As of Tuesday April 14, 2020, the use of credit cards for gambling in the UK has been banned. The UK Gaming Authority has not only banned general use but also credit card use via the so-called e-wallets. The providers may only offer their service if they prohibit the use of their own issued prepaid cards. And at this point I really wonder with what intention the UK Gambling Authority involved the e-wallet providers.

The credit cards of the payment providers are prepaid cards and that means that there can only be credit on them. This card cannot be used to draw funds on credit and in online casinos invest. It's different with normal credit cards, where everyone has an individual line of credit and can play with "virtual" money. However, the reckoning only comes at the end. The purpose of this decision is to protect players who have or may have problems with gambling.

Because the number of interested customers has increased by about a third in times of Corona. This is due to the fact that many have to stay at home and are looking for a change. But that is not the reason why this decision has been made now because it has been debated since January. What makes no sense to me at all is the decision to include the e-wallet providers as well. The money you have on a prepaid card is simply credit with which you can do whatever you want.

The idea of ​​protecting players with anomalies or problems is good and commendable. But I personally don't think it's justifiable to restrict customers who don't have any problems with such decisions. Therefore, for me, it was far too short-sighted and decided superficially. There are measures and also hints in the online casinos but of course they are not enough. In order to better protect players, it would be more appropriate to make the operators responsible when making a deposit and to see if someone is conspicuous.

The banks themselves would also be of help with regard to credit card use, so that everything stays within limits and nobody gets serious problems. That would mean an additional expense for banks and casinos, but then one would not have to act with bans. The question is always where do you start and where do you stop. And where is all this supposed to lead with more and more regulations and restrictions?

First of all, it only affects the British market and I hope that we will not be faced with the same situation here in Germany at some point. The problem is that people who make this decision usually have little idea of ​​the matter itself. In addition, some decision-makers or politicians like to decide about things and tell other people what they can and cannot do. Paternalism has never led to success. I am not too hasty for protective measures, but I would like to take part with the participation of all relevant people from the individual areas. You will never make a unanimous decision because the conflicts of interest are far too great, but you can certainly find compromises if you want to.

The British made the wrong decision on Brexit. You made the wrong decision with the prime minister. And now even more restrictions on one of the biggest online Casino Markets, which of course is just my personal opinion.

God save the queen