# Can you bet with a credit card in the UK?

> UK-licensed bookmakers cannot take credit-card payments under licence condition LC 6.1.2. What that means for you and how to see it on a payments page.

Source: https://eachwayatlas.uk/pay/credit-card-ban-rule/
Updated: 2026-11-07

UK-licensed bookmakers may not accept payment by credit card: the Gambling Commission's licence condition LC 6.1.2 prohibits it, and since 31 January 2024 licensees must take payments through regulated payment service providers under LC 5.1.2. For you, that means a debit card or another method the operator lists, not a credit card. This page covers Great Britain only.

## What the two conditions say

The Gambling Commission (UKGC) attaches conditions to every licence. Two of them concern how a licensed bookmaker takes money. We paraphrase them and link to the UKGC text, so you can read the exact wording.

**Licence conditions on payments · source: UKGC licence conditions and codes of practice · read 6 November 2026**

| Condition | What it requires | In force | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| LC 6.1.2 | A licensee must not accept payment by credit card for gambling | Edition and date of this text: Not verified | [UKGC, LC 6.1.2](https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/licensees-and-businesses/lccp/condition/6-1-2-use-of-credit-cards) |
| LC 5.1.2 | Payments are taken through regulated payment service providers | From 31 January 2024 | [UKGC, LC 5.1.2](https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/licensees-and-businesses/lccp/condition/5-1-2-payment-methods-services) |
| LCCP as a whole | The current version of the code | From 29 July 2026 | [UKGC, LCCP overview](https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/licensees-and-businesses/lccp) |

**The short version:** credit cards are ruled out for licensed betting accounts, and the payment itself must run through a regulated provider.

## What it means for you

The ban binds the licensee, so a credit-card option should not appear in the payments section of a UK-licensed bookmaker.

- Look at the deposit methods on the operator's payments page before you register.
- If a site that targets people in Great Britain offers credit-card payment for betting, check its licence first with [How do you check that a betting site is licensed by the UKGC?](https://eachwayatlas.uk/licence/how-to-check-a-bookmaker-is-licensed/).
- Debit cards are not covered by this condition. Each operator lists its own methods, and we have not yet verified any list (see [Fees on deposits and withdrawals at UK bookmakers](https://eachwayatlas.uk/pay/deposit-and-withdrawal-fees/)).

Why it matters: knowing the rule lets you spot a site that is not following its licence before you deposit.

## Where the rule applies

The condition applies to licensees of the UKGC, which regulates remote gambling used in Great Britain. This page does not cover Northern Ireland or the Channel Islands, or any rules in other countries.

Age and identity checks sit beside this rule in the same code: see [What age and identity checks must UK bookmakers carry out?](https://eachwayatlas.uk/licence/age-and-id-checks-rule/).

## How we checked

We read the condition pages on the UKGC website on 6 November 2026 and wrote the table in our own words. We use no quotation of more than 15 words.

The edition and date of the LC 6.1.2 text are still to be recorded, so that cell says Not verified.

Conditions change, so we look at the UKGC site for changes when a rule is amended, and re-read this page then.

## What changed

Last updated 7 November 2026: first version. 18+ only. Gambling can be harmful. To work out what reaches your account after a fee, use the [Fee and limit calculator](https://eachwayatlas.uk/pay/fee-and-limit-calculator/).

## FAQ

**Can I deposit with a credit card at a UK-licensed bookmaker?**

No. Licence condition LC 6.1.2 prohibits a licensee from accepting payment by credit card for gambling, so a licensed bookmaker has to offer other methods.

**Does the credit-card ban cover debit cards?**

No. The condition is about credit cards. Which debit-card and other methods an operator accepts is stated on its payments page, and we have not yet verified any list.

**What does LC 5.1.2 add?**

From 31 January 2024 it requires licensees to take payments through regulated payment service providers. It concerns who processes the payment, not which card you hold.