Yes to cash, usually yes to debit cards, and no to credit cards. Cash is still the standard way to bet in a betting shop, debit cards are widely accepted at the counter and on many terminals, and credit cards have been banned for all gambling in Great Britain since 14 April 2020. Below is what that means at the counter, on the self-service terminals and on the gaming machines, and how you get paid when you win.
Key points
- Cash is the standard way to pay at the counter, and most terminals and machines take notes.
- Debit cards are accepted by most chains, but not on every terminal or in every shop.
- Credit cards cannot be used to gamble. This includes paying with a credit card through a money service business or similar route.
- Winnings are normally paid at the counter in cash. Large wins may be paid another way, depending on the bookmaker’s rules.
- Shops are not allowed to give you credit. You cannot bet now and pay later.
Paying with cash
A betting shop is one of the few places where cash is still the default. You hand your slip and your money to the cashier, and you get a printed receipt. There is no account, no registration and no need to give your name for a normal bet.
Self-service betting terminals (SSBTs) generally have a note acceptor, and gaming machines take notes too.
Bookmakers are required to have policies on how customers use cash and cash equivalents, designed to reduce the risk of crimes such as money laundering. In practice this means staff may ask questions if a customer is spending large amounts of cash, and the shop can refuse a transaction it is not comfortable with.
Paying with a debit card
Most of the large chains accept debit cards at the counter, and many SSBTs have a card reader. Coverage is not universal: a card reader can be out of order, an older terminal may be cash only, and some smaller shops do not take cards at all. If you are relying on a card, ask at the counter before you fill in a slip.
Debit card bets work like any other card purchase. The money leaves your account straight away, and you get the same receipt as a cash bet. Where the shop offers it, winnings can sometimes be paid back to the card rather than in cash.
Many banks let you block gambling transactions on your debit card in their app. If you want to make sure you cannot use your card in a betting shop, that block works for card payments at the counter and on terminals.
Why you cannot use a credit card
The Gambling Commission banned the use of credit cards for gambling from 14 April 2020, for both online and in-person gambling. The only exception is lottery tickets bought face to face, such as National Lottery tickets in a supermarket. The ban is now a licence condition: bookmakers must not accept payment for gambling by credit card, including payments made by credit card through a money service business.
The Commission’s reason was harm. Its research at the time found that 22% of online gamblers who used credit cards were classed as problem gamblers. Betting with money you have borrowed makes losses harder to recover from and easier to chase.
Shops are also forbidden from giving you credit themselves. A cashier cannot let you place a bet and pay for it later, or run a tab.
Machines and terminals
There are two kinds of machine in most shops, and they treat money differently:
- SSBTs are for sports betting. You add cash or pay by card where available, place your bets, and get a printed receipt. Winning receipts are usually cashed at the counter.
- Gaming machines are for casino-style games. You put notes in and play; any balance you collect is usually paid out by the machine or as a printed ticket you cash at the counter. Since April 2019 the maximum stake on the B2 roulette-style games has been £2 per spin.
If a machine takes your money and does not register it, tell the cashier straight away. They can see the transaction and sort it out far more easily while you are still in the shop.
How winnings are paid
Take your receipt to the counter. The cashier scans it and pays you, normally in cash. For larger wins, the shop may not hold enough cash, or the bookmaker’s rules may require a different method, such as a cheque or a bank transfer, and you may be asked for identification before payment. Each bookmaker sets its own limits, and they are printed in the shop’s betting rules, which you can ask to see. If you are expecting a big payout, ask before you place the bet.
There is no tax on betting winnings in the UK, so the amount on your receipt is the amount you are paid.
Quick answers
- Can I use Apple Pay or Google Pay? Only where the shop accepts contactless payments, and only with a debit card. A credit card in a phone wallet is still a credit card.
- Can I pay with a prepaid card? It depends on the bookmaker and the card. Ask at the counter.
- Can I pay for a bet by cheque? Ask at the counter, but do not count on it. Cash or a debit card is the reliable option.
Finding a shop
Use the shop finder to see betting shops near you, with opening hours where the bookmaker publishes them. Each shop page shows when its information was collected, so you can judge how current it is before you travel.
Related guides: How to place a bet in a betting shop, What ID do you need at a betting shop?, How betting shops work in the UK, the betting glossary and our responsible gambling page.