Online Casino Deposit Methods in the UK

For many players who want to get into the world of online casinos, depositing money into a casino account can be daunting. As a new player, you might wonder what options are available to you in the UK. You’ll also want to know if it’s safe to share your financial information, and if there are any common issues with casino deposit methods you should be aware of.

The good news is that depositing money at an online casino is similar to buying something from any other website. While you’ll find different options depending on the casino, you’ll always have safe options to play with if you follow our guide.

Note: When gambling in the UK, you should always play at casinos licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. This protects your money and your details, since licensed casinos only work with trusted payment providers.

Popular Deposit Methods for Online Casinos in the UK

Other Deposit Methods

Debit Cards

Debit cards are probably the most popular payment option online today. It’s only natural, then, that they are also widely used at the best UK online casinos as a deposit method.

When it comes to brand names, you’ll find both Visa and MasterCard as staple casino deposit methods. Gamblers love Visa casinos as your deposit is processed instantly, so you can play in a matter of minutes. There are also no fees attached to Visa deposits, and this is also true for MasterCard casinos.

The main issue when using a debit card is that not all casinos provide it as a withdrawal option. This means you’ll have to find alternative ways of cashing out, such as using an e-wallet. Also, some banks block card transactions for gambling, which is quite common in countries like the US. It doesn’t mean you can’t use your card to play online, but sometimes it will take a bit of experimentation before finding a card/site combination that works.

And while UK players have many debit card options as well as prepaid ones, you should be aware that credit cards were banned from online gambling in the UK in April 2020.

E-Wallets

Another popular way to move money around is the use of e-wallet sites. You can store money in an account that can then be spent online or transferred to your bank account. These sites offer a convenient way to spend money online without constantly making withdrawals from your bank account, making them popular in e-commerce as well as in the online gambling industry.

Perhaps the best-known e-wallet is PayPal, which is used as an online casino deposit method in the UK and around the globe. You might be surprised to find that PayPal casinos aren’t leading when it comes to processing gambling deposits, however. PayPal only allows its services to be used by licensed casinos in regulated jurisdictions, which makes it perfect for the UK. However, many sites in unregulated territories cannot take advantage of PayPal’s services.

Still, there are other e-wallets that offer similar options. Neteller, Skrill and Trustly are a few to take note of. Neteller was once basically the only name in gambling-related e-wallets, known for its speedy transaction times. Skrill was founded in the UK, and is popular both inside and outside the online casino world. Trustly was launched in 2008 by a Swedish fintech company that provides services to over 6,000 banks. All are well worthy of using.

Top Tip: Keep in mind that you won’t always be able to claim casino bonuses with e-wallets such as Skrill, but there are exceptions.

Pay by Phone

Pay by phone casinos are great for those who want to play on the go and top up their account from their phone balance. One of the main benefits of pay by phone as a casino deposit method is that you won’t have to give any card details to the site. Also, pay by phone only allows small deposits, which means that you can control your bankroll better. Still, you should know that pay by phone options can only be used to deposit, and you’ll have to find an alternative method to cash out.

The top pay by phone providers popular in the UK are Boku, Payforit, and Zimpler. Boku and Payforit are great as there are no fees attached to them, whereas Zimpler is loved by gamblers for its extra security layers.

Prepaid Cards

If you want to keep your financial information private, prepaid cards and vouchers are a good alternative. You won’t have to share your debit card with a casino site or involve your bank in your casino play. Prepaid cards allow you to purchase a voucher of a certain value from a local store, then use that stored value to make a deposit at your chosen real money casinos in the UK. You can even make these purchases in cash, eliminating the need to even have a bank account or a debit card.

Perhaps the most popular example here is Paysafecard, most often used for real money slots play. All you need is a 16-digit PIN which you'll find on the purchased voucher. You’ll then use this code to make your first deposit and play your favourite slots and casino games!

Bank Transfers

It is also possible to use your existing bank account to fund an online gambling account. A number of different ways exist to do this. Gamblers who opt for bank transfers usually want a casino deposit method which allows them to top up their account with larger amounts, and to do so securely. Although keep in mind that this is a slower banking option than most.

In many cases, you can initiate a wire transfer from your bank, or use an e-check to deposit funds into your casino account. You can also deposit through online banking. This is a quick and convenient way to facilitate transfers directly to an online casino or another merchant, pulling the funds directly from your authorized bank account.

Cryptocurrencies

You probably won’t find UKGC-licensed casinos which offer cryptocurrencies as a casino deposit method. Even though the UKGC doesn’t forbid casinos and players from using crypto, operators have to go through very strict checks if they want to provide digital currencies as a banking option. Since one of the main advantages of crypto is anonymity, these anti-money laundering and responsible gaming checks are much harder to do. This is why some of the most popular casinos in the UK don’t offer crypto payments just yet.

Still, digital currencies are gaining popularity around the world so it’s good to be aware of them. Gamblers who want to remain private online usually opt for crypto deposits. While your transaction is still recorded on the blockchain, no one can connect it to your name. Crypto gambling is also secure, with no details shared with the casino.

The most popular cryptocurrency in the world is Bitcoin. Ever since 2009, transactions with Bitcoin have boomed, also giving rise to Bitcoin casinos outside of the UK. In 2016, the second most important digital currency was created. It is known as Ether, and the platform which powers it is Ethereum.

Both process transactions faster than traditional currencies, however Ethereum is even speedier than Bitcoin. And while Bitcoin gambling is still in the lead, this is the main reason why Ethereum casinos are becoming more common.

Other cryptocurrencies you might come across at online gambling sites include Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Litecoin (LTC), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Ripple (XRP). These are also known as altcoins in the crypto world, since they were created as alternatives to the original crypto coin, Bitcoin.

These and many more casino deposit methods are available at online gambling sites in the UK and around the world, with the options varying between casinos and countries. Still, if you stick to safe UK online casinos, you’re bound to find a deposit method that secures your funds and suits your needs.