Can a bank block a card for paying at a casino
1. Legislative framework
Australia has an Interactive Gambling Act 2001, which restricts unlicensed online casinos. Banks are required to comply with the financial regulator AUSTRAC, which oversees gambling-related transactions. If the transaction is conducted in favor of an offshore operator without an Australian license, the bank may reject it or mark it as risky.
2. Bank policy
Australian banks (Commonwealth Bank, NAB, ANZ, Westpac):
- can block transactions using the MCC code "gambling" (merchant category code) if the payment goes to a prohibited resource;
- often restricting credit cards to eliminate player debt growth;
- apply additional checks if the transaction is conducted abroad or in a currency other than AUD.
3. Temporary and permanent interlocks
Card blocking is possible in several scenarios:
- one-time temporary block on suspicion of fraud or risky transaction;
- rejecting a particular payment to an offshore casino;
- complete blocking of the card in case of systematic violations of bank rules.
4. How to avoid blocking
Play only at licensed casinos that accept cards in Australia.
Check if the bank supports payment using the MCC code "gambling."
Use alternative input methods (e-wallets, cryptocurrency) if the bank blocks direct deposits.
Prevent credit card debt - debts increase the risk of restrictions.
5. Alternatives in blocking
If your bank has blocked your card for casino payments:
- contact the bank to clarify the reason;
- Use a debit or prepaid card
- switch to wallets (Skrill, Neteller) or crypto payments, which banks do not directly restrict.
Conclusion
Banks in Australia can indeed block transactions or cards for payment in online casinos, especially when it comes to unlicensed or offshore operators. To avoid problems, players should use only legal platforms, monitor the rules of their bank and, if necessary, connect alternative payment methods.
