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What is a Casino Deposit Method?
A casino payment method is how you deposit money into the casino. Players at online casinos need to “buy chips”, so to speak, before they can place bets on online casino games. The process where you add money to your online casino profile that you can then wager is called a “deposit”.
In physical casinos, the deposit methods are usually fairly limited - you can use cash or a debit/credit card. Online, however, you can deposit using a very wide range of other payment methods. The sheer number of payment methods can be very confusing to newcomers, which is why it’s best to examine each in detail and make an informed decision based on that information.
The Best Online Casino Payment Methods
The most common online casino payment methods are debit cards and e-wallets. Debit cards are something that most of us have already, so it makes sense that most people would rather deposit just with their Visa or MasterCard. With that said, e-wallets provide gamblers with better security and flexibility than cards, which is why they've started to gain some traction in recent years. Services like PayPal, Skrill and Neteller won't replace debit cards at the number one spot any time soon, but they're gaining ground towards that objective with each passing year.
But even beyond that, there are other casino payment methods that are worth taking note of. A good example is Pay by Mobile - a convenient online casino payment method that allows users to deposit funds directly through their mobile phone bill, making transactions quick and eliminating the need for bank details. It is good to be aware of them all, so be sure to take a closer look at the best casino payment methods listed below:
Debit Card
Debit cards are significantly more convenient than cash when it comes to purchases - you don't need to worry about loose notes or heavy coins, or about having the cash to pay for something, as your entire bank account is with you wherever you go!
Depositing money into your online casino account with a debit card isn't that much different from using them to buy anything else online. After a brief check-in with your bank to authorize the transaction the amount will be made available for you to use for betting and the money will be removed from your bank . While very convenient, this payment method is considered unsafe, as giving your debit card details online leaves you vulnerable to identity theft and fraud.
PayPal
PayPal is one of the world's most popular e-wallets. After being bought by eBay and used as its primary check-out platform, millions of people across the world found themselves creating a PayPal account to purchase from their favourite auction website. And while PayPal is no longer associated with eBay, its popularity and name recognition have both remained on top.
PayPal, like other e-wallet services, allows you to make online payments for goods and services ) to other PayPal accounts using the funds in your e-wallet or ones taken from your banking account, either through a debit card or by linking it directly. As such, PayPal most often acts as an intermediary between traditional banks and online casino accounts, handling the payment securely and providing minimal information to the casino to minimize the risk of fraud or identity theft.
Skrill
If PayPal is the king of the e-commerce realm, then Skrill is undoubtedly the king of online casinos - it's almost impossible to find a casino in the UK (or even globally) which doesn't accept deposits via Skrill. In practice, this e-wallet solution works very similarly to PayPal, though with some clear advantages: besides its very wide availability, Skrill also sports lower fees during withdrawal and faster, less demanding account verification process.
It does have its drawbacks too, of course - namely that its transaction processing time is a bit slower. While PayPal processes its transactions between 0 and 2 hours, Skrill can at times take up to 24 hours to fully process.
Neteller
Skrill and Neteller are very similar, but not for the reasons you may think - back in 2015, Neteller purchased Skrill, yet kept it as a separate payment method instead of absorbing it within itself. As such, the two have become extremely similar, sporting the same benefits (high availability and low fees) and the same shortcomings. It's important to note that Neteller's fees are slightly higher than Skrill's.
While Skrill is more popular than Neteller overall, and we feel more comfortable recommending Skrill due to its lower fees, either one of them is a great way to deposit into an online casino.
Bitcoin
It's crazy to think about how technology changes not only the way we play at online casinos but also the money that we use to deposit itself. We're not talking about pounds or dollars that are kept digitally on a bank's servers - we're referring to a currency that was created online and exists online, without any kind of physical equivalent!
Bitcoin wasn't the first such "cryptocurrency", but it's certainly the first one which gained major traction, and that traction hasn't slowed down! Once the punchline of headlines about how some dumb restaurant owner sold a pizza for 10,000 bitcoin, today a single bitcoin is worth over £36,000! Bitcoin is not accepted at most online casinos in the UK. However, some will happily take a Bitcoin deposit, and we've seen casinos that exclusively deal in crypto.
The Specifics of Making Debit Card Deposits
Debit cards are by far the most prevalent payment method for all kinds of online purchases - which makes sense, given the fact that most banks today will automatically issue you one alongside your account, allowing you to withdraw funds from it at ATMs or use them for in-store purchases.
The fact that you can use your debit card online even without having the card physically present on you not to mention how easily obtained and readily available cards are in general, easily explains the widespread popularity of this particular payment method.
This also means that the vast majority of online casinos accept debit cards - in fact, many prefer card deposits over other methods, as they will only pay out casino bonuses for deposits made using a card. Barring a select few , practically every online casino will accept your card, making it a good choice if you're not entirely sure which casino you'd like to play at.
Of course, the fact that you don't need your card with you, just the information from it, to make purchases, carries a certain danger - what if someone besides you were to find out your card information and use it to pay for things? As such, it's always a good idea to thoroughly vet the casino before providing them with your card information.
Learn More About Debit Card DepositsIs it Possible to Deposit Using a Credit Card?
If you're an old-school gambler, then you may remember using your credit cards for your deposits. Unfortunately, those nostalgic old days are long gone, and as of April 2020 it is no longer possible to use a credit card to deposit at online casinos.
There are many reasons why this decision was made, but one of the main reasons is that it was too easy for people suffering from gambling addiction to go into debt by betting money they didn't really have.
Another major reason was that casinos were a prime target for scams committed with stolen credit cards, where a scammer would deposit a large sum with a credit card, then withdraw it into a debit card or an e-wallet, stealing the money. With that in mind, casinos now only accept debit cards and other solutions that rely on money you already possess rather than bank debt.
It is still possible to deposit at online casinos with a credit card such as Amex outside the UK, provided the casino accepts such transactions and your credit card issuer allows online gambling transactions.
What are the Pros and Cons of Making a Debit Card Deposit?
- Very convenient
- No fees or taxes
- Great customer protection
- Easy to overspend as debit cards are directly connected to bank accounts
- Less secure as debit card numbers can be stolen or leaked very easily
The Difference Between MasterCard & Visa
If you have a debit card, then it's almost certainly either a MasterCard or a Visa! Chances are that it's a Visa, as 83% of all debit cards in the UK are issued by Visa, but if you gained your card through an e-wallet service (such as Neteller) it could be a MasterCard.
The next logical question is: What's the difference as far as online casino deposits are concerned? The two companies encrypt customer data in different ways and offer different reward schemes, but beyond that, they both function completely identically from a customer standpoint.
What is Diners Club? Can you Deposit with it?
Diners Club is one of the oldest bank card brands in the world, established way back in the 1950s . While Diners Club enjoyed a global monopoly for a bit, it has since been superseded by other brands as the market leader, and as such it's very rare to find someone in the UK who still owns a Diners Club card.
The Specifics of Making E-Wallet & PayPal Deposits
An e-wallet is exactly what it sounds like - an entirely online wallet. Just like your real wallet, an e-wallet will let you keep money in it, similarly, your e-wallet can also hold your debit card information! Don't have a card, but have a bank account? No worries - most e-wallet solutions will let you link your account directly.
While it may sound unsafe to give some company like PayPal or Neteller access to your banking account, in reality, it's much safer to deposit using an e-wallet service than straight with your debit card. Debit card transactions have their protections, naturally, but their design is inherently flawed, and if the casino or an interested hacker grabs hold of your card details they can very easily use them to make purchases for themselves or even drain your entire account!
Meanwhile, an e-wallet would act as an intermediary, only giving the casino access to the most important information (such as your name and the amount you're depositing) while encrypting everything else. This minimizes the chance of your card details being stolen to zero.
Of course, e-wallet solutions come with their own set of drawbacks - for example, they may incur transaction fees, or may require extra verification.
Learn More About PayPal DepositsWhich E-Wallet Service Should You Choose?
In the world of debit card deposits, both Visa and MasterCard are pretty much identical as far as players are concerned. But the same absolutely can't be said about e-wallet payments, which, while providing the same basic function, are very different when it comes to the details, and as such your choice of service will vary greatly.
PayPal may be the market leader in general, but in the world of online casinos the clear victor is Skrill - since PayPal is very picky about which companies it partners with, especially when it comes to adult activities like casino, very few online casinos actually support it. If your casino of choice is supporting PayPal and you already have a PayPal account then go ahead and use that! But if you're either unsure of what casino to choose or haven't made an e-wallet account yet, then we recommend going with Skrill!
You can also consider less popular but no less beneficial online casino payment methods such as EcoPayz or Interac.
What are the Pros and Cons of Making an E-Wallet Deposit?
- More secure
- Very convenient
- Multifunctional
- Low availability
- Withdrawal fees
Should You Deposit with a Debit Card or an E-Wallet?
As usual, it's not possible to give an answer that applies to everyone - The good news is that both are excellent online casino deposit methods that won't let you down!
However, if you're genuinely not sure which one you should use, then our advice would be to make the best of both worlds and link your debit card to your e-wallet, essentially just using it as an intermediary. That way you can very easily, conveniently and, most importantly, securely deposit into any online casino you like while still using your debit card.
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The Specifics of Making Bank Transfer Deposits
As we already briefly discussed in the debit card section, cards are ultimately just a convenient tool that connects to your banking account. After all, once upon a time making bank transactions was considered big, serious, and scary - you had to go to the bank, fill out the sender and recipient's accounts, and wait 48-72 hours for the transaction to clear. As such, debit cards were invented to streamline that process and make bank transactions as easy as inserting your card into a device and typing a 4-digit number.
Today, account-to-account transactions with no card to serve as an intermediary can be as simple as inputting some information into an online form and clicking okay. It can often be as simple as just making a few taps within a dedicated banking app!
The exact same principle can be applied to depositing in online casinos. Granted, debit cards are and probably always will be the most popular way of making a deposit with your bank account - but they're not the only way anymore. Many casinos now accept direct bank transfers from your account without requiring any kind of intermediary. While there's no real benefits to doing it as opposed to using a card (in fact, using some kind of intermediary, like a card or an e-wallet, would be safer), it's a good enough option for those who don't have a card or prefer not to use one.
Making an online casino deposit via bank transfer is actually one of the most complicated methods. While e-wallets let you deposit with just one click, many casinos require a multi-step process in order to allow a deposit via bank transfer. What further complicates things is that the deposit process may different drastically from casino to casino, and even from bank to bank.
While bank transfers may sound like an appealing idea if you don't have a debit card yet, it's only a practical payment method if you don't deposit more than a few times a year. If you prefer to make more frequent, but smaller deposits, then you're better off simply applying for a debit card, which is free at most banks and can be used almost universally when paying for goods and services online.
Learn More About Bank Transfer DepositsWhat are the Pros and Cons of Making a Casino Deposit via Bank Transfer?
- Can be used for withdrawals
- No need for intermediaries
- Not very secure
- Annoying to set up
Is it Better to Deposit Straight With Your Account or Through an Intermediary?
A direct deposit through your bank account is all fine and dandy, but is it really a good idea to provide your banking information to third parties? After all, even if you use a banking app (such as the mobile app of the bank your account is registered with) you're still providing a ton of information to the casinos about yourself. Some of that you'd already need to provide them with as part of your sign-up process, but by using your bank account you'd be giving them much more than required.
As such, we highly recommend using an intermediary (such as a debit card or an e-wallet) rather than performing a direct deposit with your bank account. It's more convenient and also way safer!
Western Union vs Trustly - Which is Better?
When looking at them at face value, Western Union and Trustly are very similar, as they have roughly similar fees and processes by which you deposit. As such, the main deciding factor in which one you should use ultimately boils down to just one thing - availability. Which of these banking deposits methods is more widely available in more online casinos in the UK?
The winner is, undisputably, Western Union. It's such a famous, popular brand that you've probably already heard of the name even without any kind of gambling associations. As such, a large number of UK online casinos have chosen to accept deposits sent to them via Western Union. We're not trying to say that Trustly isn't accepted - in fact, if your casino of choice accepts it there's no real reason not to use it if your heart is set on it.
Is it Possible to Deposit Directly From Your Bank Mobile App?
Most banks today have a dedicated banking app that you can use to manage your accounts, check your balance and your cards, monitor transactions and even make bank transfers, all without ever leaving the comfort of your own home. That last part is the most relevant to us right now - after all, if you can make bank transfers from the app, can't you also deposit into an online casino?
The answer to that question lies entirely with the casino and how they accept deposits. Some new online casinos will just give you a bank account and tell you to send your deposit to that account, then match your bank account information to your online casino account in order to manually add the money to it. Others, however, have a more automatic process which requires using their own client. The former case should be easy to handle with just your banking app, but the latter will require inputting your banking details into a separate client.
The Specifics of Making Pre-Paid Card & Paysafecard Deposits
As the name suggests, pre-paid cards are essentially debit cards with a set amount of money already deposited in. All you need to do is purchase a card from a shop, then input the code printed on it on the online casino deposit page and boom, the cash you paid for the card is suddenly in your account!
While not quite as convenient as debit cards and e-wallets, pre-paid cards like CASHlib are extremely easy to use, as they don't require any kind of setup or account creation, just type in the code on the card and you're good to go. In addition, pre-paid cards are also extremely secure, as unlike debit cards you're not sending any information to the casino or allowing it access to your payment details, minimizing the risk of fraud to zero.
Last, but certainly not least, pre-paid cards are a fantastic way to limit your spending if you suffer from gambling addiction.
Learn More About Paysafecard DepositsWhat are the Pros and Cons of Making a Casino Deposit via Pre-Paid Card?
- Secure - There’s no risk of losing more than your deposit due to a scam
- Easy to use - No account set up is necessary
- No fees - There usually aren’t any fees to depositing using a pre-paid card
- Not very convenient - Pre-paid cards are single use only
- Impossible to withdraw - Pre-paid cards may only be used for deposits, not withdrawals
Is it a Good Idea to Use Pre-Paid Cards? Isn’t it a hassle?
If you're concerned about safety and privacy, then using a pre-paid card is definitely preferable to using a debit card. When you deposit using a debit card, all of the card information is either sent to an intermediary which processes the payment or, worst case scenario, directly to the casino. The intermediary can be hacked and the information may be intercepted, resulting in your data falling into the hands of hackers which can use it to scam others or drain your bank account. If the casino is a fraudulent one and doesn't use an intermediary, then there's nothing stopping them from charging you way more than agreed upon and hoping you won't notice, or hiding extra charges under a "service fee" that you see only after depositing.
Meanwhile, with a Paysafecard the risk of fraud is minimal - worst case scenario, you'd lose just the money that you intended to deposit anyway. While they're not the only payment method that provides protection (e-wallets do as well), pre-paid cards are practically foolproof. Not to mention that if you're the type of person who would rather not bother with setting up accounts, then going to the store and buying a pre-paid card is the easiest way to start placing some bets! In addition to Paysafecard, there are other payment providers that offer pre-paid cards - AstroPay has both an e-wallet and a pre-paid card, for exmaple.
PaySafeCard vs CashToCode - Which is Better?
While Paysafecard and Cashtocode both involve depositing using cash instead of an online solution (such as an e-wallet), the two of them could not be more different, in no small part because Cashtocode isn't technically "pre-paid".
With Paysafecard you purchase a card with a set amount of money in it, paying that money in cash and then using it online. Meanwhile, paying with Cashtocode will generate a code which you need to scan at a retailer partnered with Cashtocode where you can pay in cash. As such, the transaction isn't really "pre-paid" - it's just that you're using the store (and the banking institution Cashtocode works with) as an intermediary rather than your own bank or e-wallet.
With that said, we believe that Paysafecard is the better option. It's more convenient to use, more retailers accept it and, in case your gambling plans go through, you can always use your Paysafecard to buy something else.
The Specifics of Making Bitcoin Deposits
It has not taken long for online casinos to jump onto the crypto bus and accept bitcoin as a payment method, with the first online casino to take them opening back in the ancient times of 2014. Two years later, NetBet became the first UK casino to accept bitcoin, though sadly until recently they were the only one. While Bitcoin is a very popular payment method globally, here it remains relatively niche, with just a small handful of crypto casinos agreeing to accept it - NetBet being the bgigest.
By far the biggest reason why people use Bitcoin is that it's incredibly secure. Bitcoin wallets are practically uncrackable (you've probably heard stories of people with millions' worth of Bitcoin on wallets they can't access because they forgot the password) and absolutely no personal information is transmitted during a transaction.
The big drawback is that there are no protections against scams whatsoever. If you deposit at a casino using PayPal and they turn out to be fraudulent you can probably get your deposit back, but with Bitcoin, once you send those coins they're gone forever.
Learn More About Bitcoin DepositsAre There Other Cryptocurrencies Besides Bitcoin?
Bitcoin wasn't the first cryptocurrency out there, and it certainly wasn't the last. Since its inception, dozens of different cryptocurrencies have been made available to both gamblers and general crypto enthusiasts. Of course, none have seen anywhere near the level of success that Bitcoin has, but some have still proven to be successful like Ethereum.
Ethereum is probably the most popular cryptocurrency besides Bitcoin, but it's important to remember that not all crypto that is valuable is successful. Take, for example, Litecoin and Tether, both of which are very popular and widely used in payment methods in no small part because they're much cheaper than Bitcoin.
Depositing using Bitcoin is probably the most difficult payment method out of all available, and so it's not recommended for newcomers to online casinos. This difficulty stems from the fact that online casinos that accept it have a different process of deposit, and that in turn is further changed and complicated by the Bitcoin wallet that you've chosen.
Do Online Casinos Accept Other Cryptocurrencies?
In theory - yes, quite a lot of them do! Many of the big cryptocurrency casinos take deposits not only in Bitcoin, but also in Ethereum, Litecoin, Tether, TRON, Cardano, Binance Coin, etc.
If you live in a different jurisdiction it may be possible to use a different cryptocurrency to make your deposit, but if you live in the UK then your only choices are to either use Bitcoin or wait until a casino starts accepting other currencies.
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What are the Pros and Cons of Making a Casino Deposit via Bitcoin?
- Very secure - No chance of being hacked
- Convenient - Bitcoin functions similarly to an e-wallet
- Extremely fast - Bitcoin transactions are instantaneous
- Lack of protection - No way to get your Bitcoin back if you get scammed
- Lack of options - Most online casinos in the UK don’t accept Bitcoin
Frequently Asked Questions About Casino Payment Methods
What is the best online casino deposit method?
There is no such thing as the best payment method - they all have their unique strengths and weaknesses. Debit cards are very convenient but less secure. E-wallets are less convenient (as they require making an account and logging into it) but more secure. Prepaid cards are the most secure, but least convenient.
What should you keep in mind when selecting a payment method?
The two most important factors in selecting a payment method are convenience and security. Convenience stems from how easy it is to put money into your account - we say that debit cards are the most convenient because most people have them but their information can also leak, allowing anyone with it to make purchases - hence why you may opt for a less convenient, but more secure payment method.
Why are some payment methods considered safer? Are casinos a scam?
In general - no, online casinos are not a scam. They're a huge industry that's regulated by both the UK government and several independent bodies to ensure that everything is legitimate. With that said, there are plenty of online casinos which refuse to regulate and choose to buy cheaper licenses that will make them legal without any oversight.
What’s the fastest deposit method?
Most of them are instant! If we had to pick one, we'd say that prepaid cards like Paysafecard are the fastest because they require no bank checks which can slow it down. However, if everything goes well deposits done with debit cards, e-wallets and bitcoin should also clear either instantly or very quickly.
Do I have to withdraw my winnings via the same payment method I used for deposit?
Not at all! This wouldn't be possible if you used a method like prepaid cards which you are physically unable to add more money to. Most casinos will let you freely deposit and withdraw with any method you like.
Are there payment methods which aren’t available where I live?
There are plenty of payment methods that are either not available globally or are simply more popular in one country over the other. However, most sites will limit the options displayed to you to only those available in your country.
Why do online casinos offer so many payment options?
Simply put - to provide customers with choice. It would be very easy for online casino sites to only accept one payment provider but doing so would isolate many potential customers. Having various payment methods allows customers an option on how they wish to transfer money and make online casino transactions.
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