Particle.news
Download on the App Store
11 ARTICLES
·
3w ago

Home Office Launches Probe Into Aspen Card Gambling Misuse

An urgent review follows data revealing that more than 6,500 asylum seekers made gambling-related withdrawals from state-funded payment cards

Image
There are said to be about 8,000 Aspen cards in the UK. They are given to asylum seekers to make essential purchases
Image
Image

Overview

  • Freedom of Information figures show that at least 6,537 asylum seekers used their Aspen cards at casinos, bookmakers and arcades over the past year
  • Aspen cards provide weekly allowances of £9.95 in fully catered hotels and £49.18 in self-catered accommodation for essentials
  • Attempts to gamble online were blocked and led some cardholders to withdraw cash near gambling venues identified by terminal IDs
  • The Home Office investigation aims to strengthen transaction controls and improve monitoring of card usage
  • Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp and regional leaders called the misuse an insult to taxpayers and urged stricter oversight