Online casino payment methods

Want to manage your money well when playing? Here we present some common casino banking options and illustrate their pros and cons.

Getting started

You need to deposit real money into a new online casino to have funds for playing casino games. You’ll then want to withdraw your well-earned cash in little to no time whenever you have winnings to collect. 

These money transfers can be made in different ways, depending on your personal banking preferences. 

You'll find no shortage of choice for money transfer methods to power your online gambling. Picking the right one for the right context is key.

TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

• Take a good look at the accepted banking methods in an online casino. They're usually displayed as a series of icons at the bottom of the homepage. 
• If you’re completely new to the scene, try out different online casino banking methods. You can rely on our reviews to learn about the differences between payment options.
• Remember that every casino will have its own unique range of banking options. Check these first before committing to playing in the casino for some time.
• Casinos normally request that you provide a photo ID such as a passport or driving licence when you sign up or make your first deposit or withdrawal. 
• You'll most likely have to verify your current address by supplying bank statements, utility bills etc. that should generally be no older than three months. 
• The casino will check your details to ensure that everything is above board. Lo and behold, you can then start using the online casino payment method without restriction.

Benefits and drawbacks at a glance

Here are some key points you should know about various online casino banking options. We compare and contrast each method, highlighting its strengths and emphasising the important bits you care about: transaction fees, deposit times and withdrawal times.

CREDIT AND DEBIT CARDS

IMPORTANT: Starting 14th April 2020, online and land-based casinos in the UK no longer accept credit cards. However, the use of debit cards for gambling is NOT affected by this ban.

Paying for online transactions by card will come naturally to you, so it’s no surprise that these can be used in casinos too. 

Debit cards are widespread on a global level and their ease of use and functionality – both in the online and offline worlds – make them the perfect candidate for top online casino payment methods.

Basics

• Starting 14th April 2020, card payments can be made only with a debit card.
• The heavyweight cards Visa and MasterCard are accepted by all the major online casinos.
• When you’re ready to make a deposit, you’ll need to enter your card number, cardholder name, expiry date and CVV code to complete the transaction.
• The deposit fees for card payments often hover around 2% to 3% of the value of the deposit. 
• Deposits are usually instant and withdrawals take anywhere between 1 to 4 working days to be processed. 

Insights

Making an online casino payment by card is a very quick and simple process preferred by many players. This is mostly because cards are widespread and can be used to pay for a lot of other things.

You don't need to create an extra account or introduce a third party payment service to make your casino transactions by card.

Even though transaction fees generally apply and withdrawal times can be slower than other methods, cards are here to stay. Use them if you’re after a hassle-free, time-tested payment option that is as secure and reliable as they come and does the job on the spot.

MOBILE PAYMENTS

With mobile casinos steadily on the rise and gaining traction, mobile payments are here to facilitate the experience.

You can make mobile payments in mobile casinos, so you never have to use anything other than your phone. The process is carried out via text messages (SMS).

Boku is the leading mobile payment provider in the UK, along with the native mobile billing service Payforit. 

Basics

Insights

Mobile payments are for those who prize convenience above everything else and are willing to fork out a couple of extra quid for it. 

If you'd like to gamble using just your phone, there methods that work seamlessly on mobile from start to finish. The upside is that SMS encryption bolsters your security and makes transferring funds really easy.

On the other hand, the downside to mobile payment methods like Boku and Payforit is that you won’t be able to use them to withdraw your money. This could change in the near future, so keep checking our reviews to keep up to speed with new features.

Deposit and play using just your phone in these casinos:

E-WALLETS

E-wallets provide a solid, multi-feature banking solution that's highly rated across the board. E-wallets offer a digital place to store your funds for online transactions.

PayPal is the most well-known and popular e-wallet in the world (see all PayPal casinos), and a favourite money transfer method for UK casinos. Other e-wallets include Skrill and NETELLER, which have been built purposely to support online casino players with transferring their money. 

Basics

• You can link your bank account to your e-wallet as a source of funds
• E-wallets keep your funds and financial information separate from the casino at every stage of the process
• Deposits made with PayPal, Skrill and NETELLER are free and instant
• Registration is a bit lengthy and will require some details from you to create an account and get it verified
• You’ll also need to sign into the e-wallet to complete transactions every time you need to transfer money
• The deposit and withdrawal procedures with e-wallets are easy to follow
• You’ll usually find a good selection of e-wallets accepted by the major online casinos

Insights

E-wallets get you a strong security guarantee and plenty of attractive benefits and promotions. Examples are PayPal’s user-friendly interface and the refer-a-friend program for NETELLER, as well as the typically excellent levels of customer support.

The all-in-one e-wallet solution means you can both deposit and withdraw with the same facility, sparing yourself extra transaction charges.

Withdrawals generally incur a minor fee and might take a couple of hours (or 1 working day for PayPal) to process.

This banking method is perfect for players who are fully invested in playing casino games and spend a fair bit of time playing them.

CARDS ISSUED BY E-WALLETS AND OTHERS

E-wallets can also issue debit cards for use in online casinos. You can use the card to make transfers that are debited directly from your e-wallet.

Basics

• Skrill and NETELLER are now offering debit cards (provided by MasterCard) as an alternative option for players who might not be keen on using traditional banking methods and want to set aside a specific amount of money for gameplay. 
• While not strictly an e-wallet, Trustly also provides a debit card facility for players who want to withdraw funds and make purchases with a card that is separate from your regular bank cards.

Insights

If you'd like t to keep your online casino payment options separate from your offline day-to-day accounts, debit cards issued by e-wallets and others are just right. 

You'll have a source of funding cut off from your main bank account, keeping your finances safely distinct.

ONLINE (INSTANT) BANKING

Online banking options are handy for making secure money transfers directly from a bank. Also called instant banking, it works by enabling a safe login with your regular online banking access codes without the need for you to register an account. Trustly and Citadel are popular instant banking services that transfer funds instantly to your online casino of choice when you’re all set for gameplay.

Basics

• Online banking deposits are instant.
• Withdrawals take longer and will generally be cleared between 1 to 4 working days. 
• Withdrawing funds to your bank account via instant banking carries a fee that varies according to the bank and the casino. Some casinos don’t allow withdrawals via instant banking at all.
• You don't need to download any additional apps to use either Trustly or Citadel in full, so the process is simple and won’t take up any more of your storage space.

Insights

Instant banking gives you the same peace of mind of other methods that don't share your personal or financial details with the casino. The two-factor authentication process makes it extremely difficult for outsiders to gain access to your account, by any means.

The two-way transaction speed is another plus: instant banking clears deposits and withdrawals in a matter of a few days, if not hours.

INVOICE PAYMENTS

You can choose to pay by invoice with certain online casino payment methods. 

Basics

• Mobile payments done via Boku and Payforit can be billed to you as an invoice if you select that option while making a deposit. 
• The invoice will show the date it was issued and the date by which you need to pay.
• If your payment is delayed, extra charges may be added to your bill. 
• The invoice contains all the transactions details and you can store it for your records.

Insights

Paying by invoice allows you to postpone payments to a more comfortable time. This is extremely convenient if you like to keep a close eye on your finances and organise all your payments in bundles.

However, it’s important to remember that these payments still have a deadline, and you’ll need to keep track of your pending payments to avoid fees added on to the final bill. 

Players seeking greater control over their payments can opt to pay by phone bill. The biggest advantage is that you can play now and pay later, and the limits are in your hands.

PREPAID CARDS

Prepaid card payments are useful in a unique way. They're a source of money completely independent of where your savings are stashed. 

This makes them one of the safest online casino payment options available, and issues are highly unlikely to arise.

Basics

• Paysafecard can be topped up at select retail outlets over the globe in set denominations and its deposits are instant, which still gives it good levels of accessibility.
• You can only use Paysafecard for deposits and a small fee applies.
• Withdrawals are not possible with Paysafecard.
• Prepaid cards tend to have higher transaction fees than e-wallets or debit cards. 
• A maintenance fee is applicable after the first year of using Paysafecard.
• You can only top up Paysafecard with cash in-store. You can't use any credit or debit cards to boost the funds left in your prepaid card. 

Insights

Paysafecard is the most popular prepaid card service and the perfect choice for players who give their privacy top importance. 

It’s also the right choice for those who have neither debit cards nor online banking facilities, or who want to avoid jumping through all kinds of financial hoops when playing in online casinos.

Article by:

Lauri Ronkainen

Lauri has worked in online gambling for 4 years reviewing hundreds of online casinos, bonuses and games. Lauri has a masters degree in history from the University of Tampere. He is a live casino aficionado who has also created his very own roulette strategy.

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