Lotto phases out credit-card use

LOTTO players will soon be barred from using credit cards to buy tickets.

The move by the National Lottery to phase out the use of credit cards in their online games from next month was described as ‘quite positive’ yesterday by Problem Gambling Ireland.

In a note to Lotto players, the National Lottery announced it will begin phasing out the use of credit and commercial cards as a means of playing its online games.

Credit card spending is effectively borrowed money at extremely high rates unless the full debt is paid off each month.

But debit cards as well as prepaid debit cards are limited to how much can be spent on them by the balance on their account.

Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail, Barry Grant, head of Problem Gambling Ireland said: ‘The symbolism of it is quite positive in terms of trying to be proactive about responsible play, responsible gambling from their perspective.’

Mr Grant said through his work as a counsellor, very few people would get themselves into trouble over gambling on the lotto, but it shows that National Lottery are still well ahead of other gambling operators in the country.

‘In the UK, the gambling regulator there has banned credit card gambling on all forms of gambling. We haven’t seen any of the other gambling operators in the Republic doing anything like that, but it is nice to see that from the National Lottery. It is a positive move.’

In the email, the National Lottery told customers: ‘We have taken the decision to phase out the use of credit cards and commercial cards as a means of payment for playing online.

‘From February 4, players will no longer be able to link a new credit card or commercial card to their accounts.’

Mr Grant said they campaigned early in the pandemic to bring in regulations to prevent gambling on credit cards but no other action has been taken.