Definition
Prohibited industries are business sectors that Debitura excludes from its debt collection platform. Clients operating primarily in a prohibited industry cannot submit cases through Debitura. The restriction applies to the creditor's primary business activity, not to companies that incidentally serve some clients in these sectors.
The four prohibited industry categories
1. Gambling and online gaming
Businesses whose primary revenue comes from games of chance, betting, or wagering activities where participants risk money for potential winnings.
Prohibited examples: online and physical casinos, sports betting platforms, poker rooms, lottery services, fantasy sports with monetary stakes, gambling software providers.
Acceptable examples: video game publishers (without gambling mechanics), gaming content creators (no real-money betting), eSports organizations (prize pools without participant wagering), board game manufacturers.
2. Cryptocurrency and digital assets
Businesses whose primary operations involve cryptocurrency trading, blockchain-based digital assets, decentralized finance (DeFi), or token-based economies.
Prohibited examples: cryptocurrency exchanges, NFT marketplaces, DeFi protocols, crypto mining operations, ICO/IDO projects, crypto wallet providers, crypto lending and staking platforms.
Acceptable examples: blockchain consulting for enterprise (non-crypto applications), supply chain tracking using blockchain (no cryptocurrency), database technology companies using distributed ledgers.
3. Multi-level marketing (MLM) / network marketing
Businesses using compensation structures where participants earn commissions both from direct sales and from recruiting other sellers, creating hierarchical distributor networks.
Prohibited examples: direct sales companies with multi-level compensation, network marketing organizations with recruitment bonuses, health/wellness MLMs, beauty product MLMs, "business opportunity" programs with downline structures.
Acceptable examples: traditional retail businesses with employee sales teams, affiliate marketing programs (single-tier commissions), franchise operations (no recruitment commissions), wholesale distributors with fixed pricing.
4. Adult entertainment and content
Businesses whose primary offering involves sexually explicit material, adult entertainment services, or age-restricted content of a sexual nature.
Prohibited examples: pornography production or distribution, adult content subscription platforms, adult webcam and streaming services, escort services, adult dating platforms with sexual content.
Acceptable examples: dating platforms (without explicit sexual content), relationship counseling and therapy services, sexual health and wellness education (clinical, non-explicit), mainstream lingerie retailers.
How screening works
Prohibited industry screening is automated as part of the invoice qualification process. The system analyzes uploaded invoice files and supporting documents using AI to determine whether the creditor's business matches a prohibited industry.
The screening process follows these steps:
Uploaded invoice PDFs and documents are analyzed for company branding, service descriptions, terms and conditions, website URLs, business registration details, and industry-specific terminology.
Case metadata (company name, claim description, debtor information) is used as supporting context.
The system determines if the business matches one of the four prohibited industries and assigns a confidence level (high, medium, or low).
Screening statuses
Status | Meaning | What happens next |
APPROVED | No prohibited industry indicators detected. | Case proceeds normally through automated validation. No blocking or manual review required. |
FLAGGED | High-confidence prohibited industry match. | Automatic case approval is blocked. Case is held for Debitura admin review. Admin can override if the flag was incorrect. |
REVIEW_REQUIRED | Uncertain determination (medium or low confidence). | Case is held for Debitura admin review. Admin investigates and makes the final determination. |
What happens when a case is flagged
The case remains in a pending verification state and automatic approval is blocked.
Debitura staff are notified of the flagged case.
An admin reviews the AI reasoning, confidence level, evidence extracted from uploaded files, and red flag indicators.
The admin makes a final decision: approve the case (if the screening was incorrect) or decline the case with an explanation to the creditor.
The screening system provides admins with detailed evidence including the specific prohibited industry detected, confidence level, AI reasoning, relevant excerpts from uploaded documents, and specific keyword or terminology indicators found.
Fail-safe design
The screening system prioritizes platform availability over perfect accuracy. If the AI screening encounters errors, cases proceed normally rather than being blocked. Uncertain cases are flagged for review but not automatically rejected. Debitura admins can override any incorrect determination.
Key distinction: primary business vs. incidental exposure
The screening targets companies whose primary and predominant business model operates in a prohibited industry. Companies that incidentally serve some clients in prohibited sectors are not flagged. For example, a SaaS platform serving multiple industries (including some prohibited sectors), a payment processor handling diverse merchants, or a marketing agency providing services across sectors would typically be approved.
Impact by actor
Client: Clients whose primary business falls into a prohibited industry category cannot submit cases through Debitura. Clients in acceptable industries are not affected by this screening. If a case is incorrectly flagged, Debitura admin review can override the determination.
Collection Partner: Collection partners do not receive cases from prohibited industries. The screening occurs before case assignment, protecting partners from regulatory compliance risks and legal liability.
Debitura: Debitura administers the screening process and performs manual review when cases are flagged or when the screening result is uncertain.
Related pages
Case eligibility - full eligibility checklist including prohibited industries, minimum amounts, and documentation requirements.