Top Credit Card Casinos & The Best Alternatives in 2023
Credit card casinos offer players a way to make deposits on credit, similar to a loan. As of 14 April 2020, though, the United Kingdom Gambling Commission has prohibited credit card gambling in the UK. However, you will find that most international gambling operators do offer it for non-UK players.
Despite this, we do not recommend credit card gambling, since it can lead to addiction and serious debt. Read on to find great alternative payment methods at credit card casinos, and learn where you can start gambling safely today.
- Top Online Casino Sites for Gambling with Debit Cards
- What Are Credit Card Casinos?
- Why Can’t You Make Credit Card Casino Deposits in the UK?
- Can I Play on Credit Card Casino Sites if I Live Outside the UK?
- Alternatives to Debit and Credit Cards for UK Gambling
- Credit Card Casino Bonuses
- The Future of Gambling Sites and Credit Card Casinos
- Alternatives to Credit Card Casinos FAQs
Top Online Casino Sites for Gambling with Debit Cards
- Industry-leading game developers
- Quick cashout
- Extensive Live Casino studio
- 50+ real-money slots
- £500 Playthrough Bonus on poker
- Lucrative Refer-a-Friend Programme
- Great selection of payment methods
- Instant deposits and withdrawals
- Top progressive jackpots
- 5% Daily Cashback Bonus
- Numerous bingo events worth £1M+
- Loyalty Rewards with cash trophies
- Ample selection of payment methods
- Numerous esports betting opportunities
- 50+ live casino games
- Wide variety of payment options
- Excellent live casino offerings
- Licensed by both UKGC and MGA
What Are Credit Card Casinos?
Before we really get into credit card gambling in the UK, let’s take a moment to clarify exactly what a credit card is. While many people use the words ‘debit card' and ‘credit card' interchangeably, it’s important to note the main difference between them.
Debit cards are like the personal cheques of old. They deduct (or ‘debit') money directly from your bank account at the point of sale. Conversely, credit cards are effectively loaning you money to make a purchase. Then, you have to pay back this “credit” a later time.
Credit card casinos are online gambling operators that allow you to make deposits by credit card. While credit cards may seem like a thrilling way to play with what feels like unlimited money, it’s not actually unlimited. More importantly, it’s not free money either.
After all, playing at an online casino with a credit card is not very different from taking out cash on loan, which can lead to debt very quickly. And, as our team has seen far too often, runaway gambling debts pose a serious threat to players’ well-being in the long run.
For that reason, we strongly encourage you to practice safe and responsible gambling at trusted UK casinos.
This means never wagering funds that you don’t actually possess at the moment of making a deposit, regardless of which payment method you use to do so. Learning how to manage your bankroll can also go a long way toward maintaining control of your finances.
Why Can’t You Make Credit Card Casino Deposits in the UK?
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the UKGC's credit card ban went into effect on the 14th of April, 2020. This means that there is no longer any legitimate casino that accepts credit card deposits in the UK.
This measure is just one way that the UKGC protects players from gambling with money that they can’t pay back. Indeed, if you’ve not had a lucky streak at the casino in a while, matters can only be made worse by a hefty credit card bill (plus interest) arriving at the end of the month.
We agree with the Gambling Commission that even the best casino site should not offer credit card deposits. This is in order to discourage addictive gambling tendencies that come when players start chasing the next big win, or trying to make up for lost funds with money they don’t have.
There were 36.6 million accounts registered to UKGC casinos in 2018, over 90% of which (33.6 million) were active. Recent figures from HM Treasury also reflect that about 800,000 of them had been using credit cards to fund their gameplay.
It’s clear that UK casinos are immensely popular, and thankfully they remain so despite the ban on credit card casino sites.
Plenty of legal and licensed casinos continue to operate legitimately under UKGC jurisdiction. We’ve scoured the web to find the most trustworthy sites available in 2023, which you’ll find in our table above.
Even though credit card casinos are only available at non-UK casino sites, do not despair. There are still plenty of ways for you to play real-money casino games online, from progressive jackpot slots and blackjack to roulette, bingo and even virtual scratch cards!
Using UK Debit Cards to Gamble Online
For those UK players looking for the same familiarity and ease of using a bank card, we recommend trying out your debit card. Debit cards offers a safer – yet equally convenient – way to gamble online with that simple plastic rectangle in your wallet.
Whether you use Visa, Mastercard or even Maestro, you’re bound to find a multitude of online casinos offering hassle-free deposits and withdrawals via debit to UK gamblers.
Can I Play on Credit Card Casino Sites if I Live Outside the UK?
No matter what country you’re located in, there are plenty of top-quality online casinos for you to choose from. Whether you are looking for the best Malaysia casinos, Finland casino sites or Singapore gambling, we’ve got you covered too.
These international casinos are not affected by the UKGC credit card ban, since they do not fall under the Gambling Commission’s jurisdiction.
So if you are a player living outside of the United Kingdom, then you can play at the best non UK casino sites. The majority of them will offer both debit and credit card deposits.
However, we recommend that you stick to playing only with money that you already have. Online casino and credit cards simply do not mix well. While it may seem like harmless fun, credit card gambling can lead to big problems down the road.
Below are the best credit card casino sites located outside the UK for international players. At our recommended sites, you’ll find the best real-money slots by top casino software developers, as well as generous casino bonuses and more.
Alternatives to Debit and Credit Cards for UK Gambling
In 2023, credit card casinos offer a multitude of payment options for both UK users and people around the world to choose from.
In light of the UKGC credit card ban, plenty of the best online casino sites have begun to accommodate even more ways to make deposits and withdrawals.
Here are some of the most common and popular alternatives to credit card gambling, available at many of the casinos we recommend. Please keep in mind that, even when using third-party payment methods (such as e-wallets), you still cannot use a credit card to fund gambling deposits.
-
PayPal
PayPal is one of the most popular payment technologies in the entire world, with nearly 300 million active users. It’s so well-known that even regions of the world which don’t use it tend to recognise the brand anyway.
With virtually no fees across a very secure network, PayPal ranks among the safest and most convenient payment services. PayPal casino bonuses also tend to be very generous, which makes it especially popular among UK gamblers in 2023.
-
Skrill
As one of the premier e-wallets for online gambling, Skrill is a favourite of players around the world. Recognised as the first official e-wallet when it launched as ‘Moneybookers' in 2001, Skrill continually ranks as one of the best digital wallets available today.
The vast majority of credit card casinos offer Skrill deposits and withdrawals. In fact, many operators consider it to be the standard bearer of casino payments.
Partially due to this, a significant number of casino sites don’t offer welcome bonuses for Skrill or NETELLER deposits. For this reason, we recommend that you choose another payment option for your first deposit, and Skrill/NETELLER for future payments.
-
NETELLER
Alongside Skrill, NETELLER also reigns as one of the most trusted and convenient e-wallets in the world. After moving to the Isle of Man in 2004, NETELLER specialises in servicing the UK market.
In addition, most worthwhile credit card casino sites around the world will accept it for both top-ups and withdrawals.
NETELLER is secure, fast and easy to use; however, the standard fee of 2.5% can make it less than ideal for some users. So, be sure to budget accordingly!
-
Payz
As the final major casino e-wallet technology making waves in the iGaming industry, Payz is a great way to store and move money online. You’ll find it listed, often alongside the others mentioned above, at many of the best credit card casinos.
In addition to offering secure and effective payments, Payz also offers a virtual bank card – a Visa – that you can use like any other debit card at online casinos. Payz customers can take advantage of a streamlined mobile application, as well as 24/7 customer support and numerous world currencies.
Just watch out for fees – Payz charges a fairly large commission for both deposits and withdrawals, which is important to weigh against the benefits.
-
Bank Transfers
Many users trust their banks to perform a safe, swift transaction when using their credit or debit card. However, gambling sites and major banks don’t necessarily get on perfectly well. This can make the standard wire transfer a bit of a pain when it comes to transfer times and/or fees. Therefore, numerous impressive technologies have recently entered the industry to facilitate the process.
The best bank transfer payment method for online casinos would be Trustly. This payment solution, accepted at the vast majority of credit card casinos, is also very popular at no-account casino sites too.
Depending on your location, the following bank transfer technologies are available at online gambling sites as well:
Plenty of players around the world prefer to make prepaid card casino deposits. This is due to the exceptional safety and privacy afforded by these reloadable cards, which offer both deposits and withdrawals.
The most popular prepaid card at European casinos is paysafecard, which can be obtained from many corner shops and kiosks, and then used like any other debit card.
Conversely, Astropay is common at online casinos in Latin American countries, such as Colombia. Also found at many sites is Neosurf, another alternative prepaid voucher.
-
Mobile Payments
For those users who like to gamble at credit card casinos via mobile, it can be extremely convenient to use mobile payments. These let you make deposits via the credit of your prepaid plan, or directly via your phone bill. You then have to pay it off at the end of the month (similar to using a credit card, so please be careful).
Mobile casino payments are quick and very secure, since you’re not sharing any personal details with the operator. The most popular services on the market today include:
Finally, as a sort of cross between digital wallet and mobile payment, you’ll find Google Pay and Apple Pay. Mobile casino payments with these do not come from your prepaid plan or mobile bill. Instead, the funds come directly from your bank account. Both of these payment solutions allow you to pay with your mobile phone as if it was your debit card itself.
-
Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies are another major payment method that you’ll find at many of the best credit card casinos. Cryptocoin casinos have become wildly popular in 2023, given the security and privacy of cutting-edge blockchain technology for iGaming payments. By far the most popular cryptocurrency of our time is Bitcoin (used in Bitcoin casinos) , followed by Ethereum (used in Ethereum casinos) and Litecoin (used in Litecoin casinos).
A significant number of UK casinos that don’t offer credit card deposits (and non-UK sites that do) will also offer special bonuses for crypto transactions.
Credit Card Casino Bonuses
Bonuses at the best casino that accepts credit cards are both generous and effective. Our recommended sites spare no expense to gift you, their new customer, a casino sign up bonus.
Here are the most popular types of casino bonuses available in 2023:
- Free Spins Bonuses: Free spins are many a punter’s best friend. They can keep you spinning the slot reels for hours without the need to spend your own money. Check out our full guide to no wagering free spins to find the best offer for you!
- Deposit Bonus: As the name implies, a casino deposit bonus (also known as a ‘match bonus') will match your deposit by a certain percentage, up to a certain amount. For example, the common “100% up to £100” will give you a total of £200 to play with.
- No deposit bonus: We consider the no-deposit casino bonus to be the ‘holy grail' or ‘white whale' of casino bonuses. Although difficult to find, they can be quite profitable. This is essentially free money for you to gamble with, but it often comes with strict wagering requirements. Check out our article on no wagering casinos to learn more!
Finally, new casino sites are always entering the market, providing new casino bonuses to keep your experience fresh. Check back on our site from time to time to inform yourself of the latest developments and recommendations!
The Future of Gambling Sites and Credit Card Casinos
Although it can be heaps of fun to play at an online casino, doing so using credit cards poses a serious problem to the well-being of all players. Online gambling makes up a significant proportion of the entertainment sector, but there are risks involved nevertheless. The UKGC credit card ban does a great job to ensure the UK players are not endangering their bankrolls and/or futures with runaway gambling debts.
For players at UK and non-UK casino sites, it’s important to remember that gambling should always be regarded as what it is: playing games with the potential for both major gains and losses of real money.
So try to keep a cool head, play sober and don’t play to chase wins or recoup losses. For some useful tips, check out our guide to casino games strategy to learn how to make the most of your experience at the best alternatives to credit card casino sites in 2023!
Alternatives to Credit Card Casinos FAQs
-
Yes you can – in most countries beyond the borders of the United Kingdom. However, we recommend that you only gamble with money that you already have, rather than on credit. This can significantly lessen the potential for unhealthy gambling.
-
The UKGC credit card ban went into effect on April 14, 2020, prohibiting the use of credit cards for making deposits at gambling sites.
As a result, the Gambling Commission will now refuse to grant licences to any casino that accepts credit cards in the UK. This is all in an effort to discourage unhealthy and/or addictive gambling practices.
-
No, it is not legal to gamble with a credit card in the United Kingdom. However, UK players can easily and safely make deposits/withdrawals via debit cards (VISA, Mastercard etc.), e-wallets and many other payment methods at the top UK casinos.
-
The best credit card casinos are available today in the United Kingdom, but UK users will not be able to use credit cards at them.
Instead, you can choose from a wide variety of other payment options for making deposits and withdrawing your winnings, many of which have been listed above.
-
Yes – at non-UK credit card casinos, that is. At UKGC casinos (those gambling sites that operate within the UK), it is not possible to make a deposit via credit card.
Having said that, our recommended casino sites offer many generous bonuses and rewards, no matter what payment method you use!
-
Yes, they do! While credit card gambling is not legal in the UK, plenty of the best casino sites offer a huge variety of payment methods for you to get started. These include debit cards, e-wallets, mobile deposits, prepaid cards and even cryptocurrencies!
Read our full guide to learn more about what deposit methods you can use at credit card casinos in the United Kingdom.
-
Virtually every casino site that legally operates outside of the UK will accept both credit and debit cards.
-
Yes – it is very easy and safe to use your Visa card at online gambling operators. If you are located within the United Kingdom, then you can only use your Visa debit card for casino deposits.
However, if you are located elsewhere in the world, both Visa credit and debit services will be available to you.
-
Of course! Astropay, paysafecard, and Neosurf are the three most popular ways to make casino deposits via prepaid cards.
-
Yes, players in Malaysia can use their credit cards to gamble online. However, this is not a practice that we recommend, as it can lead to serious gambling debt and/or addiction.
Jake Schembri
