American Express credit cards banned form online casinos

Citibank and American Express have extended their bans on the use of their credit cards for online gambling from the US to the UK.

Despite the impending Gambling Bill, with which the government hopes to regulate and protect online casinos in the UK, the firms have committed to implementing and maintaining the new policy in the UK.

AMEX has had a blanket ban in place in the US on transactions for online casinos (which are in any case illegal) and pornographic sites.

"We introduced this nearly four years ago because of the high instances of disputed transactions and fraudulent charges," a spokesman said.

A spokesman from the online gambling industry commented that the move "smacked of a nanny state".

Many groups are wary of the proposed Bill, warning that it could worsen credit-card debts and provoke addiction.

It is due to be 'fast-tracked' by the government despite strong opposition in the national press.