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Nothing beats enjoying a downtime enjoying some casino games in the comfort of your home. However, everything can quickly go down the drain when your payment provider runs into a problem. In the UK, it can be a significant issue. Take note that UK-licensed casinos can no longer accept payments via credit card. This can be a huge hassle if you’re trying to score a deposit bonus and finding out that your payment option is not acceptable for your chosen online casino.
That’s why it’s essential to choose the online casino payment providers in the UK that can take away this burden from you. As a player who wants to maximise winnings, taking the time out to research and learn about the best payment methods that suit you best is key.
Online Casino Payment Providers in the UK: What You Need to Know
Before diving into the different online casino payment providers to choose from, it’s essential to consider what these platforms are and what they can do for you.
Not all payment channels in the UK will accept your money if they know you will use it for gambling. Some traditional banks, for example, may be wary about how you will use your money and their possible liabilities in case you run into any trouble. This stems from their lack of understanding of how legitimate online casino sites exist on the web.
There is also the concern about the safety and security of your funds when it comes to depositing and withdrawing money from the casino wallet to your nominated bank account. Some players are still highly concerned about transferring sensitive data and the possible exposure to fraud.
Thankfully, many sites and online casino payment providers in the UK have improved the security and reliability of money transfers. Over the years, this has already resulted in a great impact on the overall experience for online gambling sites, such as poker rooms, bingo forums, sports betting sites, and casinos in general.
1. Debit Cards
Most players in the UK can take advantage of using their debit cards as their chosen payment method.
Visa and Mastercard are two of the most common payment methods. Most consumers will use their Visa debit cards to pay for goods and services. The good thing is that they can also be used as one of the most reliable online casino payment providers in the UK. Their advantage? Their ease of use and accessibility. That’s why despite the growing popularity of electronic wallets in the US, Visa and Mastercard remain the preferred payment options for gamblers stationed in the UK.
Perhaps another advantage that sets Visa and Mastercard apart from other payment channels is their wide usage which translates to increased security.
Take note that Visa and Mastercard are acceptable for both online and offline casinos so if you own Visa and Mastercard debit cards, you can readily use them to deposit and withdraw your funds with ease.
Debit Card for Deposits
If you plan to use Visa Debit or Visa Electron as one of your online casino payment providers in the UK, check the casino you are going to use. See if they have the Visa logo displayed as their accepted payment method. If you don’t find this logo, you can check the casino site’s payment method page. Double-check is f the site is secure before providing your personal information. Some casinos may charge a handling fee of about 2.5% of your deposit.
Debit Card for Withdrawals
Visa and Mastercard can also be used as your withdrawal option. Check the casinos’ withdrawal limit and take not if they also have handling fees. Some will charge a fee if your total withdrawal is below the minimum allowed per transaction.
While deposits can be real-time, withdrawals can take a while to reflect in your account, unlike electronic wallets. This is often due to a slew of security measures banks have to make.
2. Electronic Wallets
For their fast transactions, electronic wallets or e-wallets are perhaps the most popular online casino payment providers in the UK. The two companies that had made huge waves are NETELLER, which originated from Canada before moving to the Isle of Man so it could be under the UK and European market regulations, and Skrill, formerly named Moneybookers.
These two payment channels have invested heavily in their casino promotions by offering a VIP system based on the frequency of the transactions and the corresponding accumulated amount. For NETELLER, the tier is as follows: (Price is in USD, convert to GBP depending on applicable exchange rate):
- Bronze – $10,000 per year
- Silver – $50,000 per year
- Gold – $100,000 per year
- Platinum – $500,000 per year
- Diamond – $2,000,000 per year
For Skrill, the tiered VIP system follows quarterly requirements:
- Bronze – €6,000 per quarter
- Silver – €15,000 per quarter
- Gold – €45,000 per quarter
- Diamond – €90,000 per quarter
VIP users can take advantage of withdrawal and transfer fee discounts, lower currency conversion fees, and higher transfer limits.
Note: Skrill does not charge when receiving money into your wallet. However, they impose a 1.9% fee up to €20. The fee will become lower as you go up the VIP tier.
Following the new UK casino regulations, using e-wallets as payment options for online casinos can only be possible if the top-up comes from a credit card.
3. PayPal
One of the online casino payment providers in the UK that you can use with ease is PayPal. However, despite its global popularity it has, it’s not as widely used in online casinos in the UK. The main reason for this is the fact that it charges high transaction fees that can reach up to 3.4%. It also comes with a 20p charge per transaction.
Additionally, PayPal can act as an e-wallet, but its high-security measures often take the fund transfers to last for at least three days.
Its main advantage over others is that you can use any currency. So if you’re playing in an international casino and need to make quick and secure online payments, PayPal can be your go-to.
Payments made via PayPal for UK-licensed casinos are only acceptable if the fund came from a debit card. The use of credit cards will not be acceptable.
4. Paysafecard
If you don’t have a debit card or an e-wallet, you can use Paysafecard as one of your go-to online casino payment providers in the UK. The service works similar to buying a prepaid card for your mobile phone. All you have to do is go to a retailer and purchase the 16-digit code. The code can be used to make the deposit to your online casino.
Essential, this payment method is a good option if you prefer to spend “cash” when funding your online casino account. It’s easier to stick to your gambling budget this way.
This is also an excellent choice if you’re wary about your financial data.
Paysafecards are available in supermarkets and some local stores. If you don’t have time to go out, you can also search for online retailers that carry Paysafecards. They are often available in £10 to £100 denominations.
Remember, Paysafecard is a one-time payment solution. So, you can’t really withdraw money into it. If you’re using this as a payment option, you need to look for a different withdrawal option that you can use. Although, some select UK online casinos will offer you to use My Paysafecard accounts to withdraw your funds. Make sure to look for the My Paysafe card logo. Often, withdrawals are near real-time.
5. Direct Mobile Carrier Billing
Some mobile carriers offer direct billing as a payment option. This is a rapidly growing option to fund your account. It works by charging the deposit to your mobile phone carrier instead of making a direct debit card payment. This is one of the online casino payment providers in the UK that offers the best security and immediate funding.
A great advantage is that there are plenty of options for you to choose from. In a sense, you can consider it as a play now, pay later method without the fear of overspending.
Final Thoughts
There are tons of online casino payment providers in the UK that you can choose from. Always go for the one that can give you the best value for money. While some may have transaction fees, they will offer higher levels of security for your transactions. Others may charge less but may not offer the same security that you need.
If you have concerns about the acceptable online casino payment providers in the UK, don’t hesitate to contact your casino’s customer service.
Are you using any of these online casino payment providers in the UK?
