UK Bookmaker Payment Methods Guide 2025
Top bookmakers in the UK offer different payment methods to get money in and out of your betting account. The payment method you choose will directly affect the speed at which you will receive your money. It will also determine the minimum and maximum limits of your payment and your eligibility for bonus offers. There could also be a fee incurred by select payment options which tacks on to your total investment.
At the moment UK-based players are restricted from using credit cards to fund their betting account as per regulations from the UK Gambling Commission. Players will however be able to use debit cards, pre-paid cards, eWallets and bank transfers to deposit.
Some other key considerations to take into account when deciding which payment method to use at a bookmaker are privacy and security. Thankfully, a majority of the ways to pay at licensed bookmakers are protected by the latest security technology and preventative measures against fraud. If you’re wondering how to pick out a licensed bookmaker from an unlicensed one, check out our Guide to Licensed UK Bookmakers/Online Casinos.
If you’d like to learn more about the specific payment methods which are available at UK bookmakers and which option might be best suited to you, read the full guide below.
Popular UK Payment Methods
While there are dozens of different payment options available in the UK, we narrowed the field down to the most common methods available in 2025. Provided below are the 9 most popular payment methods, along with their pros and cons and ideal use cases.
VISA Debit
We found VISA Debit to be one of the most widely accepted payment options at UK bookmakers, offering safe and convenient deposits and withdrawals straight from your bank account.
One of the main advantages we believe of using VISA Debit is the lower minimum deposit/withdrawal limits which can go as low as £5 at some bookmakers. VISA Debit payments can also be used to qualify for almost any bonus offer and are relatively fast and reliable.
The downside we came across to using VISA Debit payments is the security breaches that can occur if your card details are acquired by third parties. Most bookmakers attempt to remedy this issue with strong security systems and encryption of data.
In our opinion, VISA Debit payments should ideally be used for claiming bonuses and quick deposits/withdrawals when you’re in a rush.
PayPal
PayPal is a popular digital wallet that has fast become one of the most used online transacting methods in the world. To make a send or receive money using PayPal you will first need to set up a PayPal account which can be linked to your bank account or debit card.
In our experience, one of the key benefits to using PayPal as your payment choice is the quick withdrawal times. While debit cards and bank transfers can take between 1-2 days to process, PayPal withdrawals are typically completed within 2 hours at most bookmakers.
The main disadvantage we observed when using PayPal payments is the commission fees which are charged on transactions. The fees can really add up, especially if you plan on constantly depositing and withdrawing from your account.
We recommend using PayPal for withdrawals for fast payouts but only for larger transactions due to high fees.
Trustly
Trustly is an award-winning Swedish payment option which links with over 200 banks in 25 countries. We found that you won’t need to create a separate account like with PayPal and there are no fees charged on the side of the payment operator. As you’d expect, this gives Trustly users a huge advantage over other bookmaker payment methods, allowing for instant bank transfers without additional payments.
If you’re wondering about the legitimacy of Trustly, the payment provider is licensed by the European Payment Services Providers, and is under the supervision of the Swedish Financial Supervisor Authority.
The drawback for Trustly is that it is not as widely accepted as other popular payment options like VISA Debit, Apple Pay and PayPal. The minimum deposit and withdrawal amount also tend to be on the higher side.
Apple Pay
Apple Pay is a digital wallet service by Apple which was found to give users the opportunity to make secure payments using their Apple devices. The big selling point is the convenience factor, which allows for swift deposits using your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch.
Apple Pay is also considered to be safer than using a debit or prepaid card, as your card number and identity aren’t shared with bookmakers. Your actual card numbers aren’t even stored on your device or on Apple servers.
Unfortunately, Apple Pay is only available to iOS users so Android users will not be able to use the wallet. We also found that only deposits are available via Apple Pay at UK bookmakers, so you will need to find another payment option for withdrawals.
Google Pay
One of the rarer payment options, Google Pay works similarly to Apple Pay, giving users the ability to deposit funds with no additional fees through their Android devices. The wallet can be linked to a wide range of debit cards and will save you from storing payment card information at bookmakers. Similar to Apple Pay, only Android users will be able to use the Google Pay feature.
The big issue we found with using Google Pay is availability. Very few UK-based bookmakers offer Google Pay as a payment option but this has started to change in the past year. You can now find Google Pay at top bookmakers such as Ladbrokes, bet365 and Coral Sports and you can expect the list to grow in the future.
Skrill
Skrill is a UK-based digital wallet that allows you to make online payments, send money, and manage your funds online. Like PayPal, it’s basically a secure electronic account where you can store money and use it for various online transactions, such as betting at online bookmakers.
Some of its advantages we encountered when using Skrill are there are a large number of different currencies available and one of the better superior customer support services around. Skrill also boasts a number of new innovative features like prepaid Mastercards, a VIP program and a top mobile app.
What we also did notice when using Skrill was that the payment option was not valid on many bonus offers. Many UK bookmakers do not allow Skrill payments to qualify for welcome bonuses of recurring promotions, which can take away from your overall betting experience.
NETELLER
NETELLER is yet another digital wallet which has become very popular in Europe thanks to its safety and convenience. All you need is your email address and password to make deposits and withdrawals, keeping all your sensitive payment details hidden.
Similar to Skrill, we found that NETELLER also has a great VIP rewards program and a prepaid Mastercard known as Net+. The wallet is also compatible with funding options like Boku, which can help get your money off a bookmaker in a hurry.
There are no fees charged for internal transfers and the fees are on the lower side for bookmaker transactions. 24/7 customer support was found to be available to answer any payment problems you may have.
Again, the big snag with using NETELLER is the fact that many bookmakers don’t allow the payment option to qualify for bonuses. NETELLER was also found to be a little less commonly available than eWallets like Skrill and PayPal.
Paysafecard
Paysafecard is a ‘pay as you go’ card which you can purchase for cash at retail outlets. When you buy a PaysafeCard with a specific value, it comes with a 16-digit PIN which you can enter at a bookmaker’s cashier to make a deposit. Withdrawals are not available with Paysafecard.
The main reason we found that customers prefer Paysafecard is the privacy. You won’t have any link to your bank or debit card information, reducing the risk of identity theft. You can also limit how much you deposit by controlling the amount on your Paysafecard.
Convenience was found to be the main concern when using Paysafecard, as you will need to find a participating outlet. The lack of a withdrawal facility also can leave your money stranded if you don’t have another payment option to get money out of your account.
Bank Transfer
A staple of online transacting, bank transfers are still a common method to transferring money to and from a bookmaker. The main reasons we believe this option is still popular is the simplicity and reliability. You don’t need to rely on any third party wallet, simply enter the details, and that request is made straight to your bank.
In our experience, most banks in the UK allow for free deposits but there can be withdrawal fees depending on your bank. The deposit and withdrawal limits are typically very high for bank transfers, with some sites like bet365 allowing for deposits as big as £100,000. Unfortunately the high limits can also translate to minimum deposits.
The main trade-off for bank transfers is that they take relatively long compared to other payment options, processing in 2-10 banking days on average.
UK Bookmaker Payment Methods – Comparison Tables
Check out our UK Bookmaker Comparison Table for payment methods to check which option might be best suited for you:
| Payment Method | Deposit Time | Withdrawal Time | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa Debit | Instant | Within 24 Hours | Free |
| PayPal | Instant | 24-48 Hours | 1-3% |
| Trustly | Instant | Within 24 Hours | Free |
| Apple Pay | Instant | N/A | Free |
| Google Pay | Instant | N/A | Free |
| Skrill | Instant | Within 24 Hours | 1-3% |
| NETELLER | Instant | Within 24 Hours | 1-3% |
| Paysafecard | Instant | N/A | Free |
| Bank Transfer | 2-10 Business Days | 2-10 Business Days | Free |
| Payment Method | Mobile Friendly | Works For Bonuses | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa Debit | Yes | Yes | |
| PayPal | Yes | Not Always | |
| Trustly | Yes | Not Always | |
| Apple Pay | Yes | Yes | Not available for withdrawals |
| Google Pay | Yes | Yes | Not available for withdrawals |
| Skrill | Yes | Rarely | |
| NETELLER | Yes | Rarely | |
| Paysafecard | Yes | Rarely | Not available for withdrawals |
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Not Always |
Learn how to make quicker withdrawals with our Fast Withdrawal Casino/Sportsbook page.
Security, Regulation and Compliance
All of the methods we listed above are legal to use in the UK and thus must follow stringent compliance and regulations, ensuring that customers can make safe transactions. Many of the payment providers require KYC processes to be fulfilled to verify a customer’s identity. This helps prevent fraud, money laundering, and other financial crimes by making sure that customers are who they claim to be and that their financial activities are legitimate.
We found a variety of responsible gambling tools available at UK bookmakers which limit customers’ ability to make transactions onto a side. Some of the more popular tools include deposit/loss limits, gambling time limits and self-exclusion. Find out more with our Safer Gambling/Licensing Guide.
Credit card payments have been banned from all legal UK bookmakers as of 2020 by the UK Gambling Commission. The ban aims to reduce the risks of harm to consumers from gambling with money they do not have. We recommend that any bookmaker that offers banned or insecure methods for transactions to be avoided.
About Us
ToffeeWeb is a UK-based team which is dedicated to providing readers with detailed evaluations of bookmakers in Great Britain and the Republic or Ireland. We pride ourselves on regularly testing operator payment options and giving first hand analysis for all our full reviews, ensuring readers have all the information they need to make informed decisions. Find out more about who we are and what we aim to do in our About Us section.
All information provided on the site is unbiased and in compliance with UK gambling practices. We do not endorse betting at any bookmakers which are not licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
If you’d like to get the inside scoop on how we conduct our reviews you can go through our How We Rate Bookmakers and How We Rate Casinos guides.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, there isn’t one clear payment method that should be used at UK bookmakers. The right payment option will depend on your style of betting and your betting goals.
We recommend sticking to payment options which provide speed and security, making sure your funds are safe and easily accessible in a hurry. We also urge players to check if payment options are eligible for bonus offers before making a deposit. You don’t want to miss out on free bets or bonus cash by not reading through the terms and conditions.
If you’d like to receive bookmaker-specific payment details you can try reading our in-depth reviews which are available for most top online sportsbooks in the UK. Try our Bookmaker Comparison Page and Top Recommended Sites With Fast Withdrawals for a better picture of which sites are good for payments in 2025.
