Payment Methods for online betting

Learn about the payment methods offered by betting sites

Payment methods at betting sites

When it comes to deciding on a bookmaker to join, there are of course many factors to consider, including the range of markets available and for many, the welcome bonus too. However, one factor to consider that may not be so obvious is the available payment options.

Bookmakers have started to embrace a wide range of payment methods and with so many to choose from, it can be a difficult decision to make, especially with the security of personal data to consider, as well as ease of use.

Below, we list the various payment options available in the UK, the pros and cons, plus our recommended bookmaker for each method.

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Payment Methods

✅VISA / MASTERCARD

VISA/Mastercard is the defacto payment method for the majority of online betting sites, with players able to deposit and withdraw funds from their betting account with ease and usually with immediate effect.

Check out our full Visa / Mastercard bookmakers guide for more information.

  • ✅Qualifies for deposit bonus?
  • Instant deposit time
  • ✅Withdrawals allowed?
  • Up To 24-hour withdrawal time

PROS

  • Instant deposits
  • You can claim the welcome offer
  • Fast withdrawals

CONS

  • Have to share card details

Recommended VISA / Mastercard bookmaker

Join Rhino Bet here

Bet £10 Get £10 Free Bet

✅Rhino Bet is our No#1 ranked bookmaker here at BookiesBonuses and comes highly recommended.

Claim £5 offer

UK?Ireland only. 18+. T&C's apply. his promotion is for new customers only. Sign Up using the promo code ‘march10', deposit and bet £10 in minimum odds of evens (2.0) and receive a £10 free bet upon bet settlement. Only customers signing up through a recognized affiliate partner will be eligible for this promotion. The promotional period begins 00:00 01/03/24 and is an ongoing promotion.. Qualifying bets must be placed in the promotional period. Cashed Out or void bets do not qualify.


✅PAYPAL

PayPal is the most famous e-wallet around, processing 170 million transactions each year. Funds are added to PayPal before being deposited at bookmakers, which means players can be safe that their financial details are secure

Check out our full PayPal bookmakers guide for more information.

  • ✅Qualifies for just a single deposit bonus
  • Instant deposit time
  • ✅Withdrawals allowed?
  • Up To 24-hour withdrawal time

PROS

  • More secure than regular debit/bank cards
  • Only PayPal information is shared
  • Quick depositing methods

CONS

  • Very few bookmakers let PayPal users claim welcome bonuses
  • Withdrawing funds can take longer
  • Some processing fees can apply

Recommended PayPal Bookmaker

Join bet365 with PayPal

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

✅bet365 is the only bookmaker to allow PayPal users to claim the welcome bonus

Claim £30 offer

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.


✅APPLE PAY

Apple Pay is a secure payment option for users with iOS devices. It acts as an e-wallet and keeps personal and banking data away from the bookmaker, acting as a go-between.

Check out our full Apple Pay bookmakers guide for more information.

  • ✅Qualifies for two deposit bonuses
  • Instant deposit time
  • ❌Withdrawals allowed?

PROS

  • Instant deposits
  • Personal information is not shared with bookmakers
  • Simple to use

CONS

  • Most bookies do not allow withdrawals
  • Many sign-up bonuses are unavailable

Recommended Apple Pay bookmaker

Join Sky Bet with Apple Pay

£30 in Free Bets
When You Place Any Bet

✅Sky Bet is one of just two bookmakers that allow Apple Pay users to claim the welcome bonus

Claim £30 offer

NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. FIRST SINGLE & E/W BET ONLY. 5P MINIMUM STAKE. ODDS OF 1/1 OR GREATER. 3 X £10 BET TOKENS. FREE BET STAKES NOT INCLUDED IN RETURNS. FREE BETS EXCLUDE VIRTUALS. FREE BETS ARE NON-WITHDRAWABLE. FREE BETS EXPIRE AFTER 30 DAYS. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AND FURTHER T&CS APPLY. 18+. BEGAMBLEAWARE.ORG


✅NETELLER

Neteller is one of the most famous e-wallets and thanks to long-established relationships with bookmakers, this payment method is widely available for both deposits and withdrawals, thus becoming quite popular with online gamblers.

Check out our full Neteller bookmakers guide for more information.

  • ❌Qualifies for deposit bonus?
  • 1-4 hour deposit time
  • ✅Withdrawals allowed?
  • Up To 24-hour withdrawal time

PROS

  • Instant deposits
  • No need to share bank details with bookmakers
  • Fast withdrawals

CONS

  • Fees for adding funds to Neteller
  • Normally, not a valid payment method for sign-up offers/bonuses

Recommended Neteller bookmaker

Join William Hill here

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

⛔Neteller is ineligible for deposit bonuses across all bookmaker platforms. To claim the bonus, another payment method is required.

Claim £30 offer

18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 13.04.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook. Further terms apply. #ad


✅SKRILL

Skrill is another e-wallet that is popular for its security and speed. It is owned by Paysafe, which also owns Neteller too. Skrill is not linked to a bank account and due to its third-party position, deposits and withdrawals are usually processed faster than banks!

Check out our full Skrill bookmakers guide for more information.

  • ❌Qualifies for deposit bonus?
  • Instant deposit time
  • ✅Withdrawals allowed
  • Up To 24-hour withdrawal time

PROS

  • Instant deposits
  • No need to share bank details with the bookmaker
  • Fast withdrawals

CONS

  • Skrill payments do not qualify for any welcome bonus
  • Redeposit bonuses are also invalidated when using Skrill

Recommended Skrill bookmaker

Join BetVictor here

Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets

⛔Skrill is ineligible for deposit bonuses across all bookmaker platforms. To claim this bonus, another payment method is required.

Claim £40 offer

18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10  on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds. No cash out. Get £40 in Free Bets on selected events. Free Bets expire in 7 days. Card payments only. T&Cs apply. begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly


✅PAYSAFECARD

Paysafecard provides users with the ability to exchange cash for digital PINS which in turn can be deposited at online bookmakers, without the need for banking or personal details to be used.

Check out our full Paysafecard bookmakers guide for more information.

  • ❌Qualifies for deposit bonus?
  • Instant deposit time
  • ✅Withdrawals allowed? (With My Paysafecard account)
  • Up To 24-hour withdrawal time

PROS

  • Instant deposits
  • No need to share bank details with the bookmaker
  • Impossible to go over available funds

CONS

  • Not able to take advantage of sign-up offers
  • Can only withdraw to Paysafecard, if registered a My Paysafecard account
  • Many bookmakers do not take the Paysafecard method.

Join BetUK here

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

⛔Paysafecard is ineligible for deposit bonuses across all bookmaker platforms. To claim this bonus, another payment method is required.

Claim £30 offer

T&Cs apply. New customers only. Deposit & Place a Bet within 7 days, and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater, to be credited with 3x £10 Free Bets: 2 x £10 Horse Racing and 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. 18+ BeGambleAware.org


✅TRUSTLY

Trustly is a secure wallet that lets users deposit and withdraw without the need for bank details. Trustly is used by over 2 million users a month and is functional with most betting sites, with many now starting to offer welcome bonuses via this method too.

A full Trustly bookmakers guide will be available soon.

  • ✅Qualifies for a few deposit bonuses?
  • Instant deposit time
  • ✅Withdrawals allowed?

PROS

  • Quick and widely available
  • No banking details shared with bookies
  • Safe and secure
  • No Fees

CONS

  • Many bookies don't accept it for bonuses
  • Trustly terms are not always clear on betting sites

Join Luckster with Trustly

Bet £10 Get £10 Free Bet

✅Luckster is one of a select group of bookmakers that allows Trustly depositors to take advantage of their sign-up welcome bonus.

Claim £10 offer

This offer is for new customers only and is available once per household. Max. FreeBet amount: £10 Minimum Deposit and wagering on sport to activate the Free Bet is: £10 Void/cancelled or cashed out bets do not count towards wagering to activate the free bet. Offer valid only to customers making a first deposit of £10 or more. Offer only applies to players who are residents of United Kingdom and Ireland. Full T&Cs Apply


✅BOKU

Boku lets users deposit to bookmakers via their mobile phones. When depositing via phone, the amount is added to the bill or removed from available pay-as-you-go credit. It is another method that completely removes the need for banking details to be exchanged.

Check out our full Boku bookmakers guide for more information.

  • ❌Qualifies for deposit bonus?
  • Instant deposit time
  • ❌Withdrawals allowed?

PROS

  • Quick and easy
  • No need to make an account
  • Safe and secure
  • Buy now, pay later

CONS

  • May need to use Neteller
  • No withdrawals to Boku

Join BoyleSports with Boku

Bet £10 Get £20

✅BoyleSports is the only bookmaker that allows Boku depositors to take advantage of their sign-up welcome bonus.

Claim £20 offer

New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. T&Cs apply. **18+. UK & IRE online customers only. Payment & account restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.


✅GOOGLE PAY

Google Pay offers a secure e-wallet payment method for Android devices, by linking banking information to the service. Depositing with bookmakers using Google Pay keeps banking details secure as it acts as a third party between your bank details and the bookies.

Check out our full Google Pay bookmakers guide for more information.

  • ✅Qualifies for a single deposit bonus
  • Instant deposit time
  • ❌Withdrawals allowed

PROS

  • Instant deposits
  • You don’t have to share your card details
  • Very simple to use

CONS

  • Not yet possible to withdraw with Google Pay
  • Most sign-up bonus offers, do not work with Google Pay

Recommended Google Pay bookmaker

Join bet365 with Google Pay

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

✅bet365 is the only bookmaker that allows Google Pay users to claim the welcome bonus.

Claim £30 offer

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.


Other Payment Methods

Outside of the main list above, there are plenty of other payment methods out there, albeit not quite as popular with users of online betting sites. 

Check out further options below, but bear in mind that bookmakers are less inclined to offer these methods as an option and do not qualify for welcome bonuses.

ecoPayz

Growing in popularity among online bookmakers, ecoPayz is a similar e-wallet to PayPal, with your banking details linked to the payment method and ecoPayz acting as a third party between you and the bookmaker.

PROS

  • Instant payments
  • No banking data shared with bookmakers

CONS

  • Very few bookmakers currently use ecoPayz at this moment
  • Does not qualify for welcome bonuses

Klarna (previously known as Sofort)

Klarna is more known for shopping than betting, but its financial services also allow players to deposit into their bookmaker accounts via Klarna instant banking. Even better. is that because Klarna is not an e-wallet, there are no fees for payments or withdrawals.

PROS

  • Quick payments
  • Becoming more popular with bookmakers
  • Runs via VISA and is eligible for deposit bonuses

CONS

  • Withdrawals can take longer than the norm
  • Customer service is poor

Wire Transfer

Quite literally the oldest way of transferring money from a bank account. Many bookmakers have removed the option from their payment lists, but still allow this if contacted directly, although minimum deposit amounts tend to be higher.

PROS

  • Payments are direct from your bank account (no middle man)

CONS

  • Bookmakers starting to phase this option out
  • Minimum deposit and withdrawal amounts are higher
  • Processing can take between 1-5 days

PayForIt

Second only to Boku in the mobile payments arena. Like Boku, any funds deposited into your bookmaker account are added to the bill of the registered mobile phone. The lack of banking details makes this a secure option, although it isn't as popular at online bookies, as its rival.

PROS

  • Instant payments
  • No banking data shared with bookmakers
  • Can pay at a later date (Added to phone bill)

CONS

  • Very few bookmakers use PayForIt
  • Does not qualify for welcome bonuses
  • Not ideal for those looking to control spending

FAQ - Betting Sites Payment Methods

What is the best bookmaker payment method?

There isn't really a right or wrong answer when it comes to which payment method is the best, as many players will have differing reasons for choosing that particular method.

However, here is a quick list to help you decide.

Best for Welcome Bonuses: VISA/Mastercard

Best for Security: Apple Pay

Best for Quick Deposits/Withdrawals: PayPal

Best for Anonymity: Paysafecard

Why are credit cards not listed?

Since government legislation changes, credit cards have been banned from use on online gambling sites in the UK since April 2020.

What is the difference between using VISA/Mastercard and e-wallets?

The fundamental difference between using debit/bank cards such as VISA/Mastercard and e-wallets is that in general, using a VISA/Mastercard will guarantee the player the option to make a qualifying deposit and claim a welcome bonus offered.

As it stands the majority of e-wallet options are ineligible to claim deposit bonuses, due to the nature of how they are funded.

Some e-wallets such as Apple Pay, Google and PayPal are directly linked to a user's bank account, meaning that some bookmakers are beginning to allow this as an option, thanks to stronger verification methods that those payment methods incorporate.

Are these payment methods safe?

Yes, all of the above-mentioned payment methods are secure and safe. All financial institutions are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, while all registered bookmakers have to adhere to UK Gambling Commission rules on funding and verification to protect users.

Users can also help improve their own security, by making sure that any device used is secure and has up to date protection.