Which Banks Ban Gambling Transactions in Australia?
Banking rules are constantly changing in Australia and this can make it difficult to make a deposit at Australian online casinos. We’re often asked which banks allow online casino deposits. As such, we’ve compiled a list of which banks presently block gambling transactions.
Can I Gamble With a Credit Card in Australia?
Every bank in Australia has some form of ban on gambling. These bans are both for online casino games and live gambling. Below is a list of banks that have enacted a complete gambling ban for credit cards:
- Bank Australia
- Bank of Melbourne
- Bank of Queensland
- Citibank
- CUA
- Macquarie Bank
- Suncorp
- Virgin Money
Bank Australia has announced a ban on credit cards for the purposes of gambling and gaming. The move is backed by 87% of the bank's customer base.https://t.co/WKO7o9y72G
— Gambling News (@thegamblingnews) October 12, 2020
Note that any transaction that can be classified as gambling will be blocked by these banks. This also includes all forms of lotteries. Any game of chance will be blocked. Also, there is a good chance that these banks will also block social casino games as well.
Next, let’s look at some of the banks that give you the option to block gambling transactions:
- Commonwealth Bank
- NAB
- Westpac
For these banks, you have the option to opt-out of gambling transactions for your account. Generally, if you opt-out, you cannot reverse this decision for 30 to 60 days.
The only major bank that we know doesn’t block online gambling transactions is ANZ. There are no restrictions on credit cards provided you are under 85% of your credit limit. If you’re at 85% or higher, then gambling transactions will be blocked.
Finally, let’s discuss the American Express card. American Express presently has a complete ban on gambling transactions. We include them in this section because AMEX acts as its own bank where Visa and MasterCard work with the banks.
What About Debit Cards?
It is common knowledge that most banks do not place as many restrictions on the usage of debit cards as they do credit cards. That’s because a debit card pulls money from your checking account rather than running up a line of credit. It is difficult for banks to get away with restricting access to your money, so most don’t try.
However, there are three banks that do give you the option to block gambling transactions. Commonwealth Bank, NAB, and Westpac all allow you to opt-out of gambling transactions. Banks can offer this service as it requires you to make a legal acknowledgment giving permission to the bank to make the restriction. Again, you will likely have to wait 30 to 60 days to reverse your decision.
Alternatives to Credit and Debit Cards
If your bank blocks you from using your credit card from making gambling transactions, your first option is to use a debit card. For those that would rather not use your personal debit card for gambling, you do have other options.
The most commonly used deposit alternative at online casinos in Australia is NeoSurf. NeoSurf is an online payment voucher that you can purchase and use for online gambling. Think of it as a digital money order. You make a voucher purchase and then use the 10-digit Neosurf voucher to make your deposit.
Lastly, you have the option of making a deposit using Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. Most online casinos now accept Bitcoin and many also accept altcoin deposits. If you do not already own Bitcoin, you can purchase it at popular crypto exchanges like Coinbase, Kraken, Binance, and eToro. Once you purchase your crypto, you can then use it to make a casino deposit.
While credit card bans make it difficult to deposit at online casinos, it is not impossible. By using some of the alternative methods above, you can still fund your account and continue playing your favorite casino games.