Regulation of online gaming and betting via credit card
The British Gambling Commission has launched a new measure to combat gambling addiction. This is a new law that, as of April 14 of this year, will prohibit credit card payments in both online gaming and physical establishments.
In order to combat gambling addiction and reduce the number of dependent individuals, the United Kingdom intends to add a layer of complexity to games of chance. This solution stems from a study conducted during 2019, which examined the gambling habits of British citizens. Its ultimate goal is to provide the sector with an additional layer of protection to safeguard vulnerable groups regarding these types of leisure activities.
It is estimated that this new measure will affect more than 10 million online players, representing nearly half of all gambling users in the country. Furthermore, it is estimated that approximately 800,000 of them use credit cards as a betting method. Among them, the State maintains that 22% are classified as “problem gamblers.” This concept suggests a high probability of falling into practices related to gambling addiction.
What are the advantages?
One advantage of this new regulation is that it will reduce the risk of players spending all their money. When using a credit card, the user can withdraw as much cash as they wish. Consequently, gambling addicts end up accumulating significant losses, generating debts that they cannot later afford. This is another way for them to become aware of their problematic situation and act with greater responsibility in a sensitive situation.
Along with this new measure, a revision of the Gambling Act has also been approved to adapt it to modern times and digital activities. This represents a new commitment with the leading companies in the gambling sector, which will be reflected in new actions to combat gambling addiction. The first of these is the allocation of £100 million to fund treatment capable of rehabilitating players with addiction problems.
Currently, the United Kingdom is the only nearby country to have implemented a credit card ban as a measure to curb gambling addiction. The Spanish Federation of Rehabilitated Gambling Players (FEJAR) views this favorably, although they do not plan to do the same in Spain in the near future. They clarify that the current Spanish system already has sufficient measures in place, such as microcredit controls, a self-exclusion registry for players, and the placement of ATMs within gambling halls.
