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    Visa & Mastercard under UKGC scrutiny due to unlicensed gambling link

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    Payment providers Visa & Mastercard have been linked to unlicensed gambling sites and are under UKGC investigation.

    One of the biggest challenges regulatory bodies face at the moment is battling unlicensed platforms and the dangers they pose. These sites don’t fall in with the regulations in the region and are often a danger to players.

    Payment providers also need to work alongside authorities to create a safer environment for their users.

    Just recently, Visa and Mastercard fell under scrutiny for handling payments for such unauthorised sites.

    Visa & Mastercard under fire

    A recent investigation by Investigate Europe revealed that Visa and Mastercard have both been handling payments for unauthorised gambling websites.

    Both are currently under investigation as they are accused of defrauding UK consumers out of thousands of pounds by allowing transactions to and from unlicensed platforms.

    The research shows that two sites offer Visa as a deposit option, and nine allow deposits using Mastercard without the proper UK licensing. These sites were also aggressively promoted via search engines and social media sites.

    Player losses

    The users who deposited funds via these sites reported a number of serious issues, including the withholding of winnings and account deletions. According to one customer, they won £6,000 after they spent £3,270 on the site. That being said, they were unable to withdraw their prize.

    In a similar case, a Gransino player stated that their account was deleted after they complained about withdrawal issues. Customer support responded, stating: ‘It was the end of the matter.’

    It’s frightening to consider the large amounts some individuals have lost on these sites. One person felt suicidal after losing £60,000 at one such unlicensed casino. Another took legal action in the German courts, stating that the operators of these casinos had stolen their life savings after losing over £200,000.

    According to Iain Duncan Smith, the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on gambling reform, this is unacceptable. He stated that more action needs to be taken in regard to these unlicensed sites. He also mentioned that the payment providers need to up their game and start blocking out all transactions connected to unlicensed gambling site transactions.

    According to the research, the UK Gambling Commission is investigating 5 of the 9 sites, but no enforcement action has been taken yet. It’s concerning that 922 complaints have been filed about unlicensed operators over the past two years, and many specifically mention Visa and Mastercard.

    Mastercard has promised to investigate, reiterating its zero tolerance for illegal activity. Visa, on the other hand, just stated that these types of illegal transactions are explicitly prohibited on its network.

    Responsible Gambling & Play Safe

    More payment provider troubles

    Visa and Mastercard are not the first to fall under scrutiny in the UK for their role in facilitating illegal gambling activity.

    In 2014, PayPal made a voluntary agreement with the UKGC to block transactions linked to unlicensed operators, but recent investigations have shown that some of these unlicensed sites are still using the payment system.

    We also see a big struggle with third-party acquirers being used by illegal casinos to connect them to major payment networks like Visa and Mastercard. These acquirers carry the responsibility for ensuring compliance but have been thought to take easy, quick, and often shady routes.

    The primary focus at the time is to disrupt these unlicensed markets, focusing on payment processors, supplies and other entities that take part in illegal gambling operations.

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    Published: March 28, 2025

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    Deni avatar image

    Article by Deni

    CasinoWow Contributor

    Hi, I’m Deni and I am here to ensure you have all the information you need to make informed decisions about online casinos and games and, of course, have fun while doing it. I do so through in-depth research and a keen eye for detail resulting in comprehensive reviews and engaging articles. Let’s explore the iGaming world together!

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