The UK’s ban on using credit cards for gambling has primarily impacted individuals with low or no gambling harm, according to a report by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen). While the ban has successfully created hurdles for borrowing money to gamble, one of its core aims, its effect on high-risk gamblers has been less pronounced.
NatCen’s evaluation revealed that after the ban, fewer people with low or no gambling problems reported using credit cards for gambling. “The ban seemed to have a more noticeable impact on those experiencing a low level of, or no reported problems from gambling,” the report stated.
Despite these findings, the proportion of overall credit card usage for gambling has remained stable, rising slightly from 6% pre-ban in March 2020 to 8% post-ban in March 2021. NatCen’s research utilized a mix of quantitative data and qualitative interviews with gamblers, affected individuals, and industry stakeholders.
The ban, implemented during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, coincided with major changes in gambling behavior as operators revised their operations to accommodate pandemic-related challenges. NatCen emphasized that the timing of the ban affected its evaluation, as shifts in gambling habits were also influenced by lockdowns and restrictions.
Britain’s move to ban credit card gambling drew significant global attention as one of the first markets to introduce such a measure. The ban was driven by evidence linking gambling harm to the use of credit cards, particularly among those with high losses. GambleAware data from July 2018 to July 2019 indicated that while only 5.7% of deposits in online gambling accounts were made via credit card, 26% of players with losses exceeding £5,000 used credit cards.
Despite the pandemic’s disruptions, gambling operators in the UK complied effectively with the ban and ensured customers were aware that credit card transactions were no longer accepted.
Awareness of the credit card ban was highest among high-risk gamblers, who were informed through email, text, and pop-up messages.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/noticias/2024/09/04/77501-uk-credit-card-gambling-ban-hits-lowrisk-gamblers-harder-report-shows
