Visa joins Mastercard with gambling payment blocks

Probably not a huge surprise, but following in the footsteps of Mastercard, VISA are apparently now also making efforts to block US player payments to online gambling operators.

As yet neither an official statement from VISA or a definitive report from a respected news agency have surfaced on this one, but enough gambling portals and player forums are making noises to suggest the block is on in earnest.

With both VISA and Mastercard pulling the pin on gambling, and Amex largely out of the picture anyway (few casinos use it due to the high merchant service fees charged), the payment pipeline for US residents looking to play internet poker, casino games or bet on sports continues to shrink.  And this is despite authorities’ decision to delay UIGEA implementation until June 1 this year.

Will alternative payment methods move in to fill the void?  Probably.  Will the VISA and Mastercard ever jump back on the online gambling bandwagon?  I guess a lot depends on the progress of Barney Frank and Co.’s new net gambling laws. Will American’s continue to gamble online?  If I had to place a bet I’d say yes.

regards

LD