The UK gambling commission is to outlaw betting with credit cards from April of this year in a bid to tackle the issue of problem gambling. 

Punters will still be able to use their debit cards for online wagers.

The commission found in separate research that 22 percent of gamblers that use credit cards are designated as 'problem gamblers'.

The UK ban will extend to online and offline bets except for lotteries which are run for worthy causes.

In Ireland, a new regulatory authority to overhaul our long-standing gambling laws is due to come into place later this year.

UK Gambling Commission chief executive Neil McArthur said: 

 "Credit card gambling can lead to significant financial harm. The ban that we have announced today should minimise the risks of harm to consumers from gambling with money they do not have.

"We also know that there are examples of consumers who have accumulated tens of thousands of pounds of debt through gambling because of credit card availability.

"There is also evidence that the fees charged by credit cards can exacerbate the situation because the consumer can try to chase losses to a greater extent.

"We realise that this change will inconvenience those consumers who use credit cards responsibly, but we are satisfied that reducing the risk of harm to other consumers means that action must be taken."