credit card gambling debt

If you ever found yourself chasing losses with a credit card, top-up loan, or bank overdraft — and regretted it later — you’re not alone. Before the UK ban on gambling with credit cards came into effect in April 2020, it was all too easy to dig yourself into a financial hole. The worst part? Some lenders enabled it.

This article is for the people who were lent money when they clearly shouldn’t have been — and now want to know if there’s a way to put things right.

Gambling debt isn’t just about the losses — it’s about how you were funded.
Thousands of people were approved for loans, overdrafts, and credit cards despite obvious signs they were gambling heavily. That’s what the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) calls irresponsible lending.

In plain terms:
If a lender could see you were gambling — and lent you more anyway — they might owe you money back.

 Signs You Might Have a Case

You don’t need to have said “I’m gambling” when applying. Banks and lenders can see gambling transactions on your statements. The Ombudsman has upheld claims where:

• You were regularly depositing to bookies, online casinos or gambling apps
   
• You were given loan top-ups or overdraft increases while gambling
   
• You missed payments, only to be offered more credit later
   
• Your credit card showed suspicious patterns (e.g., repeated £50 deposits to Coral or Paddy Power)
   

If any of this sounds familiar, you may be able to claim a refund of the interest and charges, not the original loan, but everything on top of it.

If your complaint succeeds, your lender could be ordered to:

• Refund all interest and fees on unaffordable lending
   
• Remove negative marks (like defaults) from your credit record
   
• Possibly write off part of the balance if you’re still repaying
   

You won’t usually get a full write-off of what you borrowed, but you could save hundreds or even thousands by removing the extra cost of borrowing.

You don’t need a lawyer — you can do this yourself in two steps:

Write to your bank, loan provider, or card company. Tell them:

• You were gambling at the time
   
• They should have seen this on your statements
   
• Lending you money was irresponsible and unaffordable
   

Contact us at hello@fairerplay.com for a free template to get you started.

If the lender doesn’t respond, or says no — don’t panic.
Take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). It’s free, impartial, and often sides with borrowers — especially where gambling and mental health are involved.

Some people prefer using a solicitor or claims company — especially if their case is complicated or they just want someone else to handle it.  

Some of these firms may take a success fee, so check the fine print before signing up.

If you’re confident and want to keep 100% of any refund, it’s worth trying the DIY route first. We've got  a template you can use in the first instance. Just send us an email and we'll send you a copy. 

At FairerPlay, we believe in exposing the underbelly of gambling culture with real tools that protect people from being exploited by both bookies and lenders.

 Take Action Today

You don’t have to let those old debts haunt you.
If you were sold unaffordable credit to fund gambling, you have the right to challenge it. Email for the initial letter to get the ball rolling.