Players at online casinos in the UK have plenty of ways to deposit money into their accounts these days. And while much of the talk circles around digital wallets, two payment methods that arguably don’t get as much love are monthly phone bills and prepaid cards.
Compared to some other solutions out there, these two might seem a little inconvenient at first. However, that’s far from the case.
This article will show you the difference between monthly phone bills and prepaid card online casino payments. We’ll also highlight the pros and cons so you can make a better-educated decision.
What are Monthly Phone Bill Payments?
When it comes to UK online casino payments, a monthly phone bill payment means that the money is added to your mobile tariff when you deposit. When the time comes to pay your bill, you will pay that on top of the amount you’re normally charged.
You’ll find plenty of payment solutions that facilitate this kind of online casino deposit. Some of the most popular include Boku and Zimpler.
What are Prepaid Cards?
As the name suggests, a prepaid card is a card where you have already uploaded money. Once you’ve added funds, you can spend what’s on the card with various online merchants. While you can sometimes use a prepaid MasterCard, you’ll need to use a code in other cases.
paysafecard is one of the best-known prepaid card solutions in UK online casino gaming. Some payment providers, such as Neteller, offer a prepaid MasterCard.
The Pros of Monthly Phone Bill Payments
Depositing into an online casino account using monthly phone bill payments comes with numerous benefits. We’ve listed the most important of these below.
No Need for a Bank Account
One of the biggest pulls of phone bill payments for online casinos is that you do not need a bank account. As long as you pay your next mobile tariff, you’re good to go.
In addition to not needing a bank account for this kind of deposit, you also don’t need to share any debit card details. So, there’s less risk of any security breaches impacting your bank account.
Mobile-Friendly
It wouldn’t make sense to deposit via your monthly phone bill credit if doing so wasn’t mobile-friendly, right?
When you add funds to an online casino using this method, you’ll have few issues doing so on your mobile device. In fact, you’ll typically need your phone to confirm these transactions.
When you’re ready to pay for your phone bill, you can also do this from the comfort of your smartphone. So, if you really wanted to, this entire process could include a grand total of zero computers.
Few (If Any) Waiting Times for Depositing
Allowing for fast deposits are critical for any payment method looking to thrive in today’s ever-evolving UK online casino landscape. And unsurprisingly, companies that process monthly phone bill deposits have realised this.
When you choose to deposit with a UK online casino using this method, you’ll usually see the money in your casino account soon after. So, you can begin playing without needing to wonder where your funds have gone.
The Cons of Monthly Phone Bill Payments
Have we managed to convince you that monthly phone bill payments are an excellent depositing option for your favourite UK online casino? Great. But hold your horses before you go and do this because you need to keep a couple of drawbacks in mind.
The biggest cons related to monthly phone bill payments for online casinos are listed below.
No Option to Withdraw
While depositing with monthly phone bill payments is a straightforward process, the same isn’t necessarily true when the time comes to withdraw. You cannot use this payment method to take the winnings out of your account.
If you choose to add money via this method, it’s a smart idea to consider what you’ll use when the time comes to withdraw from a UK casino website.
Transfer Limits
When you consider that monthly phone bill payments don’t require an upfront transfer from your bank account, you can see the risks associated with this. As such, many providers put a daily cap on how much you can deposit at an online casino website.
If you usually deposit relatively high amounts, you’ll need to keep this in mind. And regardless, remember to only bet as much as you can afford to lose.
The Pros of Prepaid Card Payments
Now you have a balanced overview of online casino deposits via your phone bill, let’s take a look at what prepaid cards have to offer – starting with the pros.
Below are the biggest benefits for depositing into your account using prepaid cards.
Anonymity
One big reason casino players use prepaid cards is that they don’t need to reveal their identity.
All you need to do is add money to your card. You don’t necessarily need to share any bank or debit card details if you don’t want to; many merchants accept cash if you top up at a land-based outlet.
Limit How Much You Can Spend
Many banks offer gambling transaction blocker tools. But some of these are easy to toggle on and off. And in some cases, you might want to gamble casually without shutting this kind of payment out altogether.
With a prepaid card, you can limit the amount you spend at an online casino. Once the money on your card is gone, you’ll need to top up again before you can use it.
Spend Your Money Elsewhere
Another benefit of prepaid cards is that you don’t need to use all of the money at an online casino. Many online merchants outside of the gambling industry accept some form of prepaid card payment.
You can use your cash surplus to buy something like a new pair of shoes or that Xbox game you’ve always wanted.
The Cons of Prepaid Card Payments
Of course, prepaid card payments also come with their cons for online casino gaming. Let’s take a look at the biggest of these below.
Withdrawals are Tricky
Like with phone bill online casino payments, withdrawing money from an online casino account to a prepaid card is difficult (and in most cases impossible). So, like with the other payment method we’ve mentioned, you’ll need to think about what you’ll use to transfer your winnings.
You Need to Top Up Your Card
Unlike online casino payments with your monthly phone bill, you’ll need to top up your prepaid card once the money runs out. And while depositing into your account usually is instant, needing to add more funds to the prepaid card adds a layer of inconvenience.
What Do I Do If I Want to Withdraw My Online Casino Winnings?
While neither prepaid cards nor phone bill payments are ideal for online casino withdrawals, don’t worry – plenty of withdrawal methods exist.
You can use your standard bank, while many mobile-only banks also enable online casino withdrawals. But arguably, the most convenient option is using a digital wallet, such as Skrill, Neteller, or Paypal.
Phone Bill and Prepaid Card Payments: Useful for Online Casino Deposits
Both monthly phone bills and prepaid card payments are helpful options for online casino players in the UK. The pair of them excel in being both fast and secure, while they also help you manage your finances better.
At the same time, neither are particularly useful for withdrawals. But with options like digital wallets, you can use these in conjunction to enjoy a seamless gaming experience.
