What is PayPal Gambling Block?

The PayPal Gambling Block is designed to help customers manage their gambling and lottery activity by blocking eligible payments when they pay using PayPal with merchants identified as gambling or lottery operators.

The feature can help customers take greater control of their gambling spend and may form part of a wider approach to managing gambling-related harm. Customers experiencing gambling difficulties should consider using additional safeguards and seeking specialist support where appropriate.

How do I turn on the Gambling Block?

Using the PayPal Website

1. Go to Account.
2. Select Settings.
3. Choose Payments.
4. Go to Payment controls, under Payment preferences.
5. Turn on Gambling Block.

What types of gambling payments may be blocked?

The Gambling Block may block eligible payments to merchants identified as gambling operators, including:

• Online casinos.
• Sports betting sites.
• Poker sites.
• Lottery ticket sites
• Fantasy sports sites.
• Other
• online gambling services identified as gambling merchants.

Important Information

The Gambling Block applies to eligible payments when you use PayPal with merchants identified as gambling or lottery operators.

The feature relies on merchant information and industry classification codes supplied during the payment process. If a merchant is not identified or classified as a gambling merchant, a transaction may not be recognised as gambling-related and may not be blocked.

The Gambling Block should not be relied upon as the sole method of managing gambling activity. you may wish to consider additional safeguards, self-exclusion services, blocking software, and
specialist support services. 

Can I turn off the Gambling Block?

Yes. You can turn off the Gambling Block at any time. Once disabled, a three-day cooling-off period applies before eligible gambling payments can be made again. This delay is intended to provide
additional time to reconsider the decision.

Why was I able to make a gambling payment even though the Gambling Block was enabled?

When a payment is made, PayPal receives information about the merchant. Where a merchant is identified as a gambling operator, the Gambling Block is designed to decline eligible payments before the transaction is completed.

However, if a merchant is not correctly identified or classified as a gambling operator, the transaction may not be recognised as gambling-related and may be processed even when the Gambling Block is enabled.

If you believe a transaction should have been blocked, please contact PayPal so the merchant classification can be reviewed.

Additional Support Available from PayPal

Support Needs Portal

If you have support needs that you would like PayPal to consider when managing your account and providing services, you can record these through our Support Needs Portal.

The portal allows customers to disclose support needs and preferences so that PayPal can better support them when interacting with our services.

Support Needs Portal: https://paypal.com/myaccount/regulatoryinfo/support

Benefits of using the Support Needs Portal

Sharing your support needs can help PayPal better understand your circumstances and consider appropriate support when interacting with you. Depending on your circumstances, we may be able to:

• Take your support needs into account when communicating with you.
• Offer additional flexibility and support where appropriate.
• Help you access information in a way that better meets your needs.
• Signpost you to organisations that may be able to provide specialist support.
• Provide information about financial difficulty assistance and debt advice services.
• Signpost customers affected by gambling-related harm to specialist gambling support organisations and resources.

Support with Financial Difficulty

If you are experiencing financial difficulty, PayPal can refer you to PayPlan, an independent debt advice organisation.

PayPlan provides free, confidential guidance and can help customers understand the options available to manage financial difficulties.

PayPlan
Website: https://www.payplan.com/cr/paypal
Offers free, independent debt advice, budgeting support and financial wellbeing guidance to people experiencing financial difficulties.

Independent Gambling and Wellbeing Support Organisations

GamCare
Website: https://www.gamcare.org.uk
Offers practical advice, counselling, treatment services and access to specialist gambling support programmes.

TalkBanStop
Website: https://www.gamcare.org.uk/talk/
A partnership between GamCare, Gamban and GAMSTOP that combines helpline support, gambling-blocking software and self-exclusion, and also promotes the option to block gambling transactions through your bank.

NHS Gambling Support
Website: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/gambling-addiction/
Following GambleAware's closure on 31 March 2026, responsibility for gambling harm prevention, treatment and research funding in Great Britain has transferred to NHS England and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID). This page provides information on NHS treatment services and how to self-refer to a specialist gambling clinic.

Gambling Commission
Website: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk
The regulator for commercial gambling in Great Britain. Provides information about safer gambling, consumer protections and industry requirements.

MoneyHelper
Website: https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk
Provides free government-backed guidance on budgeting, managing money, debt, pensions and financial planning.

Mind
Website: https://www.mind.org.uk
Provides information and support relating to mental health, including guidance for people whose wellbeing has been affected by gambling-related harm.

Further Information

For additional information about options for customers with support needs, please visit the PayPal Help Centre article: How does PayPal help customers who need extra care and support? | PayPal GB