Running an adult business online has always been a balancing act. Between customer expectations, industry stigma, and the constant risk of chargebacks, the last thing anyone wants is more rules from card networks. But Visa’s new policies aren’t just whispers in the background anymore they’re here, they’re official, and they directly impact how you accept payments.
If you work with adult services, escort platforms, or content-driven sites, you’re in the category Visa already considers “high risk.” That means these new rules don’t just apply to you they shine a spotlight on you. The changes are serious enough that ignoring them could cost you your merchant account, and with it, the ability to process Visa payments altogether.
Consent Isn’t Optional Anymore
Let’s start with the basics: consent.
For a long time, websites relied on loose agreements, simple checkboxes, or upload disclaimers. That’s no longer acceptable. Visa is requiring merchants to keep proper records showing that every individual appearing in content has:
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Given legal, documented consent to be there.
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Proved they are of legal age with government-issued identification.
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Agreed to how and where the content will be used, whether streaming, downloadable, or hosted long-term.
If your platform involves live streaming, the stakes get even higher. Visa wants real-time moderation in place. That doesn’t mean casually glancing at what’s happening once in a while it means having systems (human or AI-driven) that can immediately remove anything that violates consent, depicts underage activity, or otherwise crosses the line.
The message is crystal clear: Visa wants merchants to take full accountability for the content they allow on their platforms. No more hiding behind “user responsibility.”
Stronger Age and ID Verification
Next comes identity checks. For years, the adult industry leaned on soft age gates the familiar “I’m over 18” button we’ve all clicked without a second thought. Visa isn’t buying that anymore.
Under the new rules, merchants are expected to use legitimate verification methods. That could mean ID uploads, third-party verification services, or in some cases, in-house checks that confirm legal age and identity.
This step may feel like an inconvenience, but there’s a reason behind it. Card networks, regulators, and banks are under pressure to prevent underage content at all costs. If you don’t take age verification seriously, you’re not just risking a fine you’re risking being cut off from Visa entirely.
VAMP: The New Scorecard That Could Make or Break You
Now for the part that will keep a lot of merchants up at night: Visa’s new monitoring program.
In April 2025, Visa is replacing its existing systems with something called the Visa Acquirer Monitoring Program (VAMP). It’s basically a new way of calculating how risky your transactions look. And unlike vague compliance rules, VAMP is all about numbers.
Here’s how it works:
(Total fraud reported in TC40s + non-fraud disputes) ÷ total settled transactions = your VAMP rate.
That rate is compared against Visa’s thresholds. If you’re in the adult space, pay close attention:
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Standard threshold: 0.9%
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Excessive threshold: 1.8%
In other words, if more than 0.9% of your transactions involve fraud reports or disputes, Visa already considers you a concern. Cross 1.8%, and you’re labeled excessive which is the fast track to account reviews, penalties, or outright termination.
It doesn’t take much to hit those numbers. Imagine you process 10,000 transactions in a month. If just 180 of them turn into chargebacks or disputes, you’re over the excessive threshold. In the adult industry, where customers may feel embarrassed about purchases and are quicker to dispute charges, those numbers come around faster than you’d think.
Why Adult and Escort Services Feel the Pressure More
Let’s be honest: not all industries are treated the same. A mainstream retailer might get a second chance when their dispute rate ticks up. But adult and escort services? We’re already labeled “high risk” from the start.
That means:
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There’s less patience for mistakes.
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Your acquirer or bank may hold you to even stricter thresholds.
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You’re more likely to face sudden freezes or shutdowns if your numbers slip.
And because chargebacks are so common in this industry, it’s not just about avoiding fraud it’s about actively managing customer relationships, making billing descriptors crystal clear, and resolving disputes before they escalate.
What Staying Compliant Really Looks Like
So what does this all mean in practice? It means compliance can’t be an afterthought anymore. It has to be built into your business from the ground up.
That means:
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Collecting and safely storing consent agreements and ID records.
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Using reliable age verification tools, not shortcuts.
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Monitoring live or user-uploaded content continuously.
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Keeping logs, timestamps, and moderation records in case of audits.
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Actively watching your dispute ratios and acting quickly to resolve them.
Yes, it’s extra work. Yes, it adds overhead. But it’s better than the alternative: waking up one day to find your Visa processing shut off and your revenue stream cut dry.
Visa’s new rules are strict, but they aren’t impossible. They’re a warning shot to the industry that sloppy practices are no longer tolerated. If you take compliance seriously, you can still operate, grow, and thrive. If you don’t, you risk losing access to the most important payment network in the world.
The adult industry has always been adaptable. This is just the next evolution and while it may feel like a burden now, the businesses that adapt quickly are the ones that will still be here five years from now, while others disappear.
