Adult industry merchant accounts UK
Card networks treat adult content and services as the highest-chargeback-risk vertical outside gambling. Mainstream acquirers decline categorically.
Legal status (UK)
Legal in UK within specific frameworks. Age-verification requirements (Online Safety Act) apply.
Acquirers accepting
- Specialist adult-vertical acquirers
- Trust Payments (selectively)
- Acquired.com (selectively)
Typical pricing
- Rate
- 4.0% to 7.0% blended
- Settlement reserve
- 10% to 15% rolling reserve standard
Watch outs
- Age-verification must meet Online Safety Act standards.
- Some acquirers exclude specific sub-categories.
- Onboarding documentation is more extensive than mainstream verticals.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-26.