Regulatory briefing · Great Britain

Licence condition 5.1.2: payment methods and payment service providers

Licence condition 5.1.2 requires remote casino, bingo and betting operators to take customer payments in Great Britain only through payment services, and payment service providers, as defined in the Payment Services Regulations 2017. It does not say "FCA authorised", but in practice it ties operators to the regulated payments system.

By Clera Dukuk · Published 24 October 2026

Coverage
Remote casino, bingo and betting licensees, Great Britain
Sources checked
24 October 2026
Next review
24 January 2027

Key points

  • Applies to remote casino, bingo and betting operating licences, except ancillary, host and trading-room-only remote betting intermediary licences.
  • Payment must involve a payment service listed in Schedule 1 Part 1 of the Payment Services Regulations 2017, from a provider within the Regulations' definition.
  • The current wording, citing the 2017 Regulations, took effect on 31 January 2024.
  • The condition also covers any later regulations that amend or replace the 2017 Regulations.

What the condition says

The condition says licensees "must only accept payment from customers using their gambling facilities in Great Britain" by a method involving the provision of payment services as defined in Schedule 1 Part 1 of the Payment Services Regulations 2017. The provider must fall within the definition of "payment service provider" in regulation 2 of those Regulations. The condition extends to the equivalent requirements of any statutory instrument that amends or supersedes them.

The Commission changed the condition's references from the 2009 Regulations to the 2017 Regulations in a consultation response published on 17 October 2023, effective 31 January 2024.

Who it applies to

All remote casino, bingo and betting operating licences, except ancillary licences, host licences and remote betting intermediary (trading room only) licences. Land-based operators are not covered by this condition, though other conditions, such as the credit card ban in condition 6.1.2, do reach some of them.

Which payment services count

Schedule 1 Part 1 of the Payment Services Regulations 2017 lists the regulated payment services. In summary they are:

  • placing cash on, and withdrawing cash from, a payment account
  • executing payment transactions, such as direct debits, card payments and credit transfers, including where funds are covered by a credit line
  • issuing payment instruments and acquiring payment transactions (card acquiring sits here)
  • money remittance
  • payment initiation services
  • account information services

Read the Schedule itself for the exact wording and for Part 2, which lists activities that are not payment services.

Which providers qualify

Regulation 2 of the Regulations defines "payment service provider". The definition covers, among others, banks and building societies, authorised and small payment institutions, and electronic money institutions. Firms that provide payment services in the UK must normally be authorised or registered by the FCA, which publishes the Financial Services Register.

How an operator can check a provider

  1. Identify the regulated firm. The brand on a checkout page may belong to a group; find the legal entity that will actually provide the payment service under the contract.
  2. Look it up on the FCA register. Check its status (authorised payment institution, e-money institution, bank or registered firm) and the permissions listed.
  3. Match the service. Confirm the service you will use, for example card acquiring or payment initiation, is one the firm is permitted to provide.
  4. Record it. Keep the register extract with the date checked, and recheck on renewal or when the provider changes its corporate structure.

Our payment provider due diligence guide covers the commercial and operational checks that sit alongside this regulatory one.

Condition 5.1.2 sits alongside the credit card ban in condition 6.1.2, the customer funds conditions 4.1.1 and 4.2.1, and condition 5.1.1 on cash and cash equivalents. Our overview of British gambling payment rules covers each one.

Questions about condition 5.1.2

Does condition 5.1.2 require FCA-authorised payment providers?

Not in those words. It requires payment services and payment service providers as defined in the Payment Services Regulations 2017. Most such providers must be authorised or registered by the FCA, so checking the FCA register is the practical test.

When did the current wording take effect?

On 31 January 2024, when the Commission updated the references from the Payment Services Regulations 2009 to the 2017 Regulations.

Sources