High-risk vertical? We have the specialist acquirers.
Online gambling, crypto, subscription billing, dating, adult, supplements, CBD, vape, firearms, travel, pawnbroking. Mainstream UK acquirers (Stripe, Square, Dojo) decline these. We work the specialist UK panel that does underwrite.
Free · 2 mins · No call-back spam · Acquirer pays our fee
- 50+ UK acquirer panel
- 24/7 dedicated account team included
- Companies House 16833937
Why UK merchants pick High-risk card payments through us
Specialist high-risk panel
UK and EU high-risk acquirers (Trust Payments, Acquired.com, emerchantpay, PXP Financial, Cardstream) plus international processors that underwrite UK merchants. We route to the one that fits your vertical and trading history.
Risk disclosed upfront
We tell the acquirer your risk classification at first contact. No mainstream-acquirer rejection wasted, no time wasted re-applying.
Chargeback support included
High-risk verticals see higher chargeback ratios, and a high dispute rate can get an account closed. MerchantHQ drafts every dispute response with a full evidence pack to protect your win rate and your account.
Rolling reserve managed
High-risk specialists run 5-10% rolling reserves. We negotiate the reserve down as you build clean trading history.
Best fit for
- UK Gambling Commission-licensed online gambling
- UK CBD retailers (Novel Food approved)
- UK vape and e-cigarette retail and online
- UK subscription billing for adult content, dating
- UK firearms and ammunition retailers
Not the right fit if
- Mainstream low-risk verticals (use Stripe, Square, Dojo, SumUp instead)
- UK businesses without proper regulatory licence (Gambling Commission, Trading Standards CBD compliance, etc)
In the UK market
Standard UK card-payment brokers refuse high-risk applications. MerchantHQ is structured around the specialist panel.
UK merchants ask
Is online gambling legal to take card payments for in the UK?
Yes, if you hold a Gambling Commission licence. Mainstream UK acquirers (Stripe, Adyen, Worldpay) underwrite licensed UK gambling only on specific account tiers; many decline. Specialist acquirers (T1 Payments, SecurionPay, eMerchantBroker) underwrite gambling routinely.
What about CBD oil in the UK?
A finished CBD product sold in Great Britain must hold (or be progressing through) FSA Novel Food authorisation and meet the controlled-cannabinoid limits for consumer products. The often-quoted 0.2% THC figure is the licensing threshold for growing industrial hemp, not the legal standard for a finished CBD product, so do not rely on it as your compliance test. Mainstream UK acquirers decline most CBD; specialist acquirers (HighRisk-Pay, Easy Pay Direct, Durango) underwrite it with a rolling reserve.
How long does high-risk underwriting take?
Typically 5 to 15 business days. Specialist acquirers require more documentation than mainstream: business history, marketing material, fraud-prevention setup, chargeback policy. MerchantHQ prepares the application pack.
Get matched in 2 minutes.
Whole-of-market UK acquirer panel. Free to apply. Acquirer pays our commission. 24/7 dedicated UK account team for the life of the agreement.
Get my quotesReviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director · Best Business Loans Ltd (Companies House 16833937)