The online casino industry is constantly evolving and finding new ways to help makes the experience easier for players.
One popular development has been the rise of pay-by-mobile banking options. These allow players to top up their gambling accounts via mobile phones by using either phone credit or adding deposits to their phone bill.
In this guide to the best pay-by-phone casinos in the UK, we take a look at the pros and cons of this method, as well as how and where to best use it.
What to look out for with UK casinos with phone bill payments
We’ve put together a handy checklist of things to look out for before signing up to use a pay-by-mobile casino.
- Range of games: For a lot of players, the range of slots and games on offer at an online casino is their top priority. All of the casinos we have recommended work with some of the biggest developers in the industry, ensuring that their players have their pick of the latest and most innovative games on the market, including slot machines and table games such as roulette, baccarat, poker, blackjack, and craps. Most of the casinos listed on this page offer lottery games like bingo and keno.
- Customer feedback: When choosing a pay-by-mobile casino to use, we recommend checking what other players have to see about their experiences on the site. You can find out a lot about a casino by checking out feedback from other customers. Of course, you need to get good at telling the difference between legitimate criticism and a rant from a disgruntled customer, but that doesn’t tend to take a very long time.
- Mobile capability: While all casinos that offer pay-by-mobile tend to have mobile betting options, not all mobile betting sites are created equal. Some sites don’t translate well to smaller screen sizes, with developers failing to optimise different elements of the site correctly. All of the casinos we recommend have excellent smartphone support and will run across a range of devices.
Promotions and bonuses
Everyone loves a generous casino bonus, especially with a low wager requirement, and there are plenty of great ones on offer at the pay-by-mobile casinos we have listed.
While it is not common, you may even find some casinos run specific promotions for pay-by-mobile customers. You can take a look at all the promotions on offer and see whether any of them are tied to your favourite casino games.
A closer look at the top pay-by-phone casinos
These are the best casinos that allow players to deposit using pay-by-mobile.
1. MrQ
It wasn’t easy to pick one out of all the casinos I’ve tested for this roundup, but I can honestly say MrQ deserves the top spot as the best pay-by-phone UK casino. The site allows players to pay by phone if they have an account with O2, 3, EE, or Vodafone – I’m the last’s customer, so setting up payments was easy enough.
Once I was done registering, and made my first deposit by phone, I discovered that MrQ is home to an impressive selection of slots and games from some of the industry’s best developers. The casino is associated with leading providers, such as Play’n GO, Pragmatic Play and Evolution. And since I got the no-deposit bonus spins, as well as the 30 spins I received upon placing my first stake, I was all set to try them out.
Alternatives to Pay by Mobile here include PayPal, Visa and Mastercard, and my withdrawals – since phone payments are deposit-only – took up to seven working days to complete. I decided to stick around for a while, and MrQ lets you take advantage of ongoing promotions, which include regular “Drops & Wins” tournaments, as well as a refer-a-friend scheme.
MrQ has an app for both Android and iOS, plus Pay by Mobile can be used on desktop and mobile versions on the site, so that didn’t hinder my experience at all. All in all, if your main goal is to play and pay on your phone, MrQ will take care of you.
| Pros |
|---|
| 👍 Stylish and easy-to-use website design |
| 👍 Range of bonuses and promotions for new and existing customers |
| Cons |
|---|
| 👎 Limited customer support options |
2. Mr Vegas
Mr Vegas, an online casino founded in 2011, is not one to stay behind the times, and is another top contender I’ve played at with Pay By Mobile deposits. I used this method to make my initial deposit (£10 minimum to claim the paid welcome offer) for the 100% welcome bonus worth up to £200. If you want to go the no-deposit route, there’s 11 spins for Pink Elephants in it for you. Aside from that promotional option, Mr Vegas is home to over 6,500 games, coming from Microgaming, NetEnt, Play’n GO and other developers.
I used my PaybyPhone deposit bonus to play everything from slots and roulette, to video poker and scratch cards. On top of that, Mr Vegas features many jackpot slots, including Sisters of Oz WowPot and Wheel of Wishes, if that’s more your speed.
If I’d stuck around, I’d definitely try out the “Rainbow Fridays” and “The Wheel of Vegas” ongoing promotions. I’d checked with support – Mr Vegas also offers 24/7 live chat, and the team was very responsive to my queries – and Pay by Mobile deposits were eligible for those too. While there’s no app, the casino site is optimised for mobile use, so if you’re not a stickler for this aspect, you’ll be just fine. Along with Pay by Mobile, you can use Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Trustly and other options to deposit as well, or withdraw your winnings afterward.
| Pros |
|---|
| 👍 Multiple promotions for existing players |
| 👍 Pay-by-mobile bonus |
| 👍 Low-deposit welcome offer |
| Cons |
|---|
| 👎 Dated interface |
3. WinWindsor
WinWindsor allowed me to deposit using Pay by Mobile, as this relatively new establishment is trying to find every possible in for the casino market. What’s more, my impression is that the operator clearly knows how to provide a brilliant online gambling experience, as I used its slick and intuitive interface to register and select PaybyPhone as my main deposit method.
I got a 500-free-spin welcome bonus after signing up, and I checked out the ongoing promos, too – they include free spins, happy hour and trophy rewards, so there’s merit to staying a while to play at WinWindsor. To claim any of those, deposits start at £10, and if you use your bonuses wisely and win, withdrawals take between one and three days, in my experience.
Games come from the likes of Microgaming, NetEnt and Blueprint Gaming. The popular slots I tried out are 9 Pots of Gold, Rainbow Riches and Gonzo’s Quest, and I can vouch for their quality. A range of table, live dealer and instant win games are also at your disposal once you deposit with your phone.
| Pros |
|---|
| 👍 Up-and-coming operator |
| 👍 Brilliant user-experience |
| 👍 Home to a big selection of bonuses |
| Cons |
|---|
| 👎 High-wagering requirements |
4. Amazon Slots
With another 500 free spins in the bag for me after a PaybyPhone deposit, Amazon Slots casino offered me – and other players in the UK – a huge assortment of slot games from top providers like NetEnt and Microgaming. Obviously, Pay by Mobile is one of the many payment methods accepted, with deposits starting at £10. After signing up, and getting your hands on the Amazon Slots welcome offer, you’ll get access to slots, roulette, blackjack and baccarat.
From what I could tell when testing things out, Amazon Slots is an excellent casino for jackpot games in particular, and I participated in several pots, with limited success – but that’s up to Lady Luck. When depositing and placing bets, you can also earn trophies, which will turn into free spins.
On the downside, support options, though not often required, as the interface is fairly smooth and intuitive, are limited – no live chat here, for example.
| Pros |
|---|
| 👍 Huge selection of slot games from top providers |
| 👍 Generous welcome bonus and regular promotions |
| 👍 Double license |
5. SpinzWin
Soon to hit its decade mark on the market, SpinzWin is a casino launched in 2016 and another to accept Pay by Mobile deposits. This method of payment is joined by e-wallets, prepaid vouchers and debit cards. Deposits start at £10, however a 15% processing fee is incurred when using Pay by Mobile, which was a significant downside for me. Still, I was there to test it, so I paid the price, but at least I can warn you.
There is an extremely generous welcome package worth up to £1,000, with additional free spins, aimed at players from all walks of life. And with Cashback weekends, Saturday spinner and Sunday = Funday to hold me over, I ended up staying for quite a while to test out the ongoing promotions. Unfortunately, SpinzWin does not come with an app, but the casino is fully functional on mobile devices, and that’s how I played most of the games on offer.
I found some additional perks I always like to see – live chat support, leaderboards and an in-built search engine all worked perfectly, and I have no doubt these features will appeal to other players, as well. Of course, as a casino licensed by the Gambling Commission, SpinzWin is 100% safe and fair too.
| Pros |
|---|
| 👍 Extremely generous welcome bonus |
| 👍 Plenty of ongoing promotions |
| 👍 Player leaderboards |
6. BritainBet
The first thing I want to tell you about BritainBet is that it lists Pay Via Phone as one of 10+ payment methods, so you’ll be spoiled for choice when withdrawing any winnings. Established in 2020, BritainBet’s online casino comes with a 200% welcome bonus worth up to £50, which is great news for minimal depositors.
The bonus money can be used on a good number of games, coming from Microgaming, Evolution and other developers. I used mine on Book of Dead, Rise of Olympus and Cleopatra, the standout slots to play. There is also an pretty decent live casino, especially for a sports-first platform, with most games here coming from the studio of Playtech. There are loyalty rewards up for grabs too if you decide to make BritainBet your regular haunt.
The BritainBet app is currently only available on Android devices, and I downloaded it and played without any issues, although this isn’t great news for iOS users. However, the casino’s website is easy to use on all mobile browsers, so Apple players won’t miss out on any fun. Back to payments, Pay Via Phone deposits start at £10; however, there is that 15% processing fee to consider, and you’ll have to select another method for withdrawals, as you know.
| Pros |
|---|
| 👍 Wide selection of games |
| 👍 Trusted provider |
| 👍 200% welcome bonus |
| Cons |
|---|
| 👎 High processing fee for paying via phone |
Quick facts about Pay by Mobile online casinos in the UK
Here are some useful tidbits of information about pay-by-mobile casinos:
Most major UK networks allow this payment method
The majority of UK phone providers will allow their customers to use this method to play at casino sites. Among the service providers that allow you to use this service are EE, O2, Giffgaff, Vodafone, and 3. In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find a mobile service provider that doesn’t allow you to use this.
Some casinos offer pay-by-phone bonuses
Pay by phone is becoming an increasingly popular way to deposit funds at online casinos and sports betting sites and some operators will have bonuses that are available exclusively for players that use this method.
You can’t withdraw using this method
While pay-by-phone is becoming increasingly popular for depositing funds, you won’t find a single casino that allows you to use it for withdrawals. This is because the technology behind the method has no way of getting money from your phone bill to your bank account.
Watch this space though, as payment providers are regularly looking for new ways to enhance the player experience.
Advantages of depositing via phone
The main advantages of paying by phone at an online casino are how convenient and secure the method is. Players need to link their accounts to their phone contract and approve the transaction and they’re ready to go.
This can be much quicker than using other methods which may require a lot of verification. It is one of the safest methods you will find at an online casino, with all transactions being encrypted and fully secured. All in all, players who are considering this payment option because they want a quick gaming experience and like the advantage of tying their casino account to their mobile phone number will definitely enjoy this method.
Before you make any casino deposits, you’ll need to go through the registration process and likely confirm your mobile number through an SMS message confirmation code.
📲 Use pay by phone at MrQ Casino!
Disadvantages of paying with your phone bill
While there are plenty of upsides to using pay-by-mobile as a deposit method, there are some disadvantages that players need to be aware of. Firstly, the minimum deposit amount for pay-by-mobile methods tends to be higher than standard networks in some cases. Check to see if your phone network allows these payments.
Secondly, and one of the biggest downfalls for most people, is that it can’t be used as a withdrawal method, which means players need to look for alternatives if they want to use this method to deposit.
Check out other popular casino payment methods like PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller.
How to use pay by mobile casinos
These casinos work the same way as other online casinos – choose a game, and get spinning. The difference is in the way that you make your deposit:
- Choose a site to sign up with.
- Navigate to the payment method tab – the pay-by-mobile method is easily found in most banking sections.
- Select pay by mobile or pay by phone in the list of options.
- Enter how much you want to deposit and the amount will be added to your monthly phone bill, as opposed to being taken directly from your bank account.
- Start playing!
Q&A session about pay-by-phone casinos
While it is one of the most convenient and secure options for depositing money when you want to enjoy some casino games, some aspects of Pay by Mobile can be a bit of a mystery. We’ve got here the most-asked questions about this payment method on the internet with expert answers. Read on!
1. Can I withdraw my winnings via phone bill?
Players can only use pay-by-mobile to make deposits at online casinos, and as such, you will need to use alternative methods to get your money out when you win a jackpot.
All of the casinos we have listed offer a selection of withdrawal methods, with Visa/Mastercard debit cards being the most popular. In some cases, you will not be able to use a payment method to withdraw if you have not used it to make a deposit previously.
2. Is there a minimum deposit required at the best pay-by-phone casinos?
This will depend on the individual casino you are using. The minimum deposit for most online casinos in the UK is £5 or £10, though, this is often higher with pay-by-mobile methods. This will come down to the operator you are using and your mobile provider.
Check out the best £5 betting sites – some of them have this payment method available too!
3. Are Pay by Mobile casinos available on iOS and Android?
Yes. Pay-by-mobile casinos are available on a range of different devices and operating systems. All of the pay-by-mobile casinos we have listed can be accessed using mobile browsers including both Google Chrome and Safari. In some cases, these casinos have mobile apps that can be downloaded.
4. What payment method is the best for paying off pay-by-phone casino bills?
When it comes to settling your phone bill after using it to play at a casino, you have a number of options.
In many ways, paying by credit that you have on your account is the safest option and is the one that allows you to gamble the most responsibly. This is because it is the easiest method to keep track of in terms of bankroll. Using your phone bill to top up is similar to betting with credit and can be a little trickier to keep track of.
In terms of convenience, being able to top up via mobile or text message is one of the quickest ways. Boku is a great payment method for those looking to top up using their mobile.
Our final thoughts on Pay by Mobile casinos
Pay by mobile as a banking method can be a fantastic alternative to traditional debit cards or e-wallet methods. The method is continuing to grow in popularity, with more and more casinos, and players alike, embracing it for its convenience, ease of use, and security.
We think pay-by-mobile is one of the most reliable payment methods on the market today. If you are interested in using a pay-by-mobile casino, then check out one of the links we have provided above to get started.
About the author
James Fuller
James is an experienced copywriter with over a decade’s worth of experience in the iGaming industry. He is an avid sports fan, following football, tennis, Formula 1 and golf in particular.
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the casino offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
