Policy Changes Explained
Visa and Mastercard have both announced updates to their merchant category code (MCC) policies relating to online gambling transactions. The changes, effective from April 2026, introduce more granular transaction categorisation and enhanced monitoring requirements.
For players, the most notable change is that gambling transactions will now carry more specific descriptors on bank statements, making it easier for both players and banks to identify and track gambling-related spending.
Impact on Players and Operators
While the policy updates are primarily aimed at improving transparency and compliance, some players may experience temporary disruptions as banks and operators update their systems. In particular, some issuing banks may need to re-authorise their gambling transaction processing.
Operators have been given a 90-day transition period to implement the required changes. Most major operators have already begun the transition, with minimal expected impact on player experience.
Alternative Payment Options
For players who experience any issues with card payments during the transition, e-wallets such as PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller remain unaffected by the changes. Cryptocurrency payments also continue to operate independently of traditional card network policies.
Players are advised to contact their bank directly if they experience any unexpected declined transactions, as some banks may need to manually re-enable gambling merchant categories under the new classification system.
