The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched a consultation proposing to ease the current contactless payment caps, potentially allowing banks to set their own per-transaction and daily limits. At present, the standard contactless limit is £100 per payment and £300 per day. The FCA’s consultation, open until 15 October 2025, suggests that advances in biometric authentication and strong fraud controls could support higher caps—potentially between £150 and £250 per transaction—while maintaining customer security.
David Geale, the FCA’s executive director of payments and digital finance, commented that recent technology improvements and fraud detection have made such changes feasible. He stated, “While we wouldn’t expect to see immediate changes to the limits by firms, they would have the flexibility to make payments more convenient.” He also reassured consumers: “People are still protected; even with contactless, firms will still refund your money even if your card is used fraudulently.”
The proposals note that digital wallet solutions like Apple Pay and Google Pay already permit users to bypass the physical card limits when using biometric verification such as Face ID or passcodes, providing enhanced security and greater transaction flexibility. Contactless payment usage continues to rise, while data shows low levels of fraud losses, which are often fully reimbursed to customers under current consumer protections.
If implemented, new limits could support increased convenience for UK casino players and retailers, without impacting existing biometric authentication requirements. Full implementation following public feedback would depend on regulatory updates, likely in 2026.
| Current Rule | Proposed Change | Key Safeguard |
|---|---|---|
| £100 per contactless payment | Banks may set own limit (£150–£250) | Biometric/Strong authentication required for wallets |
| £300 daily cap | Banks may adjust daily limits | Fraud loss usually reimbursed |
Further information:
- Apple expands Tap to Pay features
- UK watchdogs review Apple Pay & Google Pay
- Guide to using e-wallets for betting
- Fast casino withdrawals in the UK
- Common UK casino withdrawal issues
Learn more from the original source: The Sun.
