A Guide to Immediate Online Casino Payments and Methods

All avid online casino players will tell you that you won’t get far in your real money endeavours without putting some of your real money in first. Funding your account is step one in playing for and winning real money – after all, you need to wager something, and that something comes out of your pocket. We all know how easy it is to turn your cash into playable chips at a brick-and-mortar casino, but how do you go about that online? This page will answer this and many other questions you might have about casino payments. With such a wealth of options in online payments, we’ve put together a handy overview of the most common methods, including info on processing speeds, fees, and best casinos for niche payment methods. Are you more of a deposit kind of player or open to e-wallets or perhaps even Bitcoin? We’ve got you covered!

Common Types of Online Casino Payment Methods

There are various online casino methods available, as you might know, from mainstream ones to more fringe types. It all depends on how forthcoming the operator decides to be to its customers. Luckily, online gambling operators move with the times and understand they need to provide not only the standard and established payment types but also ones that might be on the up and up. For instance, e-wallets have risen hugely in popularity in the recent years, so the choice between e-wallet providers has also increased in online casinos. Bitcoin, a somewhat controversial cryptocurrency, has also been getting more and more recognition from legitimate online and offline vendors and started breaking through the UK casino market as well.

PayPal

888casino 4.9/54.9Excellent

Fantastic App for Games + PayPal

• Accepts mobile payments
• Top-notch SSL encryption from DigiCert
• No deposit free spins on Book of Dead

Full T&Cs apply. No Deposit Offer: New players with valid mobile number only • Claim in 48 hrs • 14 day expiry • Valid for selected games • Pre-1st deposit only: FS voucher winnings is uncapped, bonus wins & max redeemable amount for non-funded players capped at £100, excl. JP wins • Wager Bonus x1 - req. contributions vary by game • Bonus expires in 90 days • Deposit Offer: 1st time depositor at 888casino only • £20 min deposit • Claim in 48 hrs • Valid for selected games • Bonus wins capped at £500, excl. JP wins • Pre-1st deposit only: Bonus wins & max redeemable amount capped at £100, excl. JP wins • 30x wagering – req. vary by game • Bonus expires in 90 days • Payment method & country restrictions apply • Withdrawal terms, No Deposit Offer terms & Deposit Bonus Offer terms apply.

Up to £100 + £88 Free PlayGet BonusReview

Those looking for a slightly less traditional setup will be happy to know that e-wallets typically belong to the list of online casino deposit methods at many major UK casinos. A slightly more modern approach, e-payment provider PayPal carries the added benefit of not exposing your card numbers. Instead, since the nature of these payments lies in running through a secondary account, all you do is log into that account while any sources you used to fund it are concealed. Many people prefer this somewhat more secure avenue, in addition to having an instant online casino deposit method.

Phone Bill Payments

888casino 4.7/54.7Excellent

Secure Mobile Payments at 888casino

• Accepts Neteller payments
• 128-bit encryption to keep members details safe
• No Limits on Withdrawals*

Full T&Cs apply. No Deposit Offer: New players with valid mobile number only • Claim in 48 hrs • 14 day expiry • Valid for selected games • Pre-1st deposit only: FS voucher winnings is uncapped, bonus wins & max redeemable amount for non-funded players capped at £100, excl. JP wins • Wager Bonus x1 - req. contributions vary by game • Bonus expires in 90 days • Deposit Offer: 1st time depositor at 888casino only • £20 min deposit • Claim in 48 hrs • Valid for selected games • Bonus wins capped at £500, excl. JP wins • Pre-1st deposit only: Bonus wins & max redeemable amount capped at £100, excl. JP wins • 30x wagering – req. vary by game • Bonus expires in 90 days • Payment method & country restrictions apply • Withdrawal terms, No Deposit Offer terms & Deposit Bonus Offer terms apply.

Up to £100 + £88 Free PlayGet BonusReview

*Limits may apply from the payment processor

The smartphone era has ushered in yet another way to make our lives more convenient – phone bill payments. This is another easy instant online casino deposit method which simply adds the amount you put into the casino onto your phone bill. Watch out, though – mobile phone payments are not a given at any casino and are still making their way into the mainstream. The advantage here is the speed and the fact that no financial info is exposed. You simply select the method, put in your desired amount and your mobile phone number. You’ll receive a text message with a confirmation code, which you simply paste in back on the casino site to confirm. The balance will be immediately added to your casino account, and you’ll see this charge reflected on your phone bill at the end of your billing period.

Visa, Mastercard and Maestro

Party Casino 4.6/54.6Excellent

Party Casino Accepting Debit Payments

• Fast processing of cashouts
• Knowledgeable customer service staff
• Secured payments

Full T&Cs below. 18+. New depositors only. Excluding UK residents. Minimum deposit €10. Free Spins are valid only on Starburst and expire in 7 days. 10x wagering apply. Certain deposit types are excluded. T&Cs apply.

£500+ 120 SpinsGet BonusReview

The benefit of using debit cards is the fact that it’s quick and most people have at least one of the two – so a player majority is covered. There are several major debit card issuers, which you’re likely already familiar with – Visa and MasterCard being the two giants on the scene, flanked by Maestro and Diner’s Club, occasionally. These transactions are usually instant, and, unlike PayPal or similar, don’t involve singing into an account. Simply put in your card number and security code, as usual. The downside is, card use is a bit more vulnerable to identity theft, so keep this in mind during your next deposit. On the upside, however, issuing institutes tend to provide some form of buyer protection in case you suspect a transaction was fraudulent.

Skrill

Karamba 4.3/54.3Excellent

Karamba – Instant Skrill Deposits in a Safe Place

• Instant deposits
• Anti-fraud measures in place
• Accepts most cards and e-wallet deposits

Full T&Cs below.New players only. 18+. Min deposit £10. Wagering requirement apply 35x. Offer valid for 72hr. 100 spins include 3 deposit.

£200 + 100 SpinsGet BonusReview

Another popular e-wallet, Skrill, runs on quite a similar basis as PayPal. It’s a secondary account, funded separately. To deposit into the casino, you use the same approach as with the other similar providers – you log into your account, define the amount you wish to deposit and confirm. The added layer of security and good reputation around the UK make this payment type a favourite among thousands of people.

Bitcoin

NetBet 4.5/54.5Excellent

Reputable Casino Accepting Bitcoin

• Accepts cryptocurrency
• No hiden fees
• Speedy withdrawal processing

Full T&Cs below. New players, £10+ deposit required, no e-wallets/prepaid cards,30x Playthrough on Bonus and 50x on Free Spins winnings.

£200 + 10 SpinsGet BonusReview

This is still somewhat of a fringe payment method is breaking through into the casino market – and rightfully so. Already a preferred transaction method for many cyber buffs, Bitcoin has a curious status as a cryptocurrency which completely lacks the presence of a regulatory body, like a governmental institute, for example. A staple in the darker, harder to trace corners of the internet for years, Bitcoin has been making its way into the mainstream thanks to the anonymity attached to it. This makes it attractive to many casino players who want to keep their gambling habits private, or who simply prefer the user-to-user, uncluttered nature of Bitcoin payments. Currently, there’s only one licensed casino on the UK market providing Bitcoin payment, but the list of online vendors is growing!

Online Payments to a Casino Account

There’s no big secret or trick to understanding online casino payment methods: it’s as simple as any other online transaction. Once you’re at the casino, head for the login or signup – if you haven’t done so already – and get settled in. For deposits, head to the cashier, where you’ll see a list of available options clearly displayed. Choose your preferred one and put in the desired deposit amount. Some payment methods don’t let you define a specific method, but instead allow increments of ten, for instance, £10, £20, £30 and so on. If there’s any available deposit-based bonus, claim it, confirm and you’re pretty much free to play. For the most part, you’ll encounter instant online casino payment types – like debit, e-wallets and prepaid methods. Some casinos also offer bank transfers and cheque deposits.

Our Recommended Payment Methods

It’s hard to pinpoint one single method as the best of all. Each deposit avenue comes with its specific pros and cons, so it really comes down to what suits you, as the player, the best. Those who are after instant deposits might be bets off with one of the e-wallet options, while players who tend to make smaller deposits and want to be as flexible as possible should aim for a casino offering mobile payments. The classic debit-based basements are pretty much a given at any casino, so fans of the classic payments will be well provided for.

Why Is PayPal So Popular?

Now, if we absolutely had to choose, we’d recommend PayPal as our payment type of choice. It’s a simple conclusion: it’s fast, convenient, and keeps your sensitive data concealed. What more can you ask for? And, luckily, PayPal online casino deposits are becoming more and more common as UK casinos also increasingly open up to this previously niche method. As of now, there’s a good handful of operators who offer PayPal payments, including some who even reward you for using this option with a bonus – namely, 888casino.

*Limits may apply from the payment processor.

Online Casino Deposit Fees

While some online transactions take place free of charge, some incur small fees. This depends not only on the payment type, but sometimes also on the casino. Nevertheless, we’ve compiled a generalised summary of what to expect in fees and costs with each payment type. Something to consider is also the fees that might be charged not by the casino, but by the payment provider itself. For instance, funding your PayPal account from a debit card is not the same as receiving the money into PayPal from another member – and same goes for any other avenue you take to move money back and forth between these payment platforms and your actual bank account.

Safe Online Payments

Safety comes first – especially in online casinos and on the internet in general. You never know what’s lurking beneath the surface, and that’s why your choice of casino is important in this regard as well. Fortunately, UK gambling regulations and law prescribe that all UK licensed operators must provide safe and encrypted transaction standards to their customers and safeguard their personal information. When you’re scouting our list of top casinos, keep an eye out on the websites for an SSL encryption badge – for instance from DigiCert, VeriSign or RapidSSL. Take a look at our guide to online casino safety to find out what other precautions gambling operators are taking to keep you safe and secure.

Payments Online: A Clear Advantage over Land-Based Payments

There are certainly some differences between how you pay at a brick-and-mortar casino versus an online one. At a land-based casino you just need to walk up to the cashier and swap your money or debit for chips, and online you fund your account by using one of the many aforementioned payment methods. If a greater choice of payment methods isn’t enough, you’ve also got some added advantages with online payments – such as higher limits and a chance to snatch up bonuses, just to name a few. Once you’ve settled on your preferred payment avenue, see how the availability compares for our top recommended casinos in the breakdown below.

As you can see above, debit and e-wallets are the undisputed champs of the payment method battle. Mobile payment options that let you add the casino charge to your phone bill are also an up-and-coming thing, with more and more operators opting for this easy option. Nevertheless, we’d have to point out that this payment type is better suited for low deposits; surely high rollers are better catered to with debit or e-wallet transfers! Instant banking is offered less frequently, while Trustly and Bitcoin have not yet fully broken through. However, with more and more people being impressed by Bitcoin’s anonymity and fee-free advantages, who’s to say that thig cryptocurrency won’t become the next big thing?

Payment Details to Consider

Apart from the sheer fact of availability, there is a handful of elements to keep in mind – especially when deciding whether to play at a land-based or an online casino. Here are some of the highlights that would make even the most stringent brick-and-mortar fan put on a comfy pair of sweatpants and opt for the comfort of an online casino instead.

*Limits may apply from the payment processor.

Casino Transactions – Safe, Fast and No Hidden Costs

So, as you can see, there’s a lot to choose from when it comes to online casino deposit methods. Whether you prefer speed, security or tradition, there’s something for everyone. As with many things, however, read the small print once you’ve reached the casino of your choice to confirm what fees are applied to payments and to avoid any nasty surprises. Check out our casino tip below for a quick link to our favourite, or peruse our selection of reviewed casinos for detailed information on each one and its payment types.