Gambling website refusing withdrawal under £10 and unable to deposit

mlb1999

i won a little under £10 from a free bonus on a gambling site that I hadn't used in a while. Their policy is that you can only withdraw a minimum of £10. Falling just below this, I thought I would top my account up and then withdraw straight away, however I then realised that the card on my account was expired and upon going to change my card details, was told you couldn't do so unless you had a balance of <£2, so my 'winnings' are now stuck in my account. 

I contacted customer service who have told me there is no way to add a new card and that I would have to gamble the money on my account. Is there anything I can do to get the money out? Appreciate it's only a small amount but probably quite profitable for the company if there are others in the same boat! 

la531983

No. 

Put it on a horse at 5/1 and hope for the best.

flaneurs_lobster

Can you not add a second card to the account? 

Bettie

Did they not mean you have to turn the bonus winnings over which is the usual case, then you keep what you win- if you win.. I can't see why you can't add another card but if you did and uploaded money only to draw it out without using it, then red flags would be raised as a possible money laundering situation (even for a small amount)

la531983

Bettie said:

Did they not mean you have to turn the bonus winnings over which is the usual case, then you keep what you win- if you win.. I can't see why you can't add another card but if you did and uploaded money only to draw it out without using it, then red flags would be raised as a possible money laundering situation (even for a small amount)

A lot of sites will only process withdrawals for a certain amount or more. Skybet is £10, as an example. Or it was when I last looked.

Significant_Tea2780

The minimum withdrawal issue is a known grey area under UKGC rules. The regulator requires licensed operators to have a "fair and transparent" withdrawal policy, but doesn't specify a minimum amount — so £10 minimums are technically legal as long as they're clearly stated in the T&Cs before you deposit.

What they can't do under UKGC rules is trap bonus winnings indefinitely. If the bonus terms stated a wagering requirement and you've met it, that balance belongs to you. Telling you to "gamble it away" rather than finding an alternative payment method (bank transfer, alternative card) isn't a satisfactory resolution and is worth escalating.

Two steps worth trying:

First, contact them in writing (email, not chat) and specifically ask: "What is your process for withdrawal when the original payment method is no longer valid?" Putting it in writing creates a paper trail and often gets a different response than live chat.

Second, if they don't resolve it within 8 weeks, every UKGC-licensed operator is legally required to have an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider listed in their T&Cs. The ADR service is completely free for the customer and the casino is legally required to participate and act on the decision.

For £10 it's rarely worth the effort, but the process exists and it's free to use. Most operators will resolve it before it reaches ADR once you mention it.