Updated by James Briscoe
Editor
Fact Checked by Lee James Gwilliam
Senior Vice-President
Are credit cards legal for playing at online casino sites in the UK? The answer is no. And if you're wondering why, here's the answer. As of 14th April 2020, the UK Gambling Commission banned the use of credit cards for gambling purposes. The best casino sites online recommended on this page all complied swiftly with this regulation. They stopped accepting credit card payments from players and instead, focused on other options that are as convenient and reliable as credit cards.
So what are the alternatives? Players in the UK have plenty of payment options to choose from. Some are great for depositing, some are used for withdrawals, and most of them are equally great for both.
In this article, we provide you with valuable information on the most popular methods used to deposit and withdraw at UK online casino sites.
There are many factors to consider when deciding which UK casino site is the best for your needs. One factor you must never overlook is its approach to payments. You can find a casino site with the widest selection of games imaginable, the most generous casino bonuses and tempting promotions. But what if they don’t accept your preferred payment methods?
In the wake of the UK credit card ban, our experts have collated all of the casino sites that accept a variety of payment alternatives so that you can find the perfect site to deposit and withdraw your money.
What makes a payment option popular? Trust, safety and convenience. In fact, we expect the best brands to ensure we can deposit and withdraw our online casino funds with minimum effort. While some of the options listed on this page are better suited to high rollers, and others are more appropriate for small deposits, the most popular ones give UK players peace of mind.
Certain payment methods can be quicker than others, but they may incur processing fees. On the other hand, some casino site withdrawal methods are very slow but reliable. The challenge is to find the right balance.
With online gaming casinos aimed first and foremost at mobile users, it's no wonder that using pay by phone to bet online has become such a popular payment option for UK gamblers. The concept is easy. You'll use your mobile phone credit to deposit, with the amount either charged to your monthly phone bill or deducted from your pay-as-you-go balance. It's that easy, and you can enjoy your mobile casino games in an instant. These are popular options in the pay by phone universe:
You might consider debit cards to be the direct replacement for credit cards. They are safe, swift, convenient and accepted by almost every reputable casino site in the UK. Plus, there are usually several debit card types accepted - online casinos that accept Mastercard or Maestro will likely accept Visa too.
One of the potential benefits, depending on your opinion, of credit cards, is the ability to borrow money but a plus point of betting at the best casinos that accept Visa Electron is the opposite: you can only spend as much cash as you have in your account, so it can help you budget.
Speed and security are built-in features of e-wallets. Although not all casino sites will let you grab deposit bonuses with this payment option, many of the names listed here are increasing in popularity among UK punters, especially Paypal.
The concept of a prepaid card is so simple. You look for an outlet that sells them, such as your supermarket or local newsagent. Next, you just need to go to an online casino and use the code on your card to deposit.
A direct bank transfer, aka a bank wire or a wire transfer, may sound old school, but it's still a form of payment that's widely used in the UK. High rollers especially prefer this method, since it offers high payment limits.
There are key differences between online casino payment options, and these can affect your overall gambling experience. Some may be used only for deposits, while others can be used for withdrawals as well. Some may only support small deposits, while others are better suited to high rollers, offering larger deposit limits.
In terms of debit cards, like at the top Visa online casinos, restrictions are quite kind, partly due to how trusted this kind of payment option is.
With so many factors that can affect your decision over a payment option, we thought that putting the most popular online casino payment options in a table would give you a better understanding of what each option can give you.
A deposit at a UK online casino is a simple task. Once you have registered and verified your account, you just need to press the Deposit option from the payments area. You'll get a list of choices available at the casino site or mobile app.
Select your preferred method and key in the amount. Depending on which method you chose, you'll be asked to enter some details that will help you conclude the transaction. Deposited funds are usually available the instant you confirm. The next step is to look for the best casino games and start playing.
A withdrawal is also a simple process. You'll just need to go to your account and click Withdraw. A list of withdrawal options should pop up. Some of the methods used to deposit money will not be available here.
For example, you won't be able to withdraw funds using a pay by phone method that uses your pay-as-you-go balance. After making your selection, just enter the amount you want to withdraw and confirm the transaction.
Withdrawal limits and withdrawal times vary. Some take just a few hours to process while others may take even days. The fastest methods are e-wallet withdrawals while the slowest are bank transfers.
James began working in the online casino industry in Malta as a copywriter, before writing about casinos and esports betting for new sites and affiliate companies. He then wrote casino reviews for Gambling.com before joining Casinos.com full-time and has been part of the team since. James loves making articles to help players like you.
Read Full BioCredit cards were banned from online casino sites by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission on 14th April 2020. Since then, you can't play at online casinos using a credit card. Instead, UK players may use other options to deposit at their preferred online casino site.
If you're playing at online casinos in the UK, your best alternatives to credit cards would be debit cards, you can pay by phone bill, use e-wallets (Paypal is very popular with UK casino players), prepaid cards or even old-fashioned bank transfers. Each option has its strengths and weaknesses. When choosing a payment method, look for security and convenience.
The credit card ban by the UK Gambling Commission which came into force in April 2020 applies to both online gambling sites and traditional land-based casinos. This means that you cannot play at online casino sites using any type of credit card.
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