It might soon be tougher to gamble in the UK. The country has been implementing a number of measures designed to crack down on problem gambling and the latest suggestion is another example of the control the government wants to enforce on people’s lives. Soon, the UK could completely ban the use of credit cards in gambling.
The idea already has a great deal of support in UK’s Parliament. Opposition leaders from the Labour Party have been looking for a ban on credit in gambling and Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright has indicated that the government is already looking at how to address the issue.
The UK has taken steps to try and curb problem gambling, including practically eliminating all forms of gambling advertising and promotions. It has also introduced a mandatory reduction on the maximum bets allowed through fixed odd betting terminals (FOBT), which lowered the amount from £100 (about $130) to £2 ($2.60).
According to the Labour Party, as much as around $11 billion is wagered each year using credit cards. The party asserts that it is one of the biggest gambling-related problems in the country and that it has an extremely negative impact on individuals and encourages compulsive gambling. Therefore, the party is demanding that casino and gambling operators stop allowing credit card purchases and is hoping the government will intervene.
Wright indicates that the UK Gambling Commission is already reviewing the issue in search of the best way to proceed. He adds that more than 20% of all deposits at gambling facilities are made using credit cards and that restricting the option could help limit gambling addiction in the country.
Wright refers to an issue with a particular gambler who used nine credit cards to rack up a gambling debt of £100,000 ($110,000) in two days. The real crime, however, is allowing someone to own nine credit cards. Shadow Culture Secretary Tom Watson asserts, “The operators which took her bets should be held responsible for their disgraceful conduct. No one should go into debt to place a bet.”
What isn’t clear is how the government would address online gambling and credit cards, since there isn’t a viable alternative. Perhaps the government will force gamblers to use cash to make in-person purchases of special online gambling vouchers that can be redeemed by any online operator.
