Unlicensed gambling sites targeting UK customers were reported to accept Mastercard payments on nine sites and Visa on two. The UK Gambling Commission said it knew of the sites and would continue taking action; Mastercard and Visa said they prohibit illegal activity on their networks and would investigate.
Card payments on unlicensed sites raise enforcement and payment-control concerns for the UK gambling market.
| Date | Company | Amount | Story | Appeal status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspire Global, AG Communications Limited | GBP 1,400,000 | UKGC secures £1.4m settlement from Aspire Global over compliance failures | Not stated | |
| Merkur Slots | GBP 95,450 | UK Gambling Commission fines Merkur Slots £95,450 over customer interaction failures | Not stated |
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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said the state sent cease-and-desist letters to American Express, Mastercard and Visa on 10 June over alleged payment services to unauthorised gambling operators. He warned that continued processing could prompt legal action and said it may implicate Florida’s RICO Act.
The UK government has outlined the remit of its Illegal Gambling Taskforce, launched in January to address unlicensed gambling. It will focus on disrupting related financial transactions and online advertising, and improving coordination on enforcement; the government said the taskforce will not direct or replace the Gambling Commission’s powers. The group will run for 12 months, with possible renewal.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said a multi-day operation in Lee and Collier counties led to 11 arrests, the seizure of 479 illegal gaming machines and the recovery of $294,150 in alleged proceeds. His office also sent Visa’s general counsel a letter on 10 June alleging that payment networks may be serving offshore gambling operators accepting Florida customers.
Grandstand Limited (Nasdaq: GRSD) announced the public launch of Rollcard, a Visa debit card built for high rollers including sports bettors, casino players and prediction market users. The product offers a dedicated deposit account with bankroll management and cashback rewards.
The UK’s Illegal Gambling Taskforce is seeking cooperation from technology and payments companies, including Google, Meta and Visa, and law enforcement agencies to disrupt illegal gambling advertising, marketing and payment channels. Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross said the government would increase financial penalties for organisations facilitating illegal gambling content; Betting and Gaming Council chief executive Grainne Hurst called for a broader response to the black market.