PayPal in UK Casinos

Ever since gambling went online in the UK and the country regulated online gambling, PayPal has been one of the most used and popular payment solutions across online casinos and sportsbetting sites. The full-fledged eWallet which could be linked to a bank account, credit and debit card, among other payment methods, proved to be quite convenient and efficient for funding a casino account.

The eWallet…

… offers incredible transaction speed, it is fairly easy to use and it implements some of the best security measures. With that, it gained a huge user base across online casinos and was listed among the top UK sites as an accepted payment method.

However…

… as of April 2020, the UK Gambling Commission officially halted the use of credit cards for gambling purposes in the UK casinos. The credit card gambling ban also applies to credit card payments made through eWallets like PayPal. This left UK players confused whether they can still deposit with PayPal across online casinos or not.

The reality is…

… though, the UK Gambling Commission explicitly stated that if major eWallet providers would put measures into effect to prevent credit card payments for gambling, they could still be used across online casinos. Therefore, you can still make a deposit with PayPal, as long as you’re not intending to link your eWallet to your credit card. Operators are the ones responsible to vet the eWallet and see whether it prevents gambling payments by credit card, and only accept payments through other payment solutions. So, you can use PayPal if you link it to debit cards and bank accounts only.

If you start exploring…

… UK online casinos to join, you will see that PayPal is still on the list of accepted payment solutions, and still a top, recommended eWallet to use. There are hundreds of sites that you can join and deposit with this eWallet, so stay with us to learn how to get started with it and use it to fund your online casino account, and which benefits and downsides it comes with.

How to Get Started with PayPal?

Getting started with this eWallet…

… would require so little of your time that you would be surprised. The only pre-condition you need to meet is to have an active email account. If you do, you can start the registration procedure. You would need to visit its official UK website to learn more about where you can use it aside for online gambling. On the homepage, you will see the yellow Sign Up button which you need to click or tap on in order to get started.

Assuming you’ve clicked on the button…

… you will see a new window opening where you’ll need to select that you want to open a personal account. Another page will open where you’ll need to enter your mobile phone number. You will receive a verification code on your phone, which you need to enter in the designated field on the site.

Next, you will need to…

… enter your email address and your first and last name. Then, you'll need to create a strong password. After that, you would need to fill in your address, postcode, and country, and date of birth. Finally, you'll have to accept the Terms and Conditions and your account will be ready. All you're left to do is verify your account and you can start using it across online casinos right away.

Keep in mind that…

… optionally, you can link your account to a debit card or your bank account, but you will be charged a small $1.50 fee for using these solutions via your account. You won’t get the usual option to link your account to a credit card if you want to make a deposit at an online casino, though, since you’re a UK player.

Online Gambling Regulation in the UK

Getting started with this eWallet…

The British have enjoyed land-based gambling since 1928 when it was first officially legalized. Ever since, the UK has become known as one of those countries where everyone can enjoy placing bets, even kings and queens, for that matter. That is one of the main reasons why the country is also known for being one of the countries with the most well-established regulations, laws, and order when it comes to players' safety and security.

When in 2005 UK also legalized online gambling, around a few years after the activity went online, actually, it appointed the UK Gambling Commission as the official regulator. As introduced, the UKGC is one of the most well-respected regulators across the industry overall, and one both operators strive to get a license from and players trust. When it first introduced online gambling, the UK was a member of the European Union, so it had to play by the online gambling rules introduced by the EU, but ever since Brexit, only the rules introduced by the UKGC are to be adhered to by operators and players. But don't be fooled into thinking that things got loosened up; quite the contrary, the UKGC is incredibly strict and has unrivaled control over online gambling activities in the country.

Online casino, online poker, online sportsbetting, online lottery and online bingo are the legal verticals in the UK, and operators who apply for a license to offer them in the UK go through extensive vetting procedures. What's more, their operations are monitored by the minute, and the watchdog is known to fine operators, take away their licenses at the first hint of irregularities, and make sure UK players are treated fairly while frequenting their sites.

Speaking of, players are at the focus of UKGC’s attention, with a unified approach to make the industry safer. UK players get the most incredible player protection, and operators have to treat them with respect and always ensure their safety. That’s why they go under thorough ID verification when they visit a UK-licensed online casino site, for their own good. Operators must limit their gambling ads with the aim of protecting the vulnerable and minors from gambling online, and they must, at all costs, make gambling safer for players.

In efforts to keep players safe, the UKGC even introduced a ban on credit card gambling, after thorough research on the subject. Since online gambling players were mostly gambling using credit cards, by restricting the use of credit cards for the purpose of gambling transactions, the regulator hoped for lesser interest in gambling by the UK population. This ban not only affected credit cards but all other alternative payment solutions that functioned in collaboration with them, like eWallets. But then, the UKGC came out with a further explanation, saying that these alternative solutions can continue offering their services for online gambling purposes, as long as they take credit cards out of the equation and allow UK users to use different methods, for instance, for topping up their eWallet accounts.

That’s precisely what one of the most well-known and popular eWallets, PayPal, did. In line with the new rules introduced by the UKGC, the eWallet continued offering its services to UK users, but with credit cards off the table. UK users can still top up their eWallet account with other methods and cash out money from them and still get the most effortless online payment experience with this eWallet. What's more, PayPal is one of the most used payment solutions across UK casinos, with unparalleled availability across the online gambling industry and unrivaled popularity among players. If it sounds like a solution you'd like to use, make sure you continue reading to find out more about it.

Using PayPal Across UK Online Casinos

Although launched in the US in 1998, PayPal is one of those alternative solutions that has expanded its reach across the globe. It has been around for ages, offering its amazing alternative to standard banking services, strengthening its reputation throughout the years, and grabbing various awards while doing it.

It is the solution you need in case you don't want to share too much financial information with the online casino operator, since once you create an account with it, all you ever share with the casino are your login credentials. But that's not the only reason why it is that popular across the online gambling industry. The fact that it is global and offered in over 100 currencies, the Great Britan pound included, but as of a few years in Bitcoin, too, has made it a favorite among the millions of users that trust it for their transactions every single day.

The eWallet is also a well-respected one across the industry, as it continues to respect the rules introduced in each individual market it operates in. That's actually why it continued offering its services to UK players, as it withdrew credit cards as a possible solution to top up the eWallet account. And that’s why it left the US market for some time and then re-entered it when the respective rules changed. This is how the solution maintains its spotless reputation across the industry, and how it gained players’ trust.

On that note, PayPal is also one of the safest solutions you will come across. When you begin creating an account with it, after visiting its official website, you will need to tap Sign-Up and enter your email address and phone number. As soon as you create your password and get a confirmation SMS/mail, you can top up the account using bank transfer or crypto. The last step would be going through an ID verification, due to tax reporting and, of course, regulatory reasons. That’s how the eWallet ensures it follows the rules as introduced by the UKGC, and how it keeps your money safe.

To further elaborate on the part for topping up your account. PayPal usually allows users to do it via bank transfer, credit cards, and as of 2020, even crypto, too. But since you're from the UK, where credit cards are off-limit, you can only use the remaining two options. Do not hesitate to visit its official website for UK users to find out more about this. While on the site, you'll learn that you can also download its app, for free, to get access to even more of its services and products offered. But, assuming you’d want to stick with the eWallet, being as convenient as it is, let’s go over the steps that you’d need to take to successfully make a deposit and cash out winnings from your online casino account with it.

Deposits and Withdrawals Across PayPal

Fantastic Spins, Villento and LeoVegas are just some of the sites here at WoO which you could join as a UK player to enjoy your online gambling time using PayPal. There are over 150 sites at your disposal, actually, that we’ve reviewed in detail for your convenience, so just check out your options and decide on the one to go with.

Once you do make your decision and join the site you wish, by registering an account with it, you are ready to make your first deposit with PayPal. So, just take the following steps:

1. Find the Banking/Cashier page on your registered player profile at the casino.
2. Look for the Deposits tab and then find PayPal’s logo on it.
3. Tap it and in the pop-up that appears, log into your eWallet with your PayPal credentials.
4. Set the amount you want to have on your casino balance.
5. Complete the mandatory authentication and within seconds, the funds will arrive.

As effortless as this sounds, you'll be happy to hear that withdrawals are even easier. You would need to take the same first two steps, except this time select the solution from the Withdrawals tab. From there, you just need to enter the amount you want to cash out and confirm your request. The casino will ensure to send you your winnings to the eWallet account, as soon as the operator checks out your request and ensures you have enough funds to cash out. As long as you do and everything is just right with your request, in no time, your winnings will arrive on your eWallet account.

Pros and Cons

PayPal is without a doubt…

… one of the most popular online casino methods in the UK, and even though the credit card gambling ban may have caused some uncertainties about its use, it is still going strong in the market. There are several reasons for this. First of all, it is one of the fastest solutions, as it allows for instant deposits and pretty quick withdrawals. It is one of the safest solutions, too, as it implements pretty though security measures and it allows for a huge level of privacy. Except for your email address and password, you never share any other info about yourself or your bank account details with your casino. And then, there's the ease of use. Getting started with it is extremely easy, and depositing with it is done in just a few clicks. Add to that the fact that it has a strong reputation among online casino players and is accepted across hundreds of UK casino sites, and there's a nearly perfect solution to use for online gambling.

The fact that…

… it cannot be linked to a credit card in the UK may sound like a bummer, but the reality is cruel. No credit cards are allowed for gambling in the market, that’s the rule and PayPal needs to respect it. On that note, the eWallet ensures it follows duly implemented and set rules and regulation across regulated markets, such as the UK. So don’t be surprised to learn that your account has been frozen or terminated if you have not met its Terms and Conditions and strict policies. This may come as a downside for some, but as long as you respect the set rules, you’ll be fine. As another disadvantage, we must mention the fees. The small fees for using a debit card or a bank account via the eWallet is nothing compared to the really high exchange fees. So, as long as you’re playing with British pounds, you’re good to go.

Conclusion

PayPal is the number one choice for many UK online casino players and for many good reasons. With it, you can make both deposits and cashouts in GBP and crypto, it is accepted across too many casinos to count and it is incredibly easy to get started with and use; if you still haven't, make sure you create your account with it in just a few simple steps and find a casino that offers it to give it a try right away.

Related Reading

• Can You Deposit at a casino with PayPal in the UK?