According to a report from the BBC, casino searches were at an ‘all-time high’ during the lockdown, and it’s not the least bit surprising. This massive influx of new players (which you might be a part of) are likely overwhelmed by the process of picking a site, a game variant, and, most importantly, a payment provider.
That’s why, when it comes to playing at new online casinos using real money, players need to move cautiously. You may be looking for a solid credit and debit card connection, but online casinos have evolved far beyond these traditional methods. eWallets and cryptocurrency have accelerated the adoption of instant, one-touch transfers. So, if you want to put your money in motion faster than ever, scroll down to learn more about what’s changed in the world of online payments.
Cards have been the favoured method in the past, but they are losing popularity due to the rise of FinTech (financial technology). Traditionally, players would need to enter sensitive personal information to complete a card transaction, which is somewhat risky on websites that lack advanced security features. Today, most casino websites allow you to use other safe, secure and convenient deposit methods. Below, we’ll outline some emerging trends in digital payments for online casinos.
Peace-of-Mind Payment Methods
When selecting a provider, you need to understand what your priorities are.
There are tons of on-the-go payment options available today. Most top mobile casinos offer the standards—such as credit or debit cards (Visa, Mastercard)—as well as a range of popular eWallets, prepaid cards and bank transfers. PayPal casino deposit options are now fully accessible to players and add an extra layer of security to transactions.
You can also enjoy dedicated pay by phone casino payment options designed exclusively for use on mobile devices. These convenient mobile payment options allow you to make easy deposits to your mobile casino account through your phone. Popular and recommended mobile payment options include Boku and PayForIt. Both of them are available on the majority of UK mobile casinos. Visit our Payforit casino page to view recommended casinos providing the Payforit deposit option. Alternatively, we have a dedicated Boku casino page that offers information regarding the Boku payment method.
Skrill is a very popular and widely accepted e-wallet. Most casino websites allow it as one of the primary payment methods because it’s safe and easy. The password you set will be highly encrypted with advanced security, and you can add funds with just one tap of a button. To use this method you need to register on skrill.com and then add funds using your credit/debit card or an online transfer from your bank account. You can use Skrill on your web browser or download its mobile app on iPhone or Android phones. To transfer funds to your casino account, you simply need to authenticate your Skrill account.
This is another app from Skrill that allows you to instantly add money with your Skrill funds without requiring you to enter a username or password for every transaction. This is done by downloading the app that requires you to go through the one-time authentication process. It later allows you to use the app any number of times without entering any details. It’s one of the most convenient methods for people who play betting games online and need frequent transfers at a reasonable speed. This supports Android, iPhone, iPad and various other mobile devices along with desktop computers and laptops.
PayPal is a pioneer of e-wallet methods and offers high levels of security you can rely on. It’s fairly easy to use, and anyone with a credit/debit card can set up an account. Just visit their website and create one in minutes. You can top up your casino account with a click of a button whenever you run out of funds. Just visit PayPal, sign in, select currency and transfer. It allows you to add and transfer funds in various international currency formats. You can even track all your previous transactions and request for transfer of your wins from casino websites back into your PayPal account.
Neteller is another very popular e-wallet system that works similarly to the previous two methods. One difference is that it uses a more stringent procedure when it comes to user authentication. There are multiple levels of security you need to pass through before making a transfer, like answering a secret question and verifying via your mobile. A ‘One Time Password’ or ‘OTP’ is sent to your mobile, and you need to enter it to access your account. You need to first register as a user before using it to add funds to your online casino account.
AstroPay is not an e-wallet, but a prepaid virtual card you can use for any kind of online and offline transaction. To make deposits on casino websites you need to top up this virtual card using your bank account or debit/credit card. It’s one of the fastest deposit methods that instantly completes your transaction with a simple yet highly encrypted password. You need to ensure the name on the AstroPay card and the name on your casino website match, or else it will not allow your transaction. Setting up an account is fairly simple and has easy-to-follow instructions, too. Visit astropaycard.com for more details on the terms and conditions.
Paysafecard is one of the safest prepaid payment methods. It offers easy-to-use features along with high-end security and encryption. It is available for purchase at 500,000 sales outlets in denominations of £10, £25, £50, £75 or £100. A 16-digit pin is all you need to make a deposit online using this card.
iDEAL is a payment option that makes deposits through your own bank’s online banking services. You’re automatically enrolled as long as your bank is on their list of participating banks. It’s convenient because any deposit/payment details get automatically captured in your bank’s payment gateway, and you can finish the transaction with a click.
If you only want to use your bank account to add funds to your casino account then you can use a wire transfer. Almost all casino websites allow this. Depending on your bank, the time required for the money to reflect will vary. Some banks instantly add your deposit, while others may take a couple or more days. It all depends on the casino website you are playing at and the country you’re playing from.
Phone casino payment is a safe and convenient payment option that works with your mobile phone bill. Any amount you spend at a participating casino gets added as charges on your next mobile bill. If you are a pre-paid user, you can transfer money from your balance too. You can check out our list of mobile casino pay-with-phone-credit sites on our dedicated page.
Other Common Deposit Methods
Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro are three commonly-accepted deposit methods that you can find at all casino websites. They use your credit or debit card to add funds. The process of adding funds may be lengthy but it is for your own safety. It is to ensure that a genuine owner of the card is using it to carry out a financial transaction.
Stay Alert & Safe
Though casino websites provide many methods to deposit your funds, the onus is on you when it comes to handling your e-wallet and virtual prepaid accounts. These systems are secure, however, you need to still make sure that you don’t share your username and/or password with anyone. You must avoid using these deposit methods on unknown or unsecured websites. Always look for information about the website and the kind of license and registration they own. This information is usually provided within most casino website footers. Make sure you read reviews about the payment procedures when you choose a casino. Though a website offers a secure environment for making deposits, be aware that withdrawing funds is different. Be aware of the terms and conditions and modes of withdrawal available to you. Many casino websites use your deposit method as a mode to send you money when you choose to withdraw.
In conclusion, all methods have their pros and cons so you need to choose wisely. All the above deposit methods are free to use and do not charge for making deposits to your favourite UK online casino or app.