Revolut ships with a built-in gambling block — a setting that automatically declines gambling-coded transactions. It exists to help people stay in control of their gambling, and understanding how it works also explains the most common "mystery declined deposit" players run into.
How the gambling block works
Card payments carry a merchant category code, and gambling merchants are coded MCC 7995. With the block enabled (in the Revolut app under security settings), any card payment with that code — casino deposits, betting sites, lottery — is declined automatically before it reaches the merchant. Note the scope: the block covers card payments only; bank transfers and payments made through third-party apps are not affected, so if you're using the block as a self-control tool, treat it as one strong layer rather than a complete wall.
The important design detail: switching the block off is not instant. Revolut applies a cooldown of up to 48 hours before gambling transactions work again. That delay is deliberate — it separates an impulsive moment from the ability to act on it, which is exactly what makes payment blockers effective as a self-control tool.
What this means for you
- Deposit declined with no clear reason? The block is the first thing to check — it's the single most common cause we see. The rest of the checklist is in our declined payments guide.
- Withdrawals still arrive. The block stops outgoing gambling payments; incoming refunds from a casino are not gambling-coded transactions.
- It's a genuinely good tool. If you ever feel your play creeping beyond fun, enabling the block is one of the most effective single steps you can take — the 48-hour friction works. Combine it with deposit limits at the casino itself and, if needed, support from the organisations on our responsible gambling page.
💡 Alongside the block, Revolut's standard spending controls — per-card limits and category budgets — work on casino spending too. A monthly limit on a dedicated virtual card is a simple, effective setup.
Gambling block FAQ
Where is the gambling block in Revolut?
In the app's security and privacy settings. Toggle it on and gambling-coded card transactions are declined immediately.
Why is there a delay when turning it off?
The cooldown of up to 48 hours is intentional friction — a widely used harm-reduction design that separates impulse from action. It cannot be skipped, and that's the point.
Does the block affect withdrawals from casinos?
No. It declines outgoing gambling payments only; refunds and transfers from casinos still arrive normally.