Mastercard and Visa Linked to Illegal Gambling Sites Accused of Scamming UK Customers

Mastercard and Visa have come under fire for processing payments on unlicensed gambling websites that have allegedly scammed British customers out of significant sums. Despite previous commitments to prevent such activity, an investigation has revealed that both card giants continue to allow transactions to these sites, offering them credibility and enabling potentially harmful gambling practices.

Last week, at least nine sites targeting British players displayed Mastercard as a payment option, alongside cryptocurrency. Visa was accepted on two of those platforms. These unlicensed operators appear to be based overseas and do not hold the required UK gambling licences, yet they continue to accept payments in sterling, offer enticing welcome bonuses, and market their services on social media. Several customers, meanwhile, say they have been left devastated by substantial losses and denied access to their winnings.

One British player reported spending £3,270 with a bank card on a site called FatPirate and claimed to have won £6,000—only to be unable to withdraw it. Another individual lost about £60,000, stating they had no idea the platform they were using was unlicensed. Some players have also alleged that their accounts were deleted immediately after querying withdrawals.

The sites in question have drawn millions of visits from UK-based users in a matter of months. Both UKGC officials and campaigners for safer gambling have expressed serious concerns, calling for stronger enforcement measures to clamp down on the illicit market. While licensed operators do make up the majority of UK online casinos, the prevalence of unlicensed platforms highlights the complexity of stamping out illicit activity.

Mastercard and Visa have maintained that illegal dealings are not permitted on their networks and that they have strict rules in place to tackle unlawful behaviour. The Gambling Commission, for its part, claims it has issued more than 770 cease-and-desist notices to unlicensed operators and referred over 100,000 URLs to Google for removal in the past 11 months. Yet critics say the system of oversight needs tightening, as many sites simply “phoenix” or re-emerge under new names once they are taken down.

These findings also put a spotlight on payment service providers, which can route transactions for high-risk businesses. One tool, PaymentIQ, was identified in facilitating such transactions on unlicensed platforms. Its parent company, Worldline, argues that it is merely a software provider and not directly responsible for ensuring operators meet legal requirements.

Meanwhile, experts warn that unlicensed sites not only risk leaving customers empty-handed but also place their personal data in jeopardy. Iain Duncan Smith, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on gambling reform, has called on Mastercard and Visa to act swiftly to block all transactions with known unlicensed sites. While acknowledging that much of the concern over gambling harm focuses on licensed operators, he insists that unregulated platforms must not be allowed to exploit the payment networks of major card providers.

At present, the Gambling Commission continues to monitor complaints and investigate reports of consumer harm. As this story unfolds, British gamblers are being reminded to check that any site they use is properly licensed and regulated, in order to safeguard their finances and protect themselves from potential scams. 

As banks and card providers come under renewed pressure to block transactions, players may wish to consider alternative methods of payment beyond deb—e-wallets like Neteller, Skrill, and Paypal—all of which add extra layers of security for consumers looking to gamble online. Debit cards also remain a reliable option, provided the platforms hold a UKGC licence.