American Express
American Express is a major American multi-national financial services company, best known for its credit card, charge card and travellers’ cheque services. It was founded in 1850 and originally operated as a mail service. Diversification into financial services began in the late 19th Century, as the company launched its money order service as an enhancement to its mail service. Similar to the United Kingdom’s postal order, it enabled money to be sent in the more securely. Cash could be easily stolen, but money orders were valid for the named recipient only, and identification had to be shown before they could be converted into cash. A later frustrating visit to Europe by the joint founder and then company president J.C. Fargo resulted in the launching of a new traveller’s cheque service. It was this new innovation that enabled the company to become a truly worldwide operation, so that by the time of the outbreak of World War One, it had offices in most of the major cities in Europe.
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It was not until after the Second World War however, that the service it is most famous for in the UK was introduced. The concept of the charge card was considered and discussed by American Express executives shortly after 1945b but it was not until the introduction of the rival Diners Club card in 1950 that the company was shocked into action. So it was that the American Express card was launched to considerable fanfare in 1958. These two competing offerings have continued to be major rivals ever since in the US, as well as the UK and worldwide. The promotion of the American Express card in the UK was boosted by a big TV advertising campaign in the 1970s, notable for the now infamous slogan “…don’t leave home without it.”
The charge card differs from credit cards in that although you are still effectively borrowing money, you generally have to pay the bill in full at the end of the statement period. Therefore, they are generally only available to the relatively wealthy, or those with an extremely good credit rating. Card holders are charged an annual fee for their account. Traders who accept the card will also usually be charged a relatively high merchant fee (effectively a commission on sales), on the grounds that its customers’ high credit worthiness may well make them likely to spend more.
American Express is not a standard payment method on UK online bingo sites, perhaps because the more working class roots of the game in the United Kingdom make it an unlikely choice of payment method. Neither is it a particular aim of the “exclusive” American Express company’s marketing to expand its offering to the bingo playing masses. However, some of the larger bookmaking firms’ bingo portals will accept the card. Many of the larger casino sites will also accept American Express cards, so these too are an option if they have a bingo offering as part of their portfolio of games.
Whatever your choice of payment options, you can rely on Busy Bee’s site reviews to help you select the best online bingo sites to play on. All the different methods of payment available, including American Express, are always listed in full at the end of each review.
Casino list updated: July 2026
Full List Of American Express Bingo Sites
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Casino list updated: July 2026
Full List Of American Express Casino Sites
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