💡 NOTE! Players in the UK cannot use credit cards on online gambling sites due to regulations put forward by the UK Gambling Commission. Players are, however, still free to use their debit cards.
Choosing a bookmaker isn’t just about odds value and bonuses. Betting deposits and withdrawals are essential components of the online bookmaker experience.
Not only do we show you which payment methods we recommend using, but we also have a complete list of payment providers that can be found out there in the world of online sports betting.
Payment Methods
| Logo | Name | Bookmakers accepting it for deposits | Bookmakers accepting it for withdrawals |
Online Betting Sites: Main Payment Methods
When it comes to topping up or withdrawing money from your online betting account there are lots of options available.
Some punters will be better suited by using debit cards, but there is no shortage of alternatives. In this day and age, there are a whole host of online bookmaker payment methods available to punters, and we outline the most popular payment methods below.
| Payment Method | Deposit Time | Withdrawal Time |
| Debit Cards | Instant | 1-3 Banking Days |
| Prepaid Cards | Instant | N/A |
| PayPal | Instant | Within 24 hours |
| Neteller | Instant | Within 24 hours |
| Skrill | Instant | Within 24 hours |
| Paysafecard | Instant | N/A |
| ApplePay | Instant | N/A |
| EcoPayz/EcoCard | Instant | Within 24 hours |
| Bank Transfer | 1-3 Days | 3-5 Banking Days |
Debit Cards
Perhaps the most commonly used methods for betting deposits and withdrawals are credit and debit cards. If you have a debit card you can use it to withdraw money from your own bank account via an ATM. You can also pay for goods and services with your debit card and most bookmakers accept debit cards.
The most widely used debit cards are Visa and MasterCard, with Maestro, Solo, and Visa Electron next in line. When you deposit money when using a debit card the money is instantly transferred from your bank account to your online betting account.
However, it usually takes a couple of days for withdrawals to process if you are using your debit card. Most bookies don’t charge a fee for debit card transactions, so this is a payment method that is well worth checking out.
Credit Cards
Credit cards are another popular payment method with punters for online betting sites. Unlike debit cards, credit cards are not linked directly to your bank account. Visa and Mastercard are the two most common credit card types, but a lot of bookmakers also accept American Express and Maestro. However, while credit card payments into your betting account are processed instantly, there are some drawbacks with credit cards when it comes to withdrawals.
If you are withdrawing money using your credit card you can only withdraw the amount that you initially deposited. So, if you do manage to place a winning wager you will have to use another method to withdraw excess cash, most commonly a bank transfer. Also, while bookmakers don’t usually charge a fee for topping up by credit card, the credit provider may apply fees so make sure to check what charges apply when you top up your betting account by credit card.
Prepaid Cards
Although credit cards and debit cards are by far the most common payment methods used by punters, prepaid cards have started to grow in popularity. You can now purchase prepaid cards from Mastercard or Visa and simply top up the card and then use it to deposit funds to your online betting account.
Another popular prepaid card is the Paysafecard, and you can purchase a Paysafecard in retail outlets around the UK. Paysafecards can be bought for £10, £25, £50 or £100. Once you’ve bought a voucher, simply log in to your betting account, enter the PIN and deposit the value of your Paysafecard into your account.
PayPal
Here at Sportsbetting24 we think that PayPal is one of the most convenient and safest ways to top up and withdraw money from your online bookmaker account. One of the main reasons we think PayPal is a payment method worth using is because of the speed of transactions. Both deposits and withdrawals are instant, so you can access any winnings straight away.
Another positive for PayPal is the fact that no bookmaker transactions will show on your bank account. Also, there are no fees when it comes to using PayPal for depositing or withdrawing cash to or from your online betting account. In our opinion, we think PayPal is an eWallet well worth considering if your bookie accepts it.
Below is a list of the top bookies that currently accept PayPal as a payment method:
| Top 5 Online Betting Sites That Accept PayPal |
| bet365 |
| LeoVegas Sport |
| Unibet |
| 888Sport |
| NetBet |
Other eWallets
PayPal is undoubtedly the most popular eWallet used by punters to deposit and withdraw cash to or from their betting account. However, more eWallets are emerging and a couple of companies have already made a big impact in this area. Some of the fastest-growing eWallet services include Neteller, Skrill, EcoPayz, and Apple Pay. Find out more about these eWallet services below.
Neteller
This is a well-known eWallet that was first created in Canada and now operates from the Isle Of Man. It is fully recognised as a financial online institution and it operates in a similar fashion to PayPal.
Most bookies accept payments via Neteller, but you might miss out on a signup bonus if you use it as some bookies do not award bonuses for Neteller deposits.
Skrill
Although Skrill might not have been around as long as some of their rivals have been, plenty of punters still use Skrill to deposit money to their online betting account. Skrill used to be known as Moneybookers and they are owned by the same company as Neteller and Paysafecard.
Again, Skrill works very similarly to PayPal and can be used for deposits and withdrawals. As with Neteller, deposits made via Skrill often do not count towards bonuses.
EcoPayz/EcoCard
For punters that are looking for a viable alternative to the above eWallets, EcoPayz is well worth a second look. The same services that are available from PayPal, Neteller and Skrill can be utilised with EcoPayz and you can also avail of prepaid card services too.
Best of all, most online betting sites have no restrictions on bonuses for punters using EcoPayz or EcoCards. This is a big positive and one of the main reasons why you should strongly consider using EcoPayz as your primary eWallet.
Apple Pay
If you are a user of an Apple mobile device you might be interested in the Apple Pay eWallet service. If you have an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch or even an Apple Mac, you can use your Apple Wallet to deposit cash into your betting account with some bookmakers.
There are no fees and the service is very secure as you do not need to enter your card details. Deposits are instant with ApplePay and it is a payment method well worth considering if you have an Apple device.
Other eWallets
Although the aforementioned eWallets are some of the most popular on the market, bookies do accept payments via other eWallets.
For example, William Hill accept a wide range of ewallet payments, including Click2Pay, ClickandBuy, EntroPay, InstaDebit, WebMoney and Usemybank. As always, check to see which payment methods are accepted by your preferred bookmaker before you open an account.
Bank Transfers
Perhaps the simplest way to top up your online betting account is via bank transfer. Withdrawals can also be made via bank transfer too. Most bookies do not charge fees for bank transfer transactions, but some banks do apply charges, particularly if you are moving money between different countries and currencies.
Unfortunately, bank transfers are not instant and times can vary depending on what bank you use and which bookmaker you are using. Back in 2008 the Faster Payments Service (FPS) was introduced by some banks in the UK, and if your bookie supports FPS, payments can be processed within a couple of hours. Normally payments can take between 3-5 days to clear, so if your bookie supports FPS, this payment method could be the perfect choice for you.
Western Union
One of the most famous money transferring systems on the planet, Western Union is a payment method that is accepted by many betting sites. However, the big downside to using Western Union to deposit/withdraw cash from your betting account is the fees that are involved.
In comparison to the vast majority of payment methods, Western Union is the most expensive and we think eWallets or credit/debit cards are a much better option. If you are going to use Western Union as a payment method, it should only be used as a last resort due to the associated fees.
Safest Online Betting Site Payment Methods
Security is always a big worry when transferring funds online. Data breaches have become increasingly common, and the last thing you need is for your financial details to fall into the wrong hands. If you use a debit card as your primary payment method there is always a risk that if your betting site is compromised and loses your details, your account could easily be emptied.
For this reason, we firmly believe that eWallets like PayPal, EcoPayz, Neteller and Skrill are the safest way to deposit or withdraw cash to or from your betting account.
If you use these payment methods, you don’t have to part with any card details, thus eliminating the chance of your details falling into the wrong hands. So, from a security perspective, our experts at Sportsbetting24 strongly recommend using one of the above-mentioned eWallets as your primary payment method for online betting sites.
Online Betting Site Payment Methods FAQs
Which UK online betting sites accept PayPal? 
Punters in the UK are spoilt for choice in PayPal betting sites. Plenty of bettors in the United Kingdom use their PayPal for almost all of their online transactions, and bookmakers have responded. If you want some help narrowing things down, our expert reviewers listed the UK’s 5 best PayPal betting sites above. We recommend using that as a jumping-off point.
Do online betting sites charge fees for deposits and withdrawals?
We are glad to report that the vast majority of online betting sites in the UK do not charge fees for depositing or withdrawing cash. However, some fees may be applied by your financial institution depending on the payment method you use. For example, bank transfers between different countries or currencies can incur fees, while Western Union also charge hefty fees. Credit/debit cards and eWallets are usually exempt from fees so they are the most cost-effective payment methods.
Can you withdraw money from a betting account using a credit card?
If you use a credit card like a Visa or Mastercard to top up your account, restrictions apply to how much you can withdraw. If you deposit €50 and manage to place a couple of winning bets that boost your balance to €300, you will only be able to withdraw the original €50 to your credit card. Also, users in the UK cannot use credit cards betting sites due to regulations put out by the UKGC.
What is the most secure payment method?
As our experts highlighted above, eWallets are the safest payment methods to use. If you use debit cards you have to give your bookie those details, and there is always a risk involved when you do that. No card details change hands when eWallets are used, so we think eWallets are the most secure payment method for online bookies.
