These days, online casinos will cater for all different types of players. That will include those on a budget or those who perhaps want to try out a casino for the first time without risking too much. Nearly all casino games can be adjusted to play for low or high stakes, but there are also plenty of top-rated casinos that allow very small deposits. Interestingly, it is often the payment method that determines the minimum deposit or withdrawal amount. Thus, it might be the payment method itself that permits small deposits. Some top casinos with low deposit options are shown below.
Nearly all online casino sites will have a lower and upper limit for depositing and withdrawing. Often this is determined by the payment method used – credit/debit cards, PayPal, Skrill etc. – but the limits can also vary by casino. A typical minimum deposit for UK players might be set at £20 or £10, but you can find some casinos that go as low as £5 and even £1. This allows you to check out what it is like to play and be a member of a casino, with very little risk to your wallet.
It is important to ask if it is worth playing at a low minimum deposit casino? Do you get the same opportunities for big wins as those playing for larger stakes? The short answer is yes. The best casinos will have low stakes games, available to play for a few pence or less, and some which offer big jackpots. However, there are some other important aspects which we will deal with below: How common are low deposit casinos? Will you miss out on bonuses? Can you make withdrawals for small amounts?
£5 Deposit Casinos
Some of the most popular UK online casino websites will have an option of depositing for just £5. Not all of the big-name casinos go this low, but several of the most recognised brands, including Coral and Bet365, are 5 pound deposit casino sites. Having £5 credit in your account is more than enough to try out all the different types of games at a casino. A typical slot, for example, can be played for £0.10-£0.30 per spin, but with some, termed penny slots, you can play for just £0.01 per spin if you wish. Other games like roulette and blackjack can usually be played for as low as £0.10 per round, with some instances of roulette – penny roulette – being as low as £0.01. Even live casino games, which are usually aimed at high rollers, can be played at £0.25-£0.50.
While lots of casinos may offer a £5 deposit, it’s important to note that not every payment method will facilitate that amount. Taking the example of Bet365 Casino, we see that nearly all payment methods -VISA, Skrill, Paysafecard and so on – have a £5 minimum deposit. However, some eWallets, including PayPal and Neteller, have a £10 minimum deposit. These methods are still popular with players, as withdrawals can be faster than credit/debit cards.
It is very important for low stakes players to realise that the minimum deposit amount does not always equate the minimum amount for an online casino welcome bonus. Using Betfred as an example, we can see that its welcome offer of 50 free spins is based on a first deposit/transfer of £10, despite the fact the minimum deposit amount is £5. But there are some casinos, like Sky Casino/Sky Vegas, who will trigger a £5 deposit bonus for new players.
As you can see from the table below, many of the £5 deposit casinos are some of the biggest brands in the industry, so you should have no fears about security and trustworthiness as they have been tried and tested by millions of UK players. In addition, these casinos are licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission and are monitored by other oversight bodies, like eCOGRA, to ensure fairness of payouts.
The table above shows five of the most famous names in the UK online casino industry, all with a minimum deposit of just £5. It’s interesting that all five of these online casinos are among the most established brands in the UK and also operate sportsbooks, poker and bingo sites
£1 Deposit Casinos
It is particularly difficult, especially in the UK, to find online casinos with under £5 deposit limit. Casinos with £1 and £3 deposit do exist however, and you can even find some that give you a bonus when making a low deposit. We would always recommend that you check all terms and conditions before taking up those welcome offers, as often they can be heavily restricted. Zodiac Casino, for example, will offer a bonus of £20 worth of Mega Moolah ‘free’ spins on a £1 deposit, but any winnings must be wagered 60 times before a withdrawal can be made.
As mentioned, we would recommend that you read any terms and conditions before making a deposit. In addition, not all the 1 pound casinos are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, a certificate that always comes with our recommended casinos.
£10 Deposit Casinos
By and large, all online casinos will accept a minimum deposit of £10, although certain payment methods could require a higher amount. Because there are so many £10 deposit casino sites, there is no distinguishing feature that characterises them. Some can be good, some can be bad: that’s why we would always encourage you to read our casino reviews and choose those on our recommended list.
As with £5 deposit casinos, a broad choice of games will await you and there are plenty of options for playing for low stakes to maximize that £10 credit. The table below shows some of our recommended 10 pound deposit casino sites:
Low Deposit Casinos & Bonuses
As a general rule, most casinos require a £10 or £20 first deposit to trigger a welcome bonus. Normally, this comes in the shape of matching your deposit 100%, thus doubling your funds. The bonus funds will normally have to be wagered a number of times before it is eligible for withdrawal. Another important caveat is that sometimes casinos will not award a bonus when you deposit with Skrill and Neteller. This should be made clear on the bonus promo page.
However, sometimes casinos will offer a bonus for a low deposit and, indeed, give you a bonus without making a deposit at all. A good example of this is Sky Vegas, which gives a free no deposit bonus of £10 on registration. Moreover, you will be also offered a first deposit bonus of 200% on your first deposit of £5 or more. That means you will receive a total of £20 in bonuses on your registration and first £5 deposit. While there are some wagering requirements attached to the bonus funds, it’s objectively pretty generous.
No Minimum Deposit Casinos
It almost impossible to locate a no minimum deposit casino, although the 1 and 3 pound deposit casinos are quite close. To be frank, it just doesn’t make sense from a business standpoint when you consider that the card companies and eWallets will likely charge the casino for each transaction. However, as hinted at above, there are casinos like 32Red, Sky Vegas and Betfair Casino that will give you cash or free spins as a no deposit bonus simply for registering (terms will apply). In fact, nearly every online casino will allow you to register without making a deposit, so you can sign up and see if you like the feel of the site before taking the step of making that first deposit.
Minimum Deposits Vs Minimum Withdrawals
The difference between minimum deposit amounts and minimum withdrawal amounts should be apparent. The first is the minimum amount of cash you can deposit at a casino, whereas the latter is the minimum amount that can be withdrawn back to your bank account or eWallet. As you can see from the tables above, these amounts are not always the same. Sometimes, the minimum withdrawal amount will be a little higher than the minimum deposit, but in other cases, as with Coral, the withdrawal amount is much lower.
Low Stakes Games
It’s obvious that the greater the amount you risk at a casino, the bigger the rewards could be. But there are plenty of popular games that can payout huge amounts for low stakes spins: Dead or Alive, Starburst, The Legend of Shangri-La, Gonzo’s Quest and Warlords can all be played from £0.09-£0.10 and award £100+ in a single round.
Going further, Gold Rally, Age of the Gods (all titles, including AOTG Roulette), Mega Moolah, Hall of Gods, Life of Brian can be played from a range of £0.01-£0.25. These games offer progressive jackpots, which can be triggered randomly and award prizes potentially worth millions. However, it should be pointed out that your chances of triggering the jackpot are increased when playing for higher stakes.
With table games, especially poker and blackjack, it can be a bit more difficult to find games for very lower stakes. Sure, you can find blackjack and video poker for around £0.25 per hand at most casinos, but you are unlikely to find games for stakes lower than £0.10. The one exception is with roulette, sometimes called penny roulette. For example, at BetBright Casino and Sky Vegas you can find 1p roulette games.
What Payment Methods Are Best Suited For Low Deposit Casinos?
We can see from the tables that outmoded options like Bank Wire and cheque payments are usually much higher than using a card or internet wallet. In addition, casinos are increasingly offering options like Paysafecard or Pay By Mobile, both of which usually allow for lower deposit amounts. Above all, Paysafecard generally comes up as the option that will allow for the lowest deposit, although this will be at the discretion of the casino.
The vast majority of online casinos will not charge you any fees for depositing and withdrawing, regardless of the method you use. However, a small minority do. Mr Green, for example, will charge £1 for any withdrawal of up to £100 and 1% (up to a maximum of £10) on any withdrawal over £100. While not every player will be happy with paying a fee, Mr Green still retains huge popularity with players who enjoy the site’s excellent games and bonuses.
Conclusion
It should be clear that it’s quite easy to find great casinos who take the smallest deposits. Moreover, there is nothing that says you won’t enjoy the thrilling experiences that a high roller enjoys once you take that step to sign up to a casino. If you are on a budget, or simply wary about joining your first casino, we would recommend that you take a moment to read the casino’s terms and conditions to ensure everything will meet your expectations. Furthermore, check out our detailed reviews before you make your decision and allow us to point you towards the best games and bonuses for your wagering level.