Can You Buy Lottery Tickets With a Credit Card?
This is an independent, informational guide for UK readers and is not affiliated with the organisations mentioned. It is provided for general information only.
No. You cannot buy UK National Lottery tickets, or gamble online generally, using a credit card. Gambling on credit cards was banned in Great Britain in April 2020 to stop people betting with borrowed money, so lottery tickets must be paid for with a debit card or other non-credit method.
The short answer
No. You cannot buy UK National Lottery tickets, or gamble online generally, with a credit card. Gambling on credit cards was banned in Great Britain in April 2020, and that includes the lottery.
Instead, you can pay with a debit card or, in shops, with cash.
Why the ban exists
The ban was introduced to stop people gambling with borrowed money, which can deepen debt and harm. The principle is simple: money you don't have shouldn't be staked on a game of chance.
It applies across UK-licensed online gambling, not just the lottery.
What you can use instead
Debit cards are the usual way to pay online, and cash works for shop purchases. Some online accounts also accept other non-credit methods.
If you ever feel tempted to fund play with credit, that is a sign to step back — and tools like bank gambling blocks and GAMSTOP can help.
Borrowing to gamble
The reason behind the ban is a simple, important one: you should never gamble with money you have borrowed. Doing so is one of the clearest warning signs of gambling harm.
If you find yourself wanting to, free support is available, and bank gambling blocks and GAMSTOP can remove the temptation.
The practical upshot is easy to remember: debit yes, credit no. If a website offers to let you buy UK lottery tickets or gamble using a credit card, that is itself a warning sign that it may not be a properly licensed operator, so it is best avoided.
Why can't you use a credit card to buy lottery tickets?
Gambling on credit cards was banned in Great Britain in 2020 to stop people betting with borrowed money.
Can you use a debit card for the lottery?
Yes. Debit cards are accepted online, and you can pay with cash in shops.
Does the credit card ban apply in shops?
Shop purchases with cash or debit are fine; the ban targets gambling and lottery play funded by credit.
Is it ever a good idea to gamble on credit?
No. Gambling with borrowed money is a recognised warning sign of harm, which is why the credit-card ban exists.
Related guides: Playing online, Gambling and your credit score, Responsible gambling
18+ only. Gambling should be fun, not a way to make money. If you are worried about your gambling, or affected by someone else's, free and confidential help is available from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, from BeGambleAware.org, and through the self-exclusion scheme GAMSTOP. You must be 18 or over to gamble.