Only VISA for the Olympic Games in London?

[Herodes]

The Olympic Games in London 2012 only accept VISA which freezes out Mastercard and Amex cardholders.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/jun/24/london-olympics-visa-card-tickets

Does anyone know if this is actually legal according to UK laws ?

It would mean that you need to have a VISA card, and if you haven't one, you're forced to get one.

Smells like a monopoly situation to me, which many companies worldwide have been finger slapped for previously.

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[Foxpup]

IANAL, but I'm pretty sure it is legal. As a general rule, people are free to accept or decline whatever payment methods they want, with the exception that legal tender must be accepted as a settlement of pre-existing debt (though other methods of payment may be accepted if the creditor agrees). Compare how eBay forces sellers to accept PayPal, which is also perfectly legal, apparently.

[Herodes]

I understand. Still, I don't like it. 

[DublinBrian]

IANAL, but I'm pretty sure it is legal. As a general rule, people are free to accept or decline whatever payment methods they want, with the exception that legal tender must be accepted as a settlement of pre-existing debt (though other methods of payment may be accepted if the creditor agrees). Compare how eBay forces sellers to accept PayPal, which is also perfectly legal, apparently.

But the Olympics is not just anyone, they are state sponsored entitiy.

IMO, this is an illegal state aid under EU single market rules.

[rudrigorc2]

olympics and world cups are just public robbery institutes...

next cup is in Brazil and FIFA is ruling the country ATM.

[Foxpup]

But the Olympics is not just anyone, they are state sponsored entitiy.

IMO, this is an illegal state aid under EU single market rules.

No they're not. The International Olympic Committee is a private non-profit organisation. The only "state sponsorship" they recieve is the bids to host the games in a particular country, which is really no different from states "sponsoring" other private organisations through various subsidies and contracts and other shady practices.