Credit cards are one of the most popular payment methods for online gambling, and, here at Techopedia, we will look at how the best credit card casinos in the UK work. We’ll also cover how to deposit and claim eligible bonuses using a credit card.
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How to Choose a Top Credit Card Casino in the UK
We invest a lot of time and resources into testing for the top credit card casinos in the UK. Here are a couple of key areas that we focus on, specifically for credit cards casino sites in the UK:
- Supported credit cards: Visa and Mastercard are the most popular and it is easy to find a casino that accepts credit card payments from these brands. However, it is good to have more variety, with Discover, AMEX, and Diners Club being available on some sites.
- Fees and processing times: Payments should always be free, and any sites that don’t allow you to deposit without charge will not be included. You should also opt for a fast withdrawal casino with swift processing times.
- Bonuses: You must be able to redeem casino bonuses. Some are restrictive with credit card payments, but the best credit card deposit casino in the UK will have a bonus you can claim. Ideally, we want no restrictions.
Benefits of Using Credit Card Casinos
This section examines why credit card deposit casinos in the UK are so popular. Here are the main reasons for using credit cards followed by an overview of its pros and cons.
1. Safety
Safety is the number one factor as to why you should use a credit card deposit casino in the UK.
You get buyer protection, which is only sometimes applicable to debit cards, so if anything were to go wrong, you can contact your card issuer, and they will take up the issue on your behalf.
In most cases, they will reimburse your card should there be an error that was out of your control.
2. Accessibility
Most deposits with credit card casinos in the UK can be used online.
Visa and Mastercard are widely-known and used globally, most of the top international online casinos accepting one or both payment methods. This means that you can use a single card or credit account across multiple casinos without issue.
3. Lack of Fees
Most credit card transactions are free. You can deposit without paying additional fees, which is not always the case with all deposit methods.
The only thing to note is that you will be charged interest on your purchases if you do not clear the balance in full before the month ends.
4. Loyalty Points
We are often asked why is it good to play at online casinos that accept credit cards in the UK, and our answer is always the same. It allows you to earn a ton of points (from the card, not the casino).
These can be air miles, points for shopping, cash rewards, increased savings or all of the above. Every time you use the card, you earn points.
5. Bigger Range of Bonuses
Most of the top credit card casino sites in the UK allow you to claim welcome and reload bonuses using a credit card.
In fact, they are one of the most accessible payment types, behind debit cards for sites based in the UK. The more bonuses you can claim, the more you can clear and the more money you can make.
Pros
- Accessible with most online casinos in the UK
- Can earn points depending on the type of card
- Added security with fully covered payments
- Often no fees, and fast processing times
Cons
- Not all credit cards grant points from gambling
- Usually can’t withdraw back to a credit card
Best Credit Cards for Online Casinos in the UK
Not all credit cards are made equal – some are better suited to online gambling than others. We’ve outlined a few companies to consider and why they work well within credit card casinos online in the UK.
Visa
Visa is not only one of the biggest brands in the finance sector but also one of the most popular payment methods for credit card casinos in the UK.
It is accepted by 99% of the best online casinos in the UK. To be honest, if there was a site that didn’t allow you to use Visa, even if it was just a debit card, we’d be skeptical as to how legitimate it was.
Mastercard
Like Visa, Mastercard is widely available and even more popular regarding credit accounts over debit. It often has many more offers and promotions that you can claim when using the card online for gambling.
American Express
American Express (or “Amex”) is not as exhaustively accepted as Visa or Mastercard, especially for independent casinos in the UK that accept credit cards.
However, a lot of casinos have a growing US player base, and with it, Amex creates an easy payment option for those across the pond to play online.
Barclaycard
Barclays is one of the biggest banks in the world and has its own line of credit in the form of a Barclaycard.
You can get many variations with a Barclaycard, but you need something with a low transfer fee that allows you to use it with online casinos.
Credit Card Casino Bonuses in the UK
One of the biggest plus points to using online casinos that accept credit cards in the UK is that you can claim a multitude of casino promotions. But some casinos may limit these options based on the credit card and bonus, so check the T&Cs to ensure you’re eligible.
Welcome Bonus
You will receive a welcome bonus when creating an account for the first time. Most of these offers come as a deposit bonus but can also include free spins and cashback. It’s usually the biggest offer you get from any casino.
Most credit card casino welcome bonuses require a minimum deposit of around £20, with the maximum limit sometimes even exceeding £1,000. The percentage can also vary from 50% to over 300%.
Deposit Bonus
A deposit bonus is where the casino gives you a bonus based on the amount you deposit. There will be a match up to a certain percentage with a bonus paid based on this.
For example, a 100% deposit match up to £1,000 means that you can double your money on your deposit. Most online casinos accepting credit cards in the UK have this promotion and some even include extra free spins for deposits.
Cashback
Cashback promotions are when the casino refunds a set amount of cash lost over a period. For example, it might be 10% on losses on certain days or as a lifetime promotion.
This means that if you lost £1,000 at the best credit casino in the UK, you would get £100 in cashback. Some sites pay this as straight cash, but most apply this as a bonus with wagering requirements.
Free Spins
When playing online slots for real money in the UK, free spins are a highly sought-after bonus. Many online casinos offer free spins as part of their welcome package or ongoing promotions, allowing you to play specific slot games without using your own money while still having the chance to win real cash.
Reload Bonus
The reload bonus is a deposit bonus available after claiming the welcome offer. It can be used multiple times with most casinos that accept credit cards in the UK.
Terms are often a little tougher than the initial deposit bonus but can still become highly lucrative.
How to Withdraw from a Credit Card Casino
The reality is that most credit card casinos in the UK will not let you withdraw back to this card type. Instead you are encouraged to use bank wire or crypto.
Keep in mind that this can vary from site to site, and while it’s not commonly found, we’ve created a quick guide on how this would work.
- Log in to the casino.
- Open the “Wallet” or “Cashier”.
- Choose the “Withdrawal” option.
- Select any credit card from the “Cashier”.
- Enter the amount you want to withdraw.
- Confirm the withdrawal.
- The casino will notify you once the withdrawal has been processed and the funds are due to hit your account.
Remember that when you make a withdrawal, you forfeit any bonus that is still active. Some credit card casinos in the UK will remove winnings from bonuses that are still live with a withdrawal requested, so check the T&Cs if this might apply to you.
Best Payment Alternatives to Credit Cards on Online Casinos UK
When using credit card casino sites in the UK, you can also find more payment options available. We’ve included a range of alternative payment methods and how each one works.
Debit Card
A debit card is the most common and obvious alternative to a credit card. These also use Visa and Mastercard, but instead of a line of credit, you use your own cash. You’ll find that these are more widely accessible than credit.
Cryptocurrency
Crypto is the latest addition for online casino banking. You can use dozens of wallets, such as Bitcoin, Tether, Litecoin, and Ethereum.
Most casinos are pushing crypto, and by using it, you can access exclusive bonuses, promotions, and instant withdrawals. Moreover, some sites allow you to buy crypto with traditional payment methods directly from the casino.
Bank Wire
Bank wire is where you move money from your bank into your casino account. Most casinos accepting credit card payments allow you to use a bank wire transfer this for withdrawals, but not always for deposits.
It’s also generally reserved for moving large sums of money, and it can take longer than credit cards to process. You may incur fees too, especially for withdrawing.
eWallets
eWallets are electronic banking wallets where you can move money between casinos without linking a bank or credit/debit card. The most popular are Neteller, Skrill, and PayPal.
Even though the processing times on these are incredibly fast, most casinos will not allow you to claim bonuses if you deposit with them.
Making a Deposit with a Credit Card in the UK
You may have heard that in 2020, credit cards were banned by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) from being able to fund gambling in the UK.
However, it is perfectly legal to gamble at non UK casinos that hold licences from other highly reputable gambling regulators. These authorities also have strict rules in place regarding security and fairness that the casino sites must follow in order to obtain (and keep) their gambling licence.
This means your money and data is safe at those operators. The only differences are that you can use credit cards to make deposits, and there are fewer restrictions when it comes to bonuses and betting limits.
We recommend that you only sign up to credit card casinos that hold a licence from one of the following gambling authorities:
- Curaçao eGaming
- Malta Gaming Authority
- Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association
- Financial Services Regulation Commission of Antigua and Barbuda
- Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
- Panama Gaming Commission
Credit Cards vs Debit Cards
The table below distinguishes the main features of debit and credit cards. From it, you can determine whether going with casinos that accept credit cards in the UK is your perfect fit.
Feature | Credit Card Casinos | Debit Card Casinos |
Bank Account | Not hooked up to a bank account and instead paid with a line of credit. | Debit card is hooked to a bank account and you’re playing with your own cash. |
Interest Rate | Credit cards come with interest that needs to be repaid if you don’t immediately (within the calendar month) pay off the full balance. | There is no interest to be paid with a debit card. |
Stake Limits | You may be limited as to how much you can deposit and stake. | Generally, higher limits with a debit card, but still limited with most sites. |
Bankroll Management | You need to factor in that you have to pay the initial deposit back within a timeframe, usually before the end of the month to avoid fees and interest. | Can be more aggressive with your bankroll as this is money that does not need to be repaid to cover fees and interest. |
Processing Fees | Most casinos wont charge you a fee to process, but you may be charged by your card issuer. | Generally, no processing fees to pay at all. |
Processing Time | Payments are processed instantly for deposits, but withdrawals are often not accepted. | Deposits are processed instantly and withdrawals within five working days for most casinos. |
There are a few important things to consider when you join an online casino, and it’s useful to have the full picture before you sign up. Here at Techopedia, we follow a tried and tested review process that covers the key features and allows us to rank casinos accordingly. Our experts carefully analyze: …and more. Learn more about our process and see how we rate casinos on Techopedia.How We Test and Review Online Casinos
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FAQs
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References
- https://safergamblinguk.org/ (Safer Gambling)
- https://www.gamcare.org.uk/ (GamCare)