If we had to rank your priorities while playing at casino sites, it would probably go like this: number one: your safety, number two: having fun, number three: winning big! 

But, if you do get lucky enough and decide to withdraw, how will you access those winnings? And, crucially, how did you make your first deposit in the first place? 

Most casinos offer several payment and withdrawal options to appeal to as many people’s needs as possible. And luckily, there is no ‘best’ option. It’s totally up to your personal preferences and priorities. There’s a huge variety of factors to consider, including their payout times and security options.

Here’s our guide to the most popular payment options. Read on to see how we rate them and to figure out which is the best bet for you!

Debit cards: Visa, Mastercard, Maestro

Debit cards all work quite similarly across most casino sites. They are the most popular way of depositing and withdrawing money at online casinos as almost all adults in the UK have at least one payment card tied to their current account. 

Many people use Monzo at online casinos for its handy in-app budgeting systems and its function to pause payments to control your spending. Monzo is a Mastercard debit card.

To use your card for payments, you will be required to register the card by typing in the 12 digit number across the front of the card before also adding the 4 digit expiry date and the 3 digit security number on the back. These details will be encrypted by the casino operator so you don’t have to worry about compromising personal details.

Once you have made a deposit with your debit card, you will then be able to return to the site and make further deposits without having to add your details again. The casino operator will remember your card details although you will be required to add in your security code for every deposit you make. 

The biggest benefit of using this payment type is that they are almost always free of charge to use. However, However, depending on the site, it could take a few days for the transaction to go through for you to have access to your winnings. You will also need to update your card detials every time you get a new card due to expiry, theft or loss. 

Also, please note that since April 2020, credit card payments have been banned as a payment option at all casino sites, so do not attempt to use one.

 

PayPal

This is another favourite for regular users of casino sites. It has over 173 million users worldwide, making it one of the most widely-used and trusted methods of transacting money online. 

PayPal is a good time and effort saving solution as it lets you pay and receive money via your bank account or debit card without having to fill out your details each time. If a casino offers PayPal as a payment option, all you have to do to complete a transaction is log in when prompted using your email and password. 

It’s much faster than finding your account number and sort code or going through online banking security tests. This is especially useful if you like to gamble on mobile casinos while you’re out and about. 

Also its reputation is a bonus – PayPal is strict on which websites can use its services, particularly gambling brands. Therefore, if you see the PayPal logo on a bingo or casino site, you can be confident that it’s a secure site because securing a partnership is difficult for operators.

All large eWallet services have sophisticated security systems and PayPal is no exception, using 24/7 data encryption and anti-fraud technology to help keep your information safe and secure. It also has a highly effective customer service system with a dedicated dispute process and ‘Resolution Centre’, so you can fix any issues stress-free as soon as you’re made aware. 

It has near-instantaneous withdrawal time and is totally free to use. However, not all casino sites will offer instant withdrawals on their end, so be sure to check their Terms before you get excited to spend your winnings.

We have a list of the best Paypal casino sites, check them out!

Apple Pay

Launched in 2015, Apple Pay is still relatively new on the block, so not everyone is familiar with how to use it yet. But its growing popularity means it’s available in thousands of locations and websites worldwide. 

It’s a quick and convenient payment method that lets you deposit safely on mobile bingo sites without entering any bank card information or logging in to alternative eWallet accounts.

Unlike other online payment options, Apple Pay requires you to physically verify your identity using your phone’s biometric security measures (your Touch ID or Face ID) to authorise any transaction, making it one of the safest payment methods available. It’s far harder for an unauthorised person to steal your fingerprint than your pin number!

Your payment data is also stored securely and safely on your device, meaning the only person that can access your payment details is you.

Apple Pay is free to set up and use, so you can deposit safely without incurring the expensive fees of other payment providers. Using Apple Pay is just like using your bank card and Apple has worked directly with banks to ensure it is a seamless payment experience with no hidden costs.

However, you can’t withdraw using Apple Pay. If you want to avoid adding your card details completely, we recommend PayPal as it’s also free, linked to your bank card and protects your financial information.

Also, it’s only supported on certain Apple products. If you have an iPhone older than the iPhone 6 (which launched in 2015), then you can’t use Apple Pay. Likewise, if you have an Android or Windows phone, you can only use Google Pay, which currently isn’t accepted as a deposit method by casino sites. 

Paysafecard

Paysafecard is an eWallet service owned by Paysafe Group. It is a pre-paid voucher payment method that allows you to pay for things online using a 16 digit PIN without ever filling out your bank details. You can buy one of these vouchers in newsagents and major supermarkets like WHSmith, Asda and Tesco. Check the Paysafecard website to find your nearest outlet. 

You can even get a Paysafecard MasterCard that acts as a normal debit or credit card and an app so you can track your balance and top up your account with PINs.

All you need is your 16-digit Paysafecard code to make a deposit on a casino site, allowing you to avoid sharing sensitive financial and bank details. You can even buy vouchers with cash, negating the need to ever pass your details on to a third party. Because of this, it keeps you completely anonymous, making the risk of fraud nearly non-existent. 

As Paysafecard vouchers can only be bought in amounts of £10, £25, £40, £50, £75 or £100, it’s easier to know exactly how much you have spent on online bingo or casino sites. You cannot keep topping up from a debit or credit card either, so it’s harder to chase losses or spend more than you intend to whilst gambling.

However, if you lose it, it’s gone forever. Unlike PayPal or debit cards, Paysafecard vouchers are like cash. If you lose the voucher with your PIN on it, you can’t recover the money. So keep it safe!

Before committing to buying a Paysafecard, you should check whether the online casino you want to play on supports Paysafecard withdrawals. Though they’re popular, they’re not an option everywhere. 

If the site does support Paysafecard, be aware that the maximum amount of money you can get out of it from retailers is £250 a month. So if you win big, you may have to wait a while to get the cash!

Neteller

Neteller is a UK eWallet provider also operated by Paysafe Group that lets you make secure payments online. It’s a widely trusted company that’s been around for over 20 years.

Using an eWallet to deposit on online casinos is preferable if you’re looking to keep your bank details to yourself. Neteller keeps your information private from all third parties and you only need to provide your Account ID and Secure ID to make transactions, meaning you don’t ever have to share your sensitive information with a gambling operator.

Neteller has an airtight security system. All of your private data, such as passwords and bank details, is encrypted by a 128-bit system, meaning that your information is converted into a code to prevent hackers from finding it. 

Withdrawals are often faster to eWallets like Neteller than to debit cards. You should receive your winnings within a day or two, compared to the standard 3-5 working days.

However, this convenience comes at a cost. Unlike other PayPal or a debit card, depositing into and withdrawing from your Neteller account can be costly if you want to transfer small sums of cash often. The company is transparent about this process and you can find a breakdown of the fees on the company’s official website.

Skrill

Another popular eWallet option, Skrill is great for those looking for quick and convenient transactions. You can get a normal account, or sign up for a Skrill MasterCard that acts as a normal debit card so you don’t have to sign in to Skrill for each payment you make. 

A real positive of Skrill is that it supports payments in over 40 currencies and it even accepts transactions in cryptocurrency.

Their debit card is also available in four major currencies, British Pounds, US Dollars, Euros, and Polish Zloty. This is a huge bonus if you are going to be making deposits or sending money in multiple currencies, but for most people, this isn’t relevant. 

Most online casinos will accept Skrill as a payment method, and as with all eWallets, Skrill has sophisticated security systems in place to keep your data safe. 

Its major drawback is the limits and transaction fees. Unlike PayPal and similar competitors, Skrill comes with added costs that we’ve outlined for you here:

1. Deposit: there is a 1% deposit fee for both local and global payment methods.
2. Withdrawal: Skrill charges £4.75 to withdraw money to your local bank. Visa withdrawals involve a 7.5% withdrawal fee, something which may put off potential users of the system. 
3. Service fee: after the first year of using Skrill, you will automatically have 5 EUR deducted monthly from your account. 

Which casino payment method is right for you?

The answer for this question is totally up to you! If you want to follow a system that you’re already familiar with, the natural choice would be to use your debit card.

You might choose to use PayPal if you like the free-to-use smooth-running functionality of a debit card but with the added efficiency of the sign-in system. This also goes for Applepay if you are using a Mac, iPad or iPhone.

But if you want that next level of security, an eWallet such as Paysafecard, Neteller and Skrill all offer benefits that protect your identity. But be warned, they do incur fees and a little longer to deliver payments. Be sure to check the casino’s terms and conditions to know their policy before you commit.

Luckily, most good casinos offer all of the above options. Check out our guide to choosing an online casino to get started.