Payment Options
If you want to play live blackjack online, you can make deposits and withdrawals in a variety of different ways. Below are some of the most popular payment options for UK players, all of which come with their own unique benefits. We’ve indicated the expected deposit and withdrawal times for each of these methods, but bear in mind that this will be in addition to the individual casino’s own processing times, which can take up to 24 hours.
e-Wallets
Deposit speed: Instant
Withdrawal speed: Instant
e-Wallets such as PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller offer live casino players a range of perks. Deposits can be made quickly by simply using linked account information, as opposed to cumbersome bank numbers.
Not only does this speed up the depositing process, but it also provides an extra layer of security – since there’s no exchange of financial information, hackers have fewer opportunities to seize this data.
Withdrawals, too, are lightning fast, with most requests dealt with in an instant. One potential drawback is that bonus offers are less likely to be made available to those depositing into their casino account via an e-wallet.
Pay by Phone Bill
Deposit speed: Instant
Withdrawal speed: N/A
With this payment method, users link up with their mobile network provider to pay for their casino deposits. Boku and Siru are leading operators in this space, simply requiring users to key in their numbers at the cashier page to pay for their bets. The network then steps in by initially picking up the tab, before charging the bill to the user’s monthly account, or subtracting the amount from their PAYG balance.
The pay by phone bill is famed for its speed. However, there are no opportunities to withdraw funds and deposit limits are set at around £30 a day, meaning high rollers will probably need to look elsewhere.
Prepaid Cards
Deposit speed: Instant
Withdrawal speed: N/A
Prepaid card users purchase vouchers either physically or online, before uploading them to their casino accounts. These methods, such as Paysafecard, are favoured by those looking to keep a close watch on their spending, since only preloaded funds can be spent. We’ve listed the withdrawal speed here as N/A, but on occasion an online casino will enable Paysafecard withdrawals.
It depends on a couple of things: first, whether the vouchers were bought online; and second, whether your casino of choice is able to process withdrawal requests for online vouchers. Most casinos can’t, so it’s better to think of this option as a deposit method only.
Trustly
Deposit speed: Instant
Withdrawal speed: Instant
Trustly is a Swedish fintech company that allows users to make direct transfers from one bank account to another. It’s an end-to-end service, meaning that there’s no need to share your banking information with your casino site, much in a similar way to e-wallet payments.
On the negative side, some online casinos may include a small fee for making Trustly transactions, and not every bank supports this method, so availability is not quite as strong as some of the other options listed here.
Debit Cards
Deposit speed: Instant
Withdrawal speed: Slow, between 2-5 working days
Last but not least, it’s the humble debit card. If you don’t mind waiting around for your withdrawals, there’s no reason not to use your Visa or Mastercard debit card at a casino site, just as you would elsewhere online. Every UK online casino accepts them, and what’s more, every casino bonus can be accessed via this method.
With so many new and innovative options out there today, it’s easy to forget about the humble debit card. This payment method is ubiquitous so it’s a great backup if your preferred method is unavailable. What’s more, deposits are usually instant and you’ll qualify for any deposit bonuses. Visa and Mastercard are the two most popular types and are supported at pretty much every online casino.
One major drawback to debit cards is their slow withdrawal speed, which can run from 2–5 working days. However, that could all change for Visa users — with the issuer’s new Fast Funds service, Visa Direct transactions are processed in real time, meaning a casino cash-out could hit your bank account within 30 minutes of approval.
AstroPay
Deposit speed: Instant
Withdrawal speed: Instant, where available
A newer name in the world of online casino payment methods, AstroPay is quickly gaining popularity with UK players for its ease of use and strong security.
AstroPay offers virtual prepaid cards that can be used to instantly top up online casino wallets. Like other prepaid cards such as Paysafecard, AstroPay cards can’t be overdrawn and you won’t have to share any bank details with the casino site, meaning they’re highly secure and a great tool to help players manage their budgets.
What really makes AstroPay stand out is its integrated e-wallet functionality. If you prefer, you can top up your AstroPay wallet and pay directly with that, rather than buying a virtual prepaid card. There’s some withdrawal support too — once the funds reach your AstroPay wallet, they can be used to fund direct deposits or virtual cards, or withdrawn back to your bank account.