
Can I buy casino credit through the App Store with my Apple ID card?
No. Apple’s App Review Guidelines say apps may not use in-app purchase to buy credit or currency for real-money gaming, and Google Play bars its billing system for gambling apps too. Real-money casino apps take payments in their own cashier instead. If an app sells coins through the store, it is a social casino with play money; see social casino apps vs real-money apps for the difference.
What happens if I try to deposit with a credit card?
The deposit should be refused, because the operator isn’t allowed to accept it. You won’t lose money from a refused deposit, but you’ll need to choose another method. Swap to a debit card in your own name, or pick a wallet with a debit card selected. If a debit card also fails, our guide to a casino app payment declined covers bank blocks, limits and verification issues.
Is a prepaid card the same as a credit card for gambling?
No, a prepaid card spends money you’ve already loaded, so it isn’t credit. Some casino apps accept prepaid options such as paysafecard, which Coral and Ladbrokes list as account-only. However, prepaid cards are excluded from both the Coral and Ladbrokes welcome offers, so they won’t trigger those free spins. Our paysafecard page explains how the voucher system works in apps.
Why do some banks block gambling on credit cards anyway?
Some banks add their own protection on top of the Commission’s rule. HSBC, for example, says credit card gambling payments are blocked automatically, separate from its optional debit card restriction. Many banks also offer gambling blocks for debit cards that you can switch on in their apps. See our guide to bank gambling blocks for which banks offer them and how cooling-off periods work.
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