Understanding casino banking is crucial if you’re looking to make money playing casino games. It helps you know the most convenient and money-saving payment options, improving your bankroll management skills in the long run.
- How to deposit money
- Banking bonuses
- Multiple payment options
- Security in casino banking
- Popular banking options
- Withdrawal and deposit limits
- Transaction times
- How to withdraw your winnings
Depositing in Online Casinos
To most experienced players, the deposit process is straightforward. But for the novices, depositing cash can be a bit confusing. Firstly, the process varies slightly from one casino to another. Playing in different casinos gives you some experience, and you’ll be depositing cash without any fuss soon. You can do the following:
- Download the casino’s app or visit their designated website.
- Create an account, filling all the crucial details.
- Confirm you’ve received a verification message.
- Visit the site’s cashier.
- Choose your preferred payment option.
- Enter the amount you’d like to deposit.
- Confirm the transaction, and you’re done.
The fourth stage, choosing a suitable payment option, can confuse you — not because there are numerous options in most modern-day casinos, but because each option comes with a different benefit. For example, as we’ll see later, depositing with methods like PayPal may attract a bonus. Transacting with Credit cards or PayByPhone may suit you if you don’t have enough money at the moment. And using sites like Skrill may be suitable if you want your money to reflect in your casino account instantly.
If you’re stuck in this stage, go for the option that’s most convenient to you. What do you prioritize the most? A deposit bonus, an instantaneous deposit, or a cashless deposit? Knowing your priorities can help speed this process up, saving you from regrets later when you’re making wagers.
Banking Bonuses
By transacting with some payment methods, your casino may reward you with bonuses. Payment methods like PayPal and Goku can get you a bonus, depending on your casino.
This bonus allows you to get the feel of a game or a casino before wagering real money. You can have fun playing new games, trying out new machines, and winning other rewards, while your deposit remains intact.
To know whether your new UK casino offers welcome bonuses for deposits, again, read their terms and conditions. If you’re lucky, you can find a casino that offers a hefty bonus for every PayPal or Skrill deposit you make, getting you more bang for your buck. Welcome bonuses in the form of free spins or free plays can be lucrative if you wager strategically.
Multiple Payment Methods
Even though you can use different payment options to deposit cash, you need at least one primary method. This is the method you originally deposited cash using. Ensure the alternative options are registered in your name so that the deposit process can be as hassle-free as possible.
Laws in the UK require you to withdraw using one option– the one you use to deposit your cash originally. While you’re free to add other methods, sticking with one option helps minimize fraud in the casino industry.
The best UK casinos offer multiple options, allowing players to boost their bankrolls using the options they prefer. For instance, if you want to make an instant deposit, you can use PayPal. And if you want to be accountable for your spending, you can use a debit card. Trying out different options helps you identify the most convenient one.
Security in Casino Banking
Many players are unsure whether their money is in safe hands when they make deposits in casino accounts. Fortunately, operators have put in place measures that ensure your money is secure. They use SSL encryption that prevents your financial information from leaking. In these encrypted websites, identity thieves can not access any information you enter when logging in.
On top of high-end encryption, the best UK casino sites use other advanced measures to cut off hackers and cybercriminals. You can use this security to your benefit by depositing as much money as you want.
Funds Segregation
Segregation in banking allows casinos to pay out winnings, even when they’re facing bankruptcy or insolvency. In line with the Gambling Commission’s directives, UK casinos keep player funds separately from their operational finances.
You should realize, though, that segregation of funds doesn’t always guarantee you’ll receive your money when things go south. Levels of segregation include:
- Basic: Protection at this level is minimal. Your funds are kept separately from the casino’s bank account, but if the casino goes bust, you’re unlikely to get your money back.
- Medium: The casino has taken steps to ensure your money is safe, such as buying an insurance cover. While better than the basic protection, the medium level doesn’t offer any guarantees that you’ll receive your money if the casino collapses.
- High: Your money is kept in a bank account that’s completely independent of the operator’s. A third party, either an auditor or an independent body, controls the bank account. If the operator goes bankrupt, chances are high you’ll get your money back.
Transaction Fees
Deposit fees aren’t as popular as withdrawal fees in UK casinos. Operators charging you deposit fees tend to offer extra bonuses to offset the fees. Fortunately, as more and more casinos join the industry, withdrawal fees are fading into the past. There are now various online sites that don’t charge any fees for either deposits or withdrawals, regardless of the payment method you are using.
Popular Banking Options
PayByPhone
PayByPhone is one of the most convenient methods of payment in UK casinos. For one, it allows you to deposit money through your phone, even if you don’t have any cash with you. It allows you to deposit a maximum of £30, which is later charged in your monthly phone bill.
For all the convenience it provides, PayByPhone still has its drawbacks. Firstly, the £30 limit prevents high rollers from depositing high amounts, therefore limiting their winnings. Secondly, PayByPhone doesn’t process withdrawals. You can’t withdraw your winnings through this method, as you need to seek other alternatives like PayPal, Skrill or Visa.
Credit cards
Credit cards are popular for various reasons. Not only are they fast, but they also provide secure and safe transactions. When using either a Visa or a MasterCard, you get a zero liability guarantee, meaning you can’t be held responsible for any unauthorised transactions.
Debit cards
A debit card allows you to boost your bankroll using money that’s already in your bank account. It’s a good option if you want to avoid falling in the debt rabbit hole. Depositing using these cards is also easy, as all you have to do is log into your account and enter your card details.
Transactions are mostly instantaneous, allowing you to start playing your favourite games as soon as you deposit.
E-wallets
E-wallets act as a middleman between your bank account and your casino account. To fund your casino account, you have to transfer cash from your bank account to your e-wallet. After that, transfer the money from the e-wallet to your casino.
Withdrawals are equally convenient. Excluding the processing times, most withdrawals are instantaneous, just like deposits. Players normally use PayPal as their designated payment option because it allows them to separate their gambling cash from their day-to-day finances.
Closed methods.
Over the years, some payment methods have changed names, left the markets, or ceased operations entirely. The following are some methods you can no longer use to fund your casino accounts.
- Ukash: In its heyday, Ukash allowed you to transfer cash to your casino, with the help of a security code, and make online payments effortlessly. It required you to purchase cash vouchers from different outlets that had a secure code. Once you entered these details, money would be transferred through the voucher to your bankroll.
In April 2014, Ukash merged with Paysafecard, which is still running to date. Paysafecard operates similarly to Ukash, excluding a few minor differences.
- Click2pay: Click2pay acted as a middle-man between your casino site and the bank. While it mainly operated in European countries, it never gained a following in the larger UK market, and its owner Wirecard later decided to shut it down. Wirecard still operates to date but doesn’t feature in many UK casinos.
Withdrawal and Deposit Limits
Before depositing or withdrawing your cash, ensure you read the terms and conditions, so you can know whether your site has any transaction limits. UK sites generally either have a minimum depositing amount or a maximum withdrawal amount.
For instance, some UK casinos only allow you to withdraw a maximum of £500. This means if your winnings exceed this £500 limit, you’ll have to make separate withdrawals.
How much you deposit or withdraw mostly depends on your payment method. Minimum deposits generally range from £5 to 10. Maximum deposits can be as high as £1000 or £10000. If you’re looking to make larger deposits, then use bank transfers as they have higher limits. Also, UK casinos can limit you to either weekly or monthly withdrawals.
In some casinos, you can talk to a customer care agent to increase your maximum deposit if you’re a high roller.
Transaction Times
Knowing the transaction times is crucial – it helps you plan your wagers, so you can get your money on time. While most withdrawals and deposits happen instantly, transaction times largely depend on your casino. Using bank transfers, for instance, you might have to wait for a few days for your money to reach your account – possibly more than 4 business days.
Transactions in some UK casinos may take longer due to identity verification. To make sure the money reaches the right person, casinos may take a few more hours to process your transaction. That said, If your withdrawal takes longer than usual, you can contact the customer care and inform them.
Generally, transaction times for different payment methods may be:
- Debit and credit cards: Between 1 and 5 business days
- e-Wallets: Mostly instant but can take a maximum of 1 business day
- Normal bank transfers: Between 1 and 5 business days
- Express bank transfers: 1 business day (will require processing fees)
Withdrawing Your Winnings
Reputable UK casinos make it easy for you to cash out your winnings, regardless of whether you’ve won big or small. Withdrawing money is very simple. Here’s how you can do it:
- Visit your website’s cashier
- Ensure you have enough money in your account
- Key in the amount you want to cash out
- Choose your withdrawal method (PayPal, Skrill, Bank transfers, and so on)
- Finally, confirm your withdrawal transaction
As mentioned earlier, transaction processing times vary depending on payment method. In top-tier casinos, however, it doesn’t take longer than a few business days for your winnings to reach you.
When withdrawing money for the first time, some casinos may require you to submit your ID. Luckily, uploading a document or an image has never been easier – you can do so within minutes. This verification process weeds out fraudsters, cyber-criminals, and hackers. You’ll mostly have to confirm your identity once. To make things easier, you can complete this process when registering for your account and never do it again.
You might find it difficult withdrawing bonus funds if you haven’t cleared the wagering requirements. Wagering requirements are the stipulations put in place to prevent you from withdrawing a casino’s free money, without wagering your cash.
Top UK casinos offer low stipulations, making it easier for you to withdraw your bonus money after just a few wagers. In such casinos, you can track your money’s withdrawal time, checking its progress regularly.
Final thoughts
To the players’ advantage, casinos are now adding new payment options. New casinos are offering all types of payment options, even ones you’ve never heard of, to cater to different players. Even though some casinos have stuck to the popular options, PayPal, debit, and, credit cards, you’ll still have an easy time transacting due to the convenience these options provide.
That said, banking shouldn’t be the only factor to consider when signing up in a new casino. Before depositing in any site, always look into its security. There’s nothing as frustrating as depositing your hard-earned money, only to lose it all before making any wagers. Look for a UKGC licence – this can be the easiest way to check for security.
Ensure you research a company thoroughly and analyze every facet from customer support, gaming catalogues, software providers to security. Once you’re done with the research, you can then explore its banking options.
Using this article as a guide, you’ll be able to make the right decision on the most suitable payment method.
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