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- Pay by phone and open banking have both grown as deposit methods at UK casino sites this year, with OLBG member feedback pointing to speed and less friction as the main draw.
- Neither method needs card details entered on the casino site, although pay by phone can't be used for withdrawals, so players need a second method to cash out.
- Withdrawals are the next real test: with pay by phone unable to pay out at all, whether open banking can match the fastest instant payouts will decide if this shift sticks.
How players choose to pay at UK casino sites has shifted noticeably, it has emerged.
Feedback sessions with OLBG members showed a growing preference for payment methods that don't involve typing a card number into a gambling site at all.
Pay by phone and open banking have both become increasingly popular ways to deposit this year.
Pay by phone lets a player add a deposit straight to their mobile bill, with no card details entered on the casino site.
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Open banking works differently, connecting directly to a player's own bank account and confirming the payment through their banking app, which is how services such as Trustly operate.
Both methods share a common appeal: speed, and one less place for card details to sit online.
Credit cards have been banned for gambling deposits in the UK since April 2020, which made debit cards the default choice for years.
That default is now being challenged by methods that feel quicker and, for many players, safer.
There's one important difference between the two, as winnings can't be withdrawn back to a phone bill, so pay by phone players need a second method such as a bank transfer to cash out.
Sites such as MrQ, which accepts pay by mobile deposits and offers instant withdrawals, show how the two sides can work well together.
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- Payout speed Instant - 24 Hours
- Win rate 95.6%
Fast Withdrawals, Free Spins, Big Wins and no Wagering Requirement, MrQ has a whole host of slots, live dealers and more on offer. With High RTP slot settings too!
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- Fast Withdrawals
Withdrawal speed is quickly becoming the next battleground, with the best fast withdrawal casinos now paying out instantly or within the hour.
Fees, limits and speeds for every option are compared side by side in the full guide to casino payment methods.
| Method | How it works |
|---|---|
| Pay by phone bill | Deposit added to a player's mobile bill, with no card details entered and withdrawals needing a separate method |
| Open banking | Payment confirmed through the player's own banking app, connected directly to their account |
| Debit card | Still widely used, but no longer the only fast option |
| Credit card | Banned for gambling deposits in the UK since April 2020 |
OLBG's Casino Content Manager David Coleman believes this shift reflects a bigger change in what players actually want from a deposit.
He said: "Players aren't choosing these methods because they're flashy, they're choosing them because they're quick and feel more contained.
"Not having to type a card number into yet another site is a genuinely reasonable thing to want.
"It's also a sign the payment side of online casinos is finally catching up with how people already pay for everything else.
"I'd expect this shift to keep going rather than level off."
