If you want to play at online casinos aimed at UK players, which payment method should you opt for? Some methods are tailor-made for certain players rather than others. For instance, e-wallets and prepaid options are ideal for those who prefer to deposit smaller sums.
Bank and wire transfers are suitable for high rollers. The availability of some payment options may vary, depending on whether you’re playing in a UKGC-licensed site or a non-GamStop UK casino licensed elsewhere.
If this all sounds confusing, you needn’t worry. Here at TheBestCasinos.co.uk, we’ll straighten out everything so you know exactly which options you have open to you and when and where you can use them.
We’ll also introduce you to top and trustworthy online casinos for UK players, which offer all the banking methods you need to get started. Let’s begin by looking at the payment options at UKGC-licensed casinos.
Payment Options at UKGC Licensed Online Casinos
The payment methods you have open to you at UK-facing casinos depend on whether you’re playing at a UKGC-licensed online casino or one based elsewhere. Because casinos operating with a United Kingdom Gambling Commission licence are required to sign up to GamStop, the payment methods they feature may be restricted to just those which allow small-scale bets and encourage you to gamble responsibly. Here are some of the limitations:
- UKGC-licensed online casinos cannot offer credit card payment options.
- You are reminded to set deposit limits.
- You must use the same casino payment method for deposits and withdrawals.
- It is necessary to clear the KYC process before withdrawing.
- Many e-wallet options, such as Skrill and Neteller, aren’t available.
If you want to play at a UKGC-licensed online casino, you’ll find the most offered payment options below. They include:
PayPal
PayPal is an e-wallet that used to be widespread across the online casino world. It has since only made itself available at nationally licensed casinos for the most part, which means UKGC sites. However, you’ll find a few PayPal casinos not on GamStop here on this page.
PayPal transactions are free from added charges at casinos; you can generally expect limits stretching from £1 to £5,000 (rising to £25,000 at some offshore UK sites), and transaction times are instantaneous for deposits, and anything from an hour to two days for withdrawals. PayPal is fast and friendly, and because you likely already have an account with this e-wallet for online shopping purposes, it represents a convenient, familiar, and safe option to use online.
Debit Cards
Credit cards may not be accepted in UKGC online casinos, but debit cards certainly are. VISA and MasterCard’s debit card options generally allow you to deposit more significant sums than e-wallets such as PayPal, although because they are affiliated with GamStop, the casinos tend to put minimum and maximum limits on these of around £5 up to £5,000.
Depositing with a debit card involves handing your card details over to the casino, and transaction times are instantaneous for deposits and up to five business days for withdrawals. Fees shouldn’t be involved, but that’s not always the case.
Pay-by-Mobile Options
Pay-by-phone options are ideal if you want to deposit tiny sums of cash. Many can facilitate deposits of just £1 or so, with limits often capped at around the £30 mark for deposits. The deposit is added to your phone bill or subtracted from your credit.
However, while these payment options represent some of the safest ways to top up your balance at online casinos, they cannot be used for withdrawals. You’ll need to find an alternative choice to cash out your winnings at online casinos. Examples include Boku and Zimpler. Apple Pay and Google Pay aren’t pay-by-mobile options, as these have nothing to do with your phone credit/bill and instead behave the same way as conventional e-wallets.
Prepaid Vouchers
Prepaid vouchers, the best example of which is Paysafecard, are another supremely safe way to deposit at UK-licensed online casinos because they offer anonymous deposits with no information shared between you and the casino. These can be bought online or in land-based retail outlets. They can be used to top-up your casino balance by entering the code attached to the voucher. They vary in value from £5 up to £500, depending on the brand and voucher you go with.
However, while they are super safe, prepaid vouchers suffer from the same drawback as pay-by-phone options – they cannot be used to withdraw winnings. You will, therefore, be required to choose an alternative payment option once again to cash out anything you win.
Bank Transfers
Bank transfers are accepted at UKGC casinos, and they certainly have their perks. You can process a payment using your online bank. This is handy if you want to deposit large sums, with most UK casinos able to support transactions worth a few thousand pounds at a time.
Because bank transfers involve giving your bank details to the casino, they aren’t always popular. Another disadvantage is that it can take a few days for a bank transfer to clear, whether you’re depositing or withdrawing. On the upside, they represent your best shot of depositing sizable sums of cash at the UK’s nationally licensed online casino sites.
Payment Options at Non-GamStop UK Casinos Licensed Elsewhere
You aren’t required to play at UKGC-licensed sites, though. It is perfectly legal for you to seek entertainment at UK-facing casinos licensed outside the UK. There are many reputable casinos not on GamStop featured right here on this page. Some of the key features associated with these UK online casinos include:
- You aren’t tied to GamStop and can use in-house responsible gambling tools.
- You’ll find a greater array of e-wallets and payment methods, such as Skrill and Neteller.
- Cryptocurrency-based payment options may also be available.
- You can generally excerpt to see credit card options, facilitating larger deposits.
- Bonuses and promos can be claimed using many of the payment options supported.
- The deposit limits are higher at these casinos to cater to everyone.
- And finally, you can use alternative currencies based on the banking method you select.
Clearly, there are some advantages to choosing to play at these UK casinos. Let’s briefly touch on the payment methods you’ll find here that you won’t get in UKGC-licensed casinos. These include:
Credit Cards
Credit cards may not be accepted at UK Gambling Commission-licensed casinos, but they are widely available at trusted UK casinos licensed elsewhere. VISA, MasterCard, AMEX and other options are handy if you want to deposit big sums of cash, so they are firm favourites amongst high rollers. There may be fees involved at some sites, and while credit cards are snappy when it comes to deposits, withdrawals to credit cards can take upwards of five business days in some sites. Whenever you deposit with a credit card, ensure that you’re playing at a trusted casino like those featured on our page.
Wire Transfers
Wire transfers are not always available for deposits, but that’s what bank transfers are for. Wire transfers may be available as a withdrawal option, and they facilitate the biggest value transactions of all. If you win progressive jackpots or epic sums of cash, expect your cashout to be processed using these methods. However, they are only sometimes free (or cheap), and transfer times can be rather slow. They are best suited for those who want to splash the cash at no-limit casinos and other high-roller sites.
Other E-Wallets
Popular e-wallets include Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, EcoPayz, Neosurf and a few others. Skrill and Neteller are the two most common options. Both have overly flexible limits and can be used for both deposits and withdrawals. E-wallets such as these can permit deposits ranging from £5/£25 up to £5,000, £10,000, or higher, depending on where you play.
Deposits are processed instantly with these options, while withdrawal times can vary from an hour up to 2-3 business days, again depending on where you play. E-wallets are generally the way to go for most casino players, combining speed with flexible limits, low to no fees and convenience.
Cryptocurrencies
Lastly, I want to touch on cryptocurrencies here. Admittedly, cryptocurrencies aren’t available at every online casino. Some sites out there can support cryptos and FIAT options, while others are dedicated exclusively to this payment option. Because of how they work (on the blockchain), cryptos aren’t for everyone. However, leading cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum can be found at online casinos across the net. Furthermore, you can expect to see low deposit limits and, in some cases, no deposit or withdrawal caps at all.
Cryptocurrencies are almost never free (your payment provider will take a small cut), but they are the fastest withdrawal options you’ll find anywhere online. Some of the leading options you may wish to consider (apart from Bitcoin and Ethereum) include Dogecoin, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash and Tether. As well as being a payment option for UK players, cryptocurrencies also act as a currency, and there are even dedicated crypto bonuses up for grabs at top crypto casinos.
Key Things to Know About Payment Options for UK Players
Before you begin exploring UK online casinos and make your first deposit with your preferred internet banking method, let us touch on some of the takeaways and key things to note about UK payment options once more. They include:
- Payment options may vary wildly depending on whether you play at a UKGC-licensed casino or one licensed elsewhere.
- UKGC online casinos don’t support credit card deposits but do support PayPal.
- You’ll find more options and more flexible deposit limits at non-GamStop UK casinos.
- Your eligibility to claim bonuses and promos may depend on the casino payment option that you select.
- You should still gamble responsibly, whichever casino you join, and there are tools at UK-licensed and non-UK-licensed casinos to help you do that.
Where to Find the Best UK Casinos with Ideal Payment Options
By now, you should have a firm understanding of the top payment options found at UK online casino sites, wherever they are licensed. It will take little effort for you to find GamStop-based casinos on your own. However, let’s introduce you to our favourite, top and trusted UK online casinos not on GamStop here. Each has been selected by our team, reviewed, and approved based on its services, including its ability to provide reliable payment options for UK players. Check out our reviews and see what we’ve had to say about each before signing up as a new player today.
FAQs: Payment Options for Online Casinos in the UK
Can I use PayPal at non-UKGC online casinos?
Yes, but the number of sites offering it is limited. PayPal is very picky about where it can be used for gambling purposes, so not many sites can do this. We have a dedicated array of PayPal casinos not on GamStop to choose from here at BestCasinos.co.uk.
Can I increase my deposit or withdrawal limits at casinos?
Each payment method has its own limits, and each casino may lower those. However, some casinos allow you to cap your own deposits or increase your withdrawal limits via VIP schemes. It varies from site to site, so check our reviews for more information.
Can I trust online casinos with my bank or card details?
Absolutely. If you’re signed up to a trusted and safe casino site, such as those UK online casinos featured on this page and reviewed by us, your details are guaranteed to be safe.
Do all casino payment options accept GBP?
No, but most of those found at UK online casinos will do. Furthermore, any UK-facing casino should ensure that it is available for deposits, withdrawals, gameplay, and bonus purposes. The British Pound Sterling currency is one of the world’s strongest and most popular, so you should be fine here.