Mastercard and Visa Caught Processing Payments for Illegal Gambling Sites
A recent investigation revealed that payment systems Mastercard and Visa continue to process transactions for illegal online casinos and betting sites, despite previous promises to block such operations. These actions have drawn the attention of UK authorities and caused outrage among users affected by fraud on these platforms.
Payment Systems and Their Connection to Illegal Sites
According to an investigation conducted by The Guardian and Investigate Europe, Mastercard and Visa allowed payments to be processed for nine illegal sites operating in the UK. These sites offer betting on sports events and casino games but do not have the necessary licenses to operate in the country.
Despite promises from both companies to take action to block such transactions, they continue to receive commissions from operations made through their platforms. Among the illegal sites were platforms like FatPirate and Gransino, which have received numerous complaints from users.
Payment Issues
Many users reported that they were unable to withdraw their winnings or were deceived. One client lost £60,000, while another, who won £70,000, was only able to withdraw a small portion of the amount. These cases highlight the importance of monitoring transactions on unlicensed platforms.
Why is This Happening?
The issue lies in the fact that Mastercard and Visa are not blocking transactions on illegal sites, despite their commitments to regulators. These companies claim they have no direct connection with the operators of illegal sites and that the responsibility for compliance lies with acquiring banks. However, despite these claims, the companies continue to profit from these transactions.
Violations and Consequences for Customers
Throughout the investigation, it became clear that unlicensed sites attract thousands of users, including in the UK, and receive millions of visits. Some users report that they were scammed, unable to withdraw their money, or had their accounts blocked after submitting complaints.
Examples of Fraud-Related Sites:
- FatPirate – Advertises bonuses up to £425 but often prevents withdrawals of winnings.
- Gransino – Users complain about account deletion and refusal of payouts.
Response from Mastercard and Visa
Mastercard stated that it has a “zero tolerance” policy for illegal activities and promised to investigate the situations with the mentioned sites. Visa also stated that illegal activity on its platform is strictly prohibited and that it will take action if violations are found.
However, experts doubt that these statements are enough to prevent further violations. Ian Duncan Smith, chairman of the Parliamentary Group for Gambling Reform, noted that these companies must immediately tighten measures to block transactions on illegal sites.
Conclusion
The situation surrounding Mastercard and Visa has revealed serious problems with monitoring illegal transactions on online gambling platforms. It is essential that both payment systems and regulators take this issue seriously and implement measures to protect users from fraud and illegal transactions.