There is no doubt that a good percentage of people enjoy gambling, but many will be aware that there are many options available to them when it comes to depositing and withdrawing funds. The payment method that people use is always something important to consider when playing casino games since they can have different withdrawal times and most will agree that when gambling – getting back into the action is all that matters. While most people use popular services like PayPal or even the tried-and-true bank transfer option, there is still a good percentage of people who like using credit cards to gamble instead.
In most places around the world, players will have access to a wide range of payment methods. E-wallets are also something that have arisen in recent years that many players like to use as they are reminiscent of using other popular methods like PayPal. However, there is no doubt that credit cards remain the most popular way to gamble for those that are looking to borrow money to fund their gambling. This is something that will usually be desired by those players who are expecting to come into money but want to play casino games straight away, which makes sense. Given this, it is not difficult to see why so many people like using credit cards.
ALL SOUTH AFRICAN-FRIENDLY CASINOS THAT ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS 2026
Casinos that take Visa and Mastercard
Only operators where we could confirm Visa and Mastercard, ranked by the deal we hold and the size of the offer in rand. Method: how we rate.
- 19.7/10100% up to R11 500 + 250 free spinsMinimum deposit R10 · R250 no deposit · Instant EFT · Ozow
What we checked at Springbok
- Market access. Registration accepts a South African address and the cashier shows a local method.
- Licence. Curacao (RTG platform) — South Africa licenses no online casinos
- Bonus terms. 100% up to R11 500 + 250 free spins — minimum deposit R10
- Payments seen in the cashier. Instant EFT, Ozow, 1Voucher, OTT Voucher, Blu Voucher, Visa/MC
- Where the figure comes from. Operator’s own published terms for South African players; confidence recorded as high.
- 29.5/10100% up to R28 800 + 150 free spinsMinimum deposit R100 · Wagering ×35 · Ozow Instant EFT · EFT
What we checked at Megapari
- Market access. Registration accepts a South African address and the cashier shows a local method.
- Licence. Curacao, Anjouan
- Bonus terms. 100% up to R28 800 + 150 free spins — minimum deposit R100, wagering x35
- Payments seen in the cashier. Ozow Instant EFT, EFT, Visa/MC, cripto
- Where the figure comes from. Operator’s own published terms for South African players; confidence recorded as medium.
- 39.4/10Up to R10 000R150 no deposit · Instant EFT · Ozow
What we checked at Thunderbolt
- Market access. Registration accepts a South African address and the cashier shows a local method.
- Licence. Curacao (RTG platform)
- Bonus terms. Up to R10 000
- Payments seen in the cashier. Instant EFT, Ozow, vouchers, Visa/MC
- Where the figure comes from. Operator’s own published terms for South African players; confidence recorded as high.
- 49.2/10100% up to R5 000Minimum deposit R50 · Instant EFT · Ozow
What we checked at 10bet
- Market access. Registration accepts a South African address and the cashier shows a local method.
- Licence. South African bookmaker licence (10bet.co.za)
- Bonus terms. 100% up to R5 000 — minimum deposit R50
- Payments seen in the cashier. Instant EFT, Ozow, Capitec Pay, Visa/MC
- Where the figure comes from. Operator’s own published terms for South African players; confidence recorded as medium.
18+ only. Gambling should stay entertainment — never stake more than you can comfortably lose. Bonus terms change without notice; always read them on the operator’s site. Free, confidential help: NRGP 0800 006 008.
LIST OF THE BEST SOUTH AFRICAN-FRIENDLY CASINO SITES THAT ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS
| Casino | Rating 5/5 | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Oak | 5 | Payment Options, Great Theme, Game Selection |
| Red Lion | 5 | VIP Program, Easy Navigation, Fast Cash-out |
| Harry’s | 5 | Game Selection, Deposit & Withdrawal Methods |
| Crazyno | 4.5 | Welcome Package, Security, Live 24/7 Chat |
How many people use credit cards?
In most places around the world, players will have access to a wide range of payment methods. E-wallets have also become common. While using credit cards is not the most popular way to gamble, it is hard to argue that a good percentage of the population does not like this payment method. In the United Kingdom, where the figures are published, around 24 million adults gamble. Out of this figure, UK Finance estimated that in 2020, around 800,000 of this number used credit cards to gamble. Given this total, it is clear to see that many people enjoy using credit cards to play those classic casino games online. They do this because of the advantages they offer – more on that later. However, this is not to say that credit card gambling is completely without its drawbacks.
How do people use credit cards?
Research published by the British regulator found that 22% of online gamblers who use credit cards are classed as problem gamblers. These are people who are at risk of developing or have already developed a gambling addiction, and some argue that the use of credit cards helps perpetuate this issue. This is because the money does not have to be in a person’s bank account to deposit and play with, which is troublesome for those in dire financial straits. However, this also acts as an advantage for those who want to play casino games before payday and in other situations where players need additional funds to play.
Extent of Credit Card use
Last year, those who have been following up with gambling news will know that card issuers and banks began declining gambling payments because they can be used by problem players, often to their detriment. However, this would have affected a great number of people considering that in October 2017, credit-card gambling transactions in the United Kingdom reached around 7.8 million. This follows years of use by players who enjoyed using credit cards as in 2016, the total amounted to approximately 6 million in the same month. The same story continues in 2015, where 6.6 million people used made gambling credit card transactions in October. Given this data, it is clear to see that credit cards were a popular gambling payment method in the markets that later restricted them, but it is also true to say that they are a popular payment method in other parts of the world too.
Last year, those who have been following up with gambling news will know that card issuers and banks began declining gambling payments because Credit cards and debit cards in general seem to be the preferred way for most to be able to go online and deposit their money to play casino games. This may stem from the fact that they are arguably the easiest options to use considering that they are physical cards that people will likely always have on them. This makes taking them out of a wallet or purse and entering the information on a website trivial, and one must only look towards countries like Spain to see evidence of this. In terms of e-commerce, 51% of people in Spain who were sampled use their credit card or debit card to make online purchases as was shown in a 2020 online survey. It is safe to assume that those who are willing to make online purchases with their credit cards would also be willing to transfer this practice to their gambling as it is a similar process.
Credit card gambling in other countries
There are many advantages to using credit cards, many of which will be sorely missed by those who used them daily before South Africa ban came out last year in April. South African players may indeed feel incredibly unlucky here considering that they are the only country whose gambling authority has issued a blanket ban on credit card gambling. It is difficult to find another country that has followed in South Africa’s footsteps on this matter, though some banks have sought to do the same thing. Residents of Australia might be aware that one of the banks situated in the country, Macquarie Bank, became the first major Australian bank to ban the use of its credit cards when people try to use them for gambling.
Although this ban is not as devastating as the one found in South Africa, it is still indicative of the industry’s changing attitudes towards credit card gambling. It has even arisen that in the same country, the big gambling operators have come out and backed a potential credit card ban which includes big names such as bet365 and Betfair. Heading to New Zealand from Australia, it appears that New Zealand is on the same level as Australia and South Africa when it comes to their apprehension towards credit card gambling. While the country originally explored blocking credit card use on unlicensed gambling sites and even explored banning them from online gambling altogether, the fact that the practice is still available to do today shows how reluctant the country is to place restrictions on credit card gambling and is also an indicator of its popularity with players.
RGA’s report on credit card gambling
In a report completed by South Africa RGA (Remote Gambling Association), members revealed some interesting findings:
- Those who use credit cards and at least one other payment method to gamble online may be spending more and be at greater risk of credit card debt.
- Most online gamblers who use a credit card (86%) deposit less than R2 300/month.
- Deposits under R2 300 000 000ade by a credit card make up (96%) of all deposits.
- Credit card users represent 19% of all responsible gambling (customer) interactions.
Looking at these findings gives an in-depth view of the type of person likely to use credit cards to play casino games online. While finding #1 seems to suggest that those who use credit cards to gamble are at more risk of debt, this only is true when talking about those who use it as an additional payment method. Those who only use credit cards for their advantages and not in addition to other payment methods will find that they do not fall into the category of being more at risk.
Findings #2 and #3 can even be argued to indicate the opposite – spending less than R2 300a month on gambling is not extremely within problem gambler territory, especially considering that most of these credit card deposits are under R2 300too. The last finding just goes to show that it is possible for people to use credit cards responsibly, and it does bring into question whether all people should not be able to use credit cards to gamble because some are at risk of falling victim to debt with them.
South Africa ban
The United Kingdom banned credit-card gambling on 14 April 2020, and the debate reached South Africa soon after. The British regulator, after seeing that around 175,000 people are problem gamers in financial distress because they used credit cards to gamble, simply placed a blanket ban on credit cards being used for gambling. This was because online gambling grew significantly last year as a result of the first lockdown in South Africa, and this would have been mirrored in other countries that also saw a lockdown and where the activity is legal. It was first announced in January of the same year, giving operators and credit card companies a few months to prepare as well as giving players a window where they could continue to enjoy credit card gambling.
Response to the ban
There will likely be many who oppose the ban since it was first announced, and those that previously enjoyed using credit cards will no doubt make up a good percentage of this group. However, the NGB might suggest that the action it has taken has been successful after the regulator reviewed its impact more than a year later. CEO of NGB Andrew Rhodes came out to say that it appears that has been “reduced consumer reliance on gambling with borrowed money”. This is always a good thing, but this accomplishment does not tell the whole story.
It will come as no surprise that credit cards are not the only means of borrowing money and by banning this payment method that is arguably fair to consumers, other shadier borrowing practices remained such as payday loans and quick credit services. These funding methods are notoriously more predatory than credit cards and some might argue that banning them from gambling altogether makes it more likely for people to search out these other methods that could cause them more financial harm.
Nevertheless, the British regulator found that 76% of people who used borrowed money to play online no longer did so anymore. Following on from the idea of other funding methods existing, 15% of people continued to borrow money but argued that the ban had forced them to find other options. To top this off, a smaller 9% of people said that they had borrowed money, but it was not necessarily because of the ban. Given these mixed findings, the NGB has already admitted that it would need to monitor whether their actions have pushed gamblers to borrow funds from illegal sources, but only time will tell whether this is the case.
While South Africa’s ban on credit card gambling might be inspiring to other countries looking to tackle problem gambling, it does not solve this problem entirely and negatively affects those responsible credit card gamblers in the process. It was introduced to combat reckless gambling, but veterans of the industry will agree that there are well-known ways around this. Those who liked borrowing money would still find a way to do so considering the ban, which again, calls into question why it was established in the first place.
Changing attitudes in Australia
It will come as good news to some that other countries have adopted a different view towards credit cards and gambling. This can be seen in Australia especially as a Senate committee that was tasked with reviewing a Bill that aimed to scrap using credit cards for online gambling has called for it to be dismissed. The committee identifies the issues that the Bill might wake which are coincidentally the same issues that the United Kingdom faced after banning credit-card gambling outright. After highlighting the safety mechanisms that are already in place, they argued that the onus for credit card regulations falls on financial institutions themselves, concluding that consumer choice is vital.
Questions and Answers Regarding Credit Cards Online Sites
Revolut is a widely accepted payment option that is used in more than 130 countries around the globe. You are advised to visit the official website of Revolut to see the comprehensive lists of countries that accepts this payment option.
With Revolut, you can easily withdraw and deposit your funds into your casino account. You are advised to go through the terms and conditions of your preferred gambling platform to know how easy it is to withdraw and deposit via this payment option.
Apart from being able to transact in different currencies, Revolut also supports cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. With this payment option, players can quickly deposit and withdraw on Bitcoin casinos that offer generous sign-up bonuses.
Currently, Revolut supports five cryptocurrencies, which are Bitcoin, Ethereum, BCH, XRP, and LTC.
Of course, Revolut offers a 14-day trial period for all types of its paid accounts. No payment will be charged if the account is discontinued within 14 days.
The following betting/gambling operators accept the use of Revolut as a payment method to fund and withdrawal their winnings from their gambling platforms:
Guts
Betfair
Genesis
Leovagas
Rizk
Betway
Credit Cards Conclusion
It is a view that would seem to satisfy many, certainly those residents of South Africa who are missing depositing and withdrawing using their credit cards. Fortunately, those who live in regions where credit card gambling is banned can always find casinos that can off them access to the practice. Users who choose YeboYes Casino can find a list of the best-non-South African-friendly casinos that accept credit cards which will enable them to take advantage of the host of benefits that the payment method offers.