How Does Pay By Mobile Work?
Mobile carrier billing is increasingly viewed by casinos as a simple way of extending their services to anyone with a phone. Think of the main barrier to depositing to your casino account – for some, it’s finding a good casino to play with, or choosing the best bonus.
But for others, it’s a case of finding a payment method they can work with, and not everyone has the means or desire to sign up for a Skrill account, or to deposit via credit card.
Instead, pay by mobile is arguably the easiest way to send your deposit – especially if you’re already gaming on your smartphone device. For a truly on-the-go experience, it’s hard to beat, and that’s a big part of why casinos are so keen to support this payment method.
It works like this – you login to your gaming account and find the deposit option under the cashier menu, just like normal. Choose ‘Pay by Mobile’ as your deposit option, and enter both the amount you want to top-up and your mobile number. Once you confirm the amount, you’ll be sent an SMS message asking you to verify the deposit.
Simply respond to the message, and the amount is added to your account. At a later stage, you’ll be billed for the amount with your regular phone bill, while in the meantime, you can enjoy the funds in your gaming account.
There are also specific ways to pay on your phone, through various operator payment services. Apple, Samsung and Android Pay services all offer the ability to link payment cards to your phone, which takes this concept a stage further. The same advantages are there, and payment by these means is opening up new possibilities for those who enjoy gambling on mobile.
Pay By Mobile Pros And Cons
So how does pay by phone bill stack up against other payment methods? Let’s take a further look at the pros and cons.
ADVANTAGES
Ease & Convenience: what could be simpler than entering your phone number to pay? This is much easier than even the easiest e-wallets, and means deposits take much less time.
Privacy: there is no trail running back to your credit card or your bank account, so this is a completely private transaction between you, your casino and your phone provider, which won’t show up itemised on your bank statement.
Security: pay by mobile is completely secure, because there is no vulnerability or weak spot for hackers or thieves to get their claws in. As a result, it’s amongst the safest ways to pay for your online deposit.
Accessibility: whether you’re on the go or at home, whatever device you’re using, pay by mobile is the most accessible of all online casino payment methods. There are no fees, and the funds reflect instantly on your account – even if you’re not paying for them till your next phone bill lands.
Manage your Bankroll: with strict £30 per day limits in force, it’s easy to use pay by phone to control your bankroll, and keep your spending in check.
DISADVANTAGES
Depositing Limits: deposits by mobile are limited to a maximum of £30 per day, a limit that is enforced across different operators. This will be limiting for some players.
Complicated Withdrawals: you can’t withdraw to your phone bill, so you need to list and verify another payment method in order to cash out your winnings.
SMS Reliability: SMS messages don’t always show up, and are generally less than 100% reliable, which can add delays and hassle to the depositing process in some cases.
Supported Casinos: Not every casino yet supports pay by mobile deposit methods, leaving you with access to a much more select group if you want to pay by this method. However, with our recommended pay by mobile casinos above, you can at least be sure you’re playing with the best in class.
Pay By Mobile Game Choices
Slots
Slots is a favourite of pay by mobile players, including jackpot slots where players stand to win up to millions if they strike it lucky. The pay by mobile deposit is converted into coins, and players choose a per spin wager based on coins x paylines, depending on the game they are playing. Combinations are paid out according to the paytable in multiples, which can then be withdrawn separately through a supported withdrawal method.
Roulette
Roulette is also another common game enjoyed by mobile depositors. The deposit is instantly added to the game bankroll, and can be converted into virtual chips for the roulette wheel. Place your bets with your £30 maximum daily deposit, and cross your fingers for a big win.
Other Table Games
Virtually any table games, or any casino games for that matter, are compatible with pay by mobile deposit methods. The deposit method works in the same way as any other – once the money is in your bankroll, you’re free to spend it on your casino game of choice, and any winnings (subject to wagering etc.) can be withdrawn through an alternative method.
Deposits & Withdrawals
Deposits are straightforward enough, and are charged to your next phone bill by your carrier. In reality, what is happening here is that your transaction is being fronted by the carrier, which then recovers the money from you, usually through a premium SMS.
The minimum deposit is generally £10, and deposits are strictly limited to a maximum of £30 per day – a threshold that is set right across the board between different pay by phone providers.
For withdrawals, things are a little more complicated. You can’t withdraw to your mobile phone bill or to an SMS, as the technology doesn’t yet exist to support that. However, you can simply add and verify an alternative payment method to withdraw your winnings in the usual way. That’s the best workaround so you still enjoy the benefits of pay by phone for deposits, while also getting access to your funds.
Safety & Protection
Mobile phone deposits are regulated by the Phone-paid Services Authority. This is the regulatory body that was set up by the UK government to oversee mobile phone charges and premium rate phone services, with the explosion in popularity of mobiles. Formerly known as PhonepayPlus, the body is responsible for ensuring your deposits by phone are both safe and secure.
From a personal protection point of view, there’s also the fact that you can exercise greater self-control and more responsible gambling with a payment method like pay by mobile bill. With low daily limited in a fixed amount, which is impossible to breach, this is a payment method that can help you keep tabs on how much you are gambling.
Mobile Payments Service Providers
Pay by phone bill is already supported by a number of different service providers, who aim to streamline the process of making payments via your phone bill. Amongst the biggest are Boku and Payforit, a joint venture between network operators O2, EE, 3 and Vodafone. Siru Mobile and txtNation are also supported to an extent, and you can find more information about the specific types of payment service supported by each casino operator.UK Mobile service providers supporting Pay-by-mobile deposits
It’s also even possible to pay by BT Landline, through the Boku platform. In every case, it’s deposit now, pay later with your phone bill. The fees with these third party operators are absorbed for you, so all you need to worry about is the cost of your deposit. And with regulation in the form of the Phone-paid Services Authority out to watch your back, it’s an entirely secure way to deposit your casino funds.
How To Deposit By Mobile
Depositing by mobile is straightforward regardless of which casino or pay by mobile service you’re using.
- Choose a casino from our list above
- Sign up for an account, or login
- Verify your phone number
- Select the ‘Pay by Mobile’ payment method from the depositing options
- Choose how much you want to send and enter your phone number
- Verify the deposit by responding to the SMS
- Claim your bonus
- Start playing
Pay By Mobile Depositing Tips
Pay by phone can be used in several neat ways to make your gambling life a little easier. Firstly, it allows you to track what you’re spending, either by counting the number of days at £30 or some other fixed amount deposit, or in real-time through your carrier app.
You can also block phone bill deposits for a set period of time if you choose to self-exclude, or to prevent family members from topping up on your device without your permission. And with pin-codes and passwords at your disposal, it’s one of the easiest methods to prevent the kids or some stranger stealing your money.
Perhaps the most useful tip is to use the £30 maximum to control your spending. Once you hit the £30 limit, you can’t go over on the same device – no matter how hard you try. This is a limit that is upheld by all the various service operators too, so there’s no escaping it. For casual gamblers looking to keep a lid on their spending, this has to be one of the top ways to use pay by mobile deposits.
Conclusion
Pay by mobile is by no means complicated, and as an increasing number of players are finding out, it can be one of the best ways to keep your account topped up in the black. With no need for linking your bank account, credit card, or third party e-wallet service to the casino, it’s a completely secure, private way to fund your balance, ideal for on-the-go payments.
While you do still need to have another payment method in place for withdrawals, pay by mobile is arguably one of the most convenient ways for players to deposit instantly, up to the £30 per day limit.