Online Casino Payment Methods Explained

A few payment options have become kind of like an industry trademark. That being said, they were initially introduced to serve casino players, only to later expand in other industries/markets. Then again, none of these would’ve become a thing it wasn’t for the good old credit and debit cards. They still do a decent job, but we think that it’s best if we start with the best payment solution you have at your disposal at online casinos, PayPal!

It is more than a payment method! Community members and players alike associate PayPal as a symbol of security at online casinos, and this is not far from the truth! Only the biggest and the best have access to PayPal. Also, only players from certain markets can deposit and withdraw with PayPal. For one, players from the United Kingdom have unrestricted access to PayPal at online casinos.

PayPal is undisputed because, besides the industry-leading security system, PayPal is a WITHDRAWAL method, which not many solutions can offer. It brings complete control over your funds at the casino.

Note: PayPal is not the best option for players who show interest in casino bonuses. Here are a few online casinos that accept PayPal deposits and support PayPal withdrawals.

PayPal is big at online casinos, but it's also colossal in other areas. Unlike PayPal, Skrill and NETeller are centred around lower frequency transactions. Besides, they come with fees, both transaction and maintenance fees. In the long term, you don't want to make many of these transactions, since the fees amount to a lot, roughly a minimum deposit over several months! Do not underestimate cost efficiency! It can make a difference between missing out on a lucrative deal, and winning big, just because you were able to make a deposit when you least expected it! Like PayPal, Skrill and NETeller deposits do not qualify for bonus offers at UK online casinos.

Supporting transactions in EUR and CAD at most casinos, EcoPayz is becoming the leading alternative e-wallet for Skrill and NETeller. Governments don't pay attention to the smaller financial companies. They scrutinise the biggest, the leading ones. Under pressure, Skrill and NETeller have moved out of certain markets, creating a vacuum that can only be dealt with by introducing an alternative, EcoPayz! There are slight differences in the fees, the currencies supported, but overall, it works like any other e-wallet.

Although they are frowned upon by most experienced community members, and with some excellent arguments, casinos can't operate without credit cards* (Note: credit card transactions are no longer available in the UK). Some new online casinos have moved to more advanced payment solutions, like PayNPlay, and they accept only one or two payment options, excluding credit cards, and e-wallets. Some say it's the future. We tend to disagree. Credit cards should always be accepted because they are a universal solution when it comes to online purchases. Not the safest, not the most secure, but the most widely accepted for sure! Identity theft, credit card fraud, they start with using credit cards online!

Direct online banking has become somewhat popular, and you might not know what's the reason behind this sudden growth. First and foremost, online banking methods like Trustly, Sofort and INSTADEBIT, are simple, and since the payment is processed by the bank directly, fraud is impossible. If security is your biggest concern, direct online banking payment solutions are your best bet for making online casino deposits. This is still not a thing in the UK, though Trustly is available to UK casino players.

The one thing that has changed the look of online casinos, PayNPlay. Seeing a casino with PayNPlay looks, different. Since the focus is not the registration procedure, when you make your first hand-shake with the operator, the interface looks, unorthodox in a way. PayNPlay, if integrated with enough online casino platforms, may change the online gaming industry forever. It paves the way for next level responsible gambling measures, which at the end of the day, should make all players feel better and safer! Fraud is impossible! Trustly powers PayNPlay, and you have every reason to try it out. For now, players from the United Kingdom still cannot use PayNPlay, but we think that this will change soon. Even if Brexit takes place, casino players will be enabled to make deposits without registration. It may not be PayNPlay, but a similar solution in the UK is almost inevitable.

Last, but not least, Zimpler, a deposit method that targets the needs of mobile casino players. The UK equivalent, or the option that is closest to what Zimpler is, is called Boku. Chances are, you have heard of it, but you never really got the idea to make a mobile deposit. It’s more common than you might expect, and although it’s not a staple, just the diversity make is a recommended deposit method for any online casino. Again, it’s intended to make mobile casino players deposit quick but modest amounts.

One deposit method does not meet the needs of all casino players. It's impossible, mainly because they come with different features, different fees, and most importantly, not all of them are universally available at all online casinos. The question is, do you first get a payment method and then choose your online casino based on this, or you do it the other way around? Our word of advice, if you DO NOT have any payment method at your disposal, maybe it's time you get a deposit method that will bring a lot of options. For one, chances are if you have a credit card, and you identify yourself as a casual player, you don't need a different payment method.

However, if you want to take the gaming experience to the very next level, then you might want to get PayPal in the mix, or any of the online banking methods you see on this page.

We mentioned different features, criteria, but we never really gave you any numbers or further explanation of what they actually mean. After all, the idea is you to make an INFORMED decision. It's not like people think about this stuff every day, but somebody has to, it might as well be us, and we can do it now!

• Fees - There are two types of fees, maintenance fees (like subscription, annual or monthly) and transaction fees (ones that you pay on every transaction). E-wallets, in general, carry the highest fees. Credit cards usually come with a fee of 2.5% of the deposit amount, and the bank charges a small amount as well.
  Online banking, such as Trustly, INSTADEBIT and soon, PayNPlay in the UK, operate on a different model. Instead of customers paying, the business entities cover the charge, in this case, that's the operator. Frequent deposits mean you should consider online banking, whereas casual players shouldn’t go out of their way, and should find e-wallets and credit cards as viable options.
• Transaction Times - Depositing is pretty straightforward! Unless you’re making your deposits via bank transfers, most transactions should reflect on your balance instantly! Credit card deposits, e-wallets, even online banking, all of them are instant deposit methods. Let us also not forget about prepaid cards and any vouchers, such as Paysafecard, Neosurf and Jeton for instance.
• Availability - Speaking of payment methods, it's easy to forget that we're talking about money transfers, which calls for heightened regulation. This is the only reason why specific payment methods are not available in your country. For example, PayPal is available only if the operator holds a license granted by your very own local regulator. This was the case in Germany, before PayPal's exodus from the online gaming industry, and it is still the case in the UK.
• Bonus Offers - Online casino bonuses are a staple among experienced players, but only because they know how they work, and how to make the most of them. Except for no deposit bonus offers, you need to make a real money deposit to take advantage of most other casino deals. As you will see, in most small print, Skrill and NETeller do not qualify for bonus deals. In some instances, even PayPal won't do the job. In this situation, it's best to go with a credit card deposit. Nevertheless, this usually applies to new customer offers only.
• Special Payment Method Features - anything distinctive about a payment option should be considered. Take for instance PayPal's option to get refunds, or cancel the transaction before it's processed. Does the payment method offer second to none privacy, like Neosurf, for instance? This sort of stuff cannot go unnoticed. An out of the box approach when it comes to credit cards, it's a feature, they are easily and widely available! Moreover, a credit card in your wallet guarantees you can deposit in any online casino.

Most bonus terms are similar, meaning they come with the same usual terms, like minimum deposit, country restrictions, game restrictions, the wagering requirements, and, last and the most important to us out of all of them, the payment method restrictions.

Some casinos disqualify e-wallet deposits, meaning you have to look for other options if you want to claim casino bonuses. However, not all casinos apply this approach. For example, some operators will take your e-wallet deposits, and they will give you the bonus amount as advertised. Then again, you will be subject to a lower maximum bonus bet limit. In general, the maximum bonus bet limit is £/€5 or £/€0.50 per line, but in this case, you cannot bet more than £/€2.50 or £/€0.25 per line.

The payment methods which are usually restricted are as follows:

• Skrill
• NETeller
• Paysafecard
• PayPal

NOTE: Make sure that you always check the bonus terms. Even one single word can change the appeal of the offer. Any deposits you make with e-wallets while the no e-wallet rule applies, will NOT be refunded.

Online payment fraud is on the rise! In spite of financial institutions doing everything they can, frauds are still a thing. However, a simple payment method theft can quickly turn into identity theft. The problems go across many different areas, and at the moment, operators, regulators, and financial service companies are making efforts to reduce the threat of this happening to the very minimum. Nevertheless, this is for your own sake. Online casino operators do not mind whether you deposit with credit cards, debit cards, or you are concerned about your privacy and use online banking for that matter. Nobody should know what you're doing, how you're having fun, and how you spend your money.

Cryptocurrencies made a big shock when they were first introduced at online casinos. Nowadays, they break all boundaries, and allow players from every corner of the world to enjoy online casino games for real money, or better said, in Bitcoins, Ethereums and the slightly less popular DOGE coins. However, due to the threat of money laundering, even Bitcoin casino players are subject to KYC checks, but, the governments have less insight into the dealings of this nature. In the early days, Bitcoin casinos were considered illegal, unregulated, unreliable, but nowadays, they are like any other online casino, licensed!

They’ve evolved so much that the well-recognized NETeller supports cryptocurrency transactions! Note, if you are not comfortable handling cryptocurrency, we recommend to stay away from it. There have been people that have lost a lot of money, just because they didn’t know how to store, keep the Bitcoins basically.

KYC, or Know Your Customer, has several different purposes, one of which is the protection of vulnerable groups, such as minors and people who have already self-excluded. Some find it overwhelming to put a stop on playing casino games, and we can't judge them, the games are fun to play! It sounds counterintuitive, but the operator MUST conduct this procedure for your safety. Also, it's not something that the operator is doing because they want it for no reason. It's part of the many terms and conditions they have to follow as per their license.

The UK Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority and their Responsible Gambling counterparts like GambleAware, GamCare and Gambling Therapy, they cooperate closely so nobody’s best interest is harmed, yet people who need assistance get it in a timely fashion. But, this is impossible if players do not provide a bank statement, a scan of a credit card, a utility bill, and a valid ID. This is an official procedure, and all your details are protected by the privacy policy and the professional and ethical code all operators must follow.