Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright said last week that he would like to discuss concerns that up to 20% of deposits with some gambling firms are made using credit cards, meaning it could be money that consumers do not actually have. As a result, the UK Gambling Commission will "launch a call for evidence on the matter" in February, with regulation likely to follow.
From The Guardian:
Read more here: https://www.theguardian.com/society/...aul-of-bettingThe move is part of a broader crackdown that will also lead to the government seeking to address slow progress on self-exclusion schemes, which are designed to help addicts opt out of betting.
“Gambling operators must step in and act when people are showing signs of risky gambling. Their licences are at risk if they do not,” Wright said.
He welcomed moves by high-street banks, including Barclays, Lloyds, Santander and the Royal Bank of Scotland, to allow customers to switch off spending on gambling through their mobile apps.
However, he said: “We should also ask if it is right that people should be able to gamble on credit and this is an area that the Gambling Commission are going to look into.”
Labour has previously said it would ban gambling with credit cards.
A spokesman for the Gambling Commission said: “In our online review last year we said we will consider prohibiting or restricting the use of credit cards and will explore the consequences of doing so.”