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How the UKGC Ban on Credit Cards Affected Payment Provider Industry and Consumer Habits

Published

6 years ago

July 9, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The UK Gambling Commission ban on the use of credit cards has challenged consumers and businesses, seeking to adapt to the new requirements.

On April 14th, the new UKGC ban came into effect, prohibiting the use of credit cards to top-up online gambling accounts: the measure was instituted in an effort to mitigate financial risks for consumers and prevent them from gambling with the money they do not possess. The new regulation challenged some of the prevalent consumer habits and pushed payment vendors to expand the scope of their services.

Agnė Selemonaitė, Deputy CEO at ConnectPay, shared her insights on the impact it had for both sides of the market.
Impact for payment service providers

According to Ms. Selemonaitė, current changes the industry is going through will affect not only the bettors’ spending habits, but also payment gateway providers, aiming to supply the market with flexible, as well as compliant, solutions.

“Our focus has always been on being proactive towards any new developments in the market. That’s why even amidst lockdown we pivoted towards integrating more payment methods into our Merchant API to provide gambling vendors with more options to facilitate payments,” explained A. Selemonaitė.

According to Selemonaitė, more and more gambling sites are getting into partnerships with payment service providers, seeking to streamline settlements for their regular bettors and provide a greater on-site experience. As ConnectPay aims to continue growing its payments selection, Selemonaitė encourages operators to look into how leveraging diverse solutions could help better match their clients expectations.

As the opinions on the policy are two-fold, A. Selemonaitė noted that every decision, with the goal of mitigating risks for consumers, should be a welcomed initiative. That said, it is important that alternative solutions rolled out into the market would meet both vendor and consumer needs, but with added safety, while being compliant with the new measures. “In order for business to welcome new measures, regulators need to stay focused on setting up such an environment that fosters the development of a holistic system and doesn’t hinder scaling opportunities,” she added.
What are the alternatives for consumers?

The operators’ commitment to enable clients to continue enjoying their favorite pastime while spending within reason led betters to get accustomed with various other payment options.

Visa and Mastercard debit cards

Using a debit card is almost identical to using a credit card, with the main difference that with the prior, the funds are taken directly from the checking bank account, rather than being charged to a line of credit to be paid for later. This ensures that the bettors themselves verify payments, and help protect the account from scammers’ malicious intent.

Prepaid cards

Many providers, such as ConnectPay, issue prepaid cards, which, unlike debit, are not linked to a bank account to draw money from. Instead, the customer is spending money that has been loaded onto the card beforehand. Prepaid cards are limited by default, therefore one can only access the amount of funds that have already been vouched for.

E-wallets

Although the credit card ban extends to e-wallets, they can still be used for gambling-related payments with the exception that the service does not support credit lending. Similar to prepaid cards, e-wallets require money to be loaded prior to any transaction. It is an appealing alternative as it offers faster payouts and enables switching back and forth between different gambling sites with ease.

Cryptocurrency

Another method to deposit money is using a cryptocurrency, such as bitcoin. It provides total anonymity, as no personal details are shared with the site, making it one of the most secure alternatives. Although many do not understand the inner workings of the crypto industry, it remains a viable option for all tech-savvy betters.

Even though some may still be unconvinced about the necessity of the new legislation, it is shaping up to be a sound solution, which could lead to heightened industry transparency, as well as provide consumers with more payment options to choose from. However, its true impact on the industry will show only after some time.

casino games

Groove says its aggregator library passes 20,000 casino games

Published

4 hours ago

June 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

groove-says-its-aggregator-library-passes-20,000-casino-games

Groove says it has surpassed 20,000 casino titles on its aggregation platform, up from 15,000 games two years ago. The company said the library now includes content from more than 150 providers and is available to partners worldwide through a single API.

According to Groove, the portfolio spans slots, instant wins, table games, crash games, live dealer and arcade-style content, alongside “emerging verticals including sweepstakes and crypto-native content.” The company said the catalogue is delivered through “one API, one back office, one pipeline,” and positioned the milestone as a curated expansion rather than a volume play.

Rachel Tourgeman, Head of Partnerships at Groove, said: “Twenty thousand games is a number. What matters is what sits behind it…” She added: “We don’t add studios for the sake of volume. We add them because they bring something distinctive: a mechanical innovation, a visual language, a player-engagement hook that our operators can’t get elsewhere. Our partners trust us to curate, not just collect. That trust is why we keep growing, and why the quality curve keeps rising alongside the quantity curve.”

Groove pointed to recent integrations including KingMidas Games (150+ mobile-first titles), Urgent Games and Bryogames, which it said offers “proprietary mathematics with real-time RTP customisation.” For operators, Groove said the full library is accessible via Groove Command, its centralised back-office product, with tools including content matching, regional segmentation and automated tournaments.

Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and CEO of Groove, said: “The aggregation space is crowded with platforms that offer ‘access’ and little else,” adding: “Twenty thousand games through a single API is not just scale. It is a statement.” Meltzer also claimed Groove’s “technology stack with predictive auto-scaling, atomic transactions, real-time compliance mesh” supports execution “across fragmented regulatory landscapes with precision.”

The post Groove says its aggregator library passes 20,000 casino games appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Bragg Gaming

Mega Casino launches Bragg Gaming slot 10 Hot Diamond Desire as exclusive

Published

4 hours ago

June 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

mega-casino-launches-bragg-gaming-slot-10-hot-diamond-desire-as-exclusive

Mega Casino has launched 10 Hot Diamond Desire, a new online slot developed by Bragg Gaming, as an exclusive title available only to Mega Casino players.

According to the companies, the release is intended to strengthen Mega Casino’s exclusive content line-up in the UK online casino market. Bragg Gaming said the game was created by its in-house development team and combines classic slot features with modern mechanics and a diamond-themed design.

The exclusive launch also extends the commercial relationship between the supplier and operator. Mega Casino already offers Bragg Gaming titles including Down The Chimney and Sevens & Suns.

Dom Aldworth, Head of Brand Marketing at Kinetic Digital said:

“Exclusive content remains a key pillar of our strategy and 10 Hot Diamond Desire is a great example of the kind of launch we want to bring to Mega Casino players. The game delivers a compelling experience while giving customers access to something genuinely unique. We’re pleased to be working with Bragg Gaming on this exclusive release and look forward to expanding our portfolio of exclusive content even further in the future.”

The post Mega Casino launches Bragg Gaming slot 10 Hot Diamond Desire as exclusive appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

appointments

OS Studios names Ishaan Arya country manager to lead India expansion

Published

4 hours ago

June 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

os-studios-names-ishaan-arya-country-manager-to-lead-india-expansion

OS Studios has appointed Ishaan Arya as Country Manager for India, tasking him with leading the agency’s expansion across newly established hubs in Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Mumbai. The appointment was announced on 25 June, 2026 in Bengaluru.

OS Studios, a Project Worldwide agency, said it recently entered the Indian market and will deploy its ‘Fan Z’ approach for brands looking to engage with gaming, esports and live events audiences in South Asia. The company said the expansion will leverage the infrastructure and production capabilities of sister agency George P. Johnson (GPJ) India.

“The future of gaming will be shaped by the communities that care about it most, and few markets embody that more than India,” said John Higgins, CEO of OS Studios. “To build something meaningful, you have to be part of the culture, not looking in from the outside. Ishaan understands that better than anyone. He’s exactly the kind of leader we want building the future of OS Studios in India.”

In the role, Arya will oversee operations, drive strategic brand partnerships, and scale local capabilities, according to the company. “Brands are investing heavily in Indian gaming, but true fan experience is too often an afterthought,” said Rasheed Sait, Chief Growth Officer for India and South Asia at Project Worldwide. “Alongside GPJ India’s experiential footprint, OS Studios will set a new standard for fan engagement in the region.”

Arya previously co-founded The Esports Club and most recently served as Vice President of Partnerships at Nodwin Gaming, where he led Comic Con India. “A massive gap remains between brand intent and authentic community engagement in India,” said Arya. “I’m thrilled to leverage Project Worldwide and GPJ India’s operational strength to build culture-defining experiences for brands and fans alike.”

The post OS Studios names Ishaan Arya country manager to lead India expansion appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.