Top Casino Payment Methods UK | Full Guide, Fees & Comparison 2023
So, you’ve found the right UK online casino for you and you’re ready to rock the house. Not so fast! Before you do, check out the best casino payment methods in the UK – learn the best methods for a deposit, withdrawal, fees, and more!
- Top 10 Casino Payment Methods in The UK – Gamble Safely as a British Player
- Online Casino Payments in The UK – Brief Overview
- Credit Card Deposits at UK Casinos
- The Most Popular Payment Methods Among UK Players
- Top Payment Providers at UK Casinos
- UK Casino Payment Fees, Limits & Withdrawal Times
- Withdrawals & Deposits at UK Online Casinos – Short Guide
- Best UK Casino Payment Methods – High Rollers vs. Low Rollers
- How To Choose The Best Casino Payment Methods in the UK
Top 10 Casino Payment Methods in The UK – Gamble Safely as a British Player
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Online Casino Payments in The UK – Brief Overview
The United Kingdom is an economically developed, tech-savvy and digitalised nation. In terms of payment habits, a large percentage of the population habitually shops online or cross-border, using debit cards, mobile pay or even FinTech products.
Britons’ Purchasing HabitsThe UK’s purchasing data shows that roughly 60% of online purchases are made with a mobile device. Credit and debit card purchases are next in line, accounting for 52% of all online transactions, followed by 32% for e-wallets.
How does all of the above relate to online gambling?
Considering that almost a quarter of the British population gambles, purchasing habits and preferred methods have a huge influence on which methods are popular and convenient at online gambling sites.
In fact, some of the most widely used casino payment methods UK are debit cards, mobile billing, and e-wallets, for reasons such as convenience, fast payout and security.
Credit Card Deposits at UK Casinos
Credit card deposits and withdrawals are accepted on numerous international online gambling sites and poker rooms. However, this is not the case at all in the UK in 2023, due to some notable past changes in legislation that are still in effect today.
The decision, taken by the local regulator – the UK Gambling Commission, was made to protect vulnerable players from the risk of financial harm, gambling addiction and racking up debt, since credit cards encourage the use of funds you essentially don’t have, but have to pay later.
Nowadays, the only way to bypass these regulations is to join a non-GAMSTOP casino that is open to UK players, since many of them still accept credit card deposits.
Avoid Non-GAMSTOP CasinosWith that said, we highly advise against it. Even though they may attract you with substantial welcome bonuses, non-GAMSTOP casinos are notoriously unsafe, have lax KYC procedures, don’t support adequate self-exclusion, and aren’t regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.
The Most Popular Payment Methods Among UK Players
UK casino payment options available today are more diverse than ever, ranging from e-wallets catered specifically to gamblers (NETELLER, Skrill, MuchBetter), to mobile pay (Apple Pay, Boku, Siru Mobile), and online banking (Trustly, Rapid Transfer).
E-Wallets
Digital wallets, or e-wallets, allow users to store their debit and credit card information for future purchases. To start making e-wallet casino payments you only need to download the corresponding app from Google Play or Appstore, create an account with an email address and password, then top up your balance from an external source, like a bank transfer.
Anyone can use an e-wallet straight from their mobile phone or tablet and pay with a simple tap on the screen – as such, they are one of the most convenient and secure options to go for.
When using e-wallets, your data goes through multiple layers of encryption – common security features include biometrics and 2-Factor Authentication (2FA).
Furthermore, e-wallets often have loyalty programmes, in which you can be rewarded with points for every transaction on a UK gambling site, for example by using NETELLER, MuchBetter, or Skrill.
NETELLER, Skrill, and Casino BonusesThe downside to this payment method is that its use will sometimes exclude you from a casino site’s welcome bonus. This limitation is occasionally put in place to reduce the abuse of such casino websites’ offers, and is an unfortunate practice for legitimate players.
Debit Cards
Since a credit card casino UK is no longer accessible, the next best thing for British gamblers is to use a debit card to top up their online casino account. Many players like to stick to what they know since they already use debit cards to manage daily spending.
Most UK gambling sites accept debit card casino payments issued by Visa, Mastercard or Maestro for deposits and withdrawals. They are not only easy to use, but often come with the security advantages provided by these global companies (fraud protection, SMS codes, etc.).
To make a UK casino deposit with a debit card, simply insert your card numbers and the CVC code on the back. Deposits are processed instantly, but do keep in mind that some UK gambling sites add extra fees of up to 2.5% if you opt for this method.
Pay By Phone
For those who prefer a more old-school (but still electronic) form of payment, pay by phone might be the method suited for them. Pay by phone casinos can use a variety of different methods, such as:
- Mobile billing – make a deposit and the amount gets charged to your next phone bill.
- Phone credit – insert your phone number and the amount will get deducted from your existing credit.
- Mobile top-up – connect your phone to a telecom network like O2 in the UK, then purchase credit.
- Pay by SMS – provide a valid phone number, specify how much you wish to deposit and confirm.
Mobile pay has many advantages for gamblers in the UK: it’s a flexible option if you like to play on the go; it’s perfect for topping-up small sums of money, such as £10 or £20; and it doesn’t require using a bank account or sharing any personal details.
Prepaid Vouchers
Prepaid vouchers or cards work similarly to debit cards, with a small difference – they come with a fixed balance, be it £10, £25 or £100. Once this balance is spent, you must purchase another voucher.
The most popular pre-paid method among UK players is paysafecard – these vouchers can be found in a number of convenience stores and gas stations around the country.
They can be purchased with cash, completely anonymously – to make a deposit at a paysafecard casino, all you need to do is use the unique 16-digit code written on the voucher. Due to their fixed value, they are a fantastic option if you want to manage your spending wisely, and if you wish to make a larger deposit, you can combine several vouchers.
However, the big downside is that paysafecard can’t be used for withdrawals.
Bank Transfer
Despite the advancements in technology, some conservative players may still prefer the old-fashioned bank transfer. The transaction will be secured by your financial institution of choice and you only need the sort code and account number.
Bank transfers are ideal UK casino deposit methods for high rollers, as they have more flexible limits, however, the processing time is lengthy at 5-8 working days on average.
A clever workaround you can find at a number of UK online casinos is using third-party, instant banking solutions like Trustly or Rapid Transfer.
Cryptocurrency
Although blockchain technology is closely intertwined with the online gambling industry in 2023, crypto casinos are in a bit of a gray legal area in the UK, whether we refer to play-to-earn games, provably fair algorithms or native tokens.
In short, most cryptocoin casinos are licensed in offshore jurisdictions, as they are not legally allowed to operate within the country. So if you join them, you don’t benefit from any legal or consumer protection rights, which are required on UKGC-licensed casinos.
The UK Gambling Commission explains that because crypto payments are highly private, they are difficult to check for fraud or illegal sourcing. This means casinos that carry them are unable to receive the UKGC licence needed to operate within the UK.
Top Payment Providers at UK Casinos
There are numerous payment providers facilitating money transfers at UK casinos – each of them has its own perks, such as higher limits, no fees or fast transactions. All of these are typically detailed in the banking section or in the terms & conditions.
The only notable drawback is that some UK casino payment methods only support deposits and can’t be used for withdrawals. This will force you to find an alternative, which can extend the total waiting time until you can safely access your winnings.
Choosing the Right MethodMaking the right choice ultimately comes down to your budget, the device you use predominantly, or simply the methods you’re used to and are comfortable with.
The popularity of PayPal casinos has grown exponentially on the UK market, as this global e-wallet is already used by local shoppers to acquire goods and services online. Because of this, PayPal’s positive reputation quickly extended in the realm of gambling as well.
Not only does this reliable processor for casino transactions offer instant deposits and under 24 hour withdrawals, but transactions are also encrypted, so users are protected against identity theft or phishing.
Furthermore, you can create accounts in 25+ currencies, including GBP.
Boku is a mobile-first payments service for both merchants and buyers, currently used by the most respected global brands, such as Google, Facebook or Apple. With it, you can choose from 225+ mobile payment types in 91 countries. In addition, the service is compatible with all the major carriers in the UK, including Vodafone and Verizon.
To make a deposit at Boku casinos, you need to provide your phone number, and there is a daily limit of £30. You can use prepaid credit or have the sum be added to your next phone bill. However, Boku can’t be used for withdrawals.
Skrill & NETELLER are some of the oldest and most well-known e-wallets for gamblers. Both are owned and managed by Paysafe Group, a company that’s fully compliant with the regulations of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK and the Central Bank of Ireland.
These e-wallets are accepted at thousands of merchants and all operations can be handled from the mobile app, 24/7. In addition, the Knect loyalty programme allows you to earn points on your every deposit on Skrill gambling sites, which you can exchange for cash rewards.
Most British players already have a Visa or Mastercard debit card that they use to pay bills or shop online, which is precisely what makes it one of the best casino payment methods to go for. These cards are accepted practically everywhere, deposits are instant, and withdrawals are processed in 1-3 banking days.
PayForIt is another popular option for UK players, frequently listed on pay by phone casinos. Functioning similarly to competitors like Boku or Siru Mobile, PayForIt users can top-up their online casino balance using their phone number. Your personal details stay private and, after getting billed, you’ll receive a confirmation code to authorise the transaction.
PayForIt is ideal for micropayments, due to its maximum deposit limit of £30, making it suitable for low rollers. If you opt for Pay As You Go, you can also pay with existing mobile credit.
UK Casino Payment Fees, Limits & Withdrawal Times
Many UK gambling sites often list the same payment methods. However, the daily, weekly and monthly limits imposed vary, depending on each casino’s policy and the player status (regular vs. VIP).
In most cases, deposits are instant and don’t incur any additional processing fees, but there may be exceptions, such as for small deposits of under £10. Withdrawal times often depend on the method, with an average of 24-72 hours.
Online casinos licensed by the UKGC (UK Gambling Commission) accept money transfers directly in GBP, alongside other currencies like EUR or USD, so you won’t have to pay any exchange fees.
When in doubt, always look over the terms & conditions, the banking section, and the FAQs for more clarity.
We’ve also compiled a table to help you navigate, compare and contrast the best casino payment methods in the UK. While some casinos may have different limitations, this is about what you’d expect from these payment methods:
| Payment Method | Deposit Processing Time | Withdrawal Processing Time | Transaction Limits | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa/Mastercard | Instant | 1-3 Banking days | £10-£10 000 | Free |
| Skrill/NETELLER | Instant | 24-48 Hours | £10-£10 000 | Free |
| PayPal | Instant | 24-48 Hours | £10-£5000 | Free |
| Bank Transfer | 1-5 Banking Days | 5-8 Banking days | £100-£20 000 | Free |
Withdrawals & Deposits at UK Online Casinos – Short Guide
Upon accepting new registrations, all UKGC-licensed casinos must perform two key verifications on their users:
- KYC – acronym for Know Your Customer, also known as an identity/age check
- AML – acronym for Anti Money Laundering, also known as a source of funds check
Paddy Power casino has a helpful video detailing their own KYC and AML processes. Other casinos will generally follow the same, or similar, procedures.
You have the obligation to submit copies of your documents (ID, driver’s licence or passport), alongside a bank statement or a utility bill within 30 days after creating an account.
The photo copies can be uploaded straight from your account or via live chat, and until your documents are cleared by the customer support team, any withdrawals will be kept on hold. Verification time is typically between 24-72 hours.
In addition, you can only deposit using methods linked to your legal name – cash and third-party payments are typically forbidden. It's important to note that withdrawals can only be made through the same method you’ve used for a deposit.
Best UK Casino Payment Methods – High Rollers vs. Low Rollers
There may be times when your UK online casino of choice is not the one that restricts your maximum deposit and withdrawal amounts.
In fact, certain processors have their own set limits, meaning that some methods are to be avoided by high rollers and embraced by low rollers, and vice versa!
| Banking Methods Fit For High Rollers | Banking Methods Fit For Low Rollers |
|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Mobile Pay |
| Debit Card | E-wallets |
How To Choose The Best Casino Payment Methods in the UK
Apple Pay casinos or paysafecard casinos? How do you know whether the best casino payments in the UK are also suited for you?
It doesn’t have to be a hassle figuring it all out – just follow the tips we’ve outlined for you below:
- Safety & Security – never compromise on security: reliable payment companies will always list how they protect your funds and data (e.g. 3DS secure, SMS codes, 256-bit encryption, device fingerprinting).
- Coverage – stick to well-known companies in the financial services industry, such as Visa or Mastercard, since they are accepted almost universally.
- Transfer Speed – total withdrawal times depend on two factors: how fast the customer service team approves your documents and how fast your payment provider works. As a general rule, if you want speedy withdrawals, go for e-wallets and avoid bank transfers.
- Minimum Deposit Limits – minimum deposit limits can be specified by UK casinos themselves (e.g. £5-£10 on average), but they can also be set by payment processors. If you’re a low roller, you may be happy with Boku’s £30 daily limit, but for those of you who like to move large sums around, your only option is a debit card or a wire transfer.
- Fees – never complete a deposit without carefully going through the terms & conditions. Beware of extra costs that can quickly add up, such as currency exchange fee, flat rate (e.g. £5), percentage fee (e.g. 5% of the total transaction).
Summary
The UK is not just home to crispy fish and chips, it’s also a hub for innovation in the FinTech sector in 2023. In turn, the number of payment methods available to UK players when gambling online is also growing each year. From giants like PayPal to emerging FinTechs like Revolut, the sky is the limit – now you can get funds into your account instantly and enjoy lightning fast cash-out with no fees!
So we hope you follow our guide and reap the benefits of the best casino payment methods in the UK today!