The Guardian: Visa and Mastercard Linked to Payments on Illegal Gambling Sites
Kate Marshal
10 March 2025
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Visa and Mastercard are processing payments for unregulated gambling operators, The Guardian reports. The British newspaper found that at least nine offshore betting sites targeting UK customers accepted deposits via Visa or Mastercard.
The two payment giants agreed in 2014 to block transactions linked to illegal gambling as part of a voluntary pact with the UK Gambling Commission. However, more than a decade later, The Guardian’s investigation suggests both companies are still failing to fully enforce these restrictions.
Both firms are believed to profit from transaction fees tied to deposits and withdrawals on unlicensed platforms.
Meanwhile, players using these sites report frequent issues with withdrawals. British customers accuse operators of unjustified account suspensions and aggressive marketing tactics targeting problem gamblers.
Over the past two years, at least 922 complaints have been filed against unlicensed operators for these reasons, some specifically naming Visa and Mastercard.
In response to The Guardian’s inquiry, spokespeople for Visa and Mastercard said they would investigate the findings. The UK Gambling Commission confirmed it is aware of the issue, while offshore operators did not respond to requests for comment.
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