Using Boku at Online Casinos – Pay by Mobile in the UK
Founded in the US, Boku enjoys a huge international presence with headquarters in a number of major cities. It’s also listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Boku payment solutions can be used in all of the world’s leading digital marketplaces, most notably the Apple App Store, Google Play, Facebook and Spotify. Its popularity has also spread to iGaming – a mobile-orientated industry which places strong emphasis on player security and convenience.
Boku certainly lives up to these standards by allowing players to easily make secure online payments to a casino account with a minimum of fuss. A Boku casino deposit can be made by phone on any of the UK’s mobile networks and with any type of mobile device.
It should therefore be of little surprise that pay by Boku casino sites have proliferated in a big way recently – so much so in fact that weeding out the superior online slots and casino platforms can be something of a challenge.
As a result, our expert team here at WhichBingo has been hard at work checking out and reviewing the best Boku casino sites and online bingo rooms at which you can use your mobile phone to make a Boku deposit. Here’s our pick of the bunch:
Top Bingo and Casino Sites That Accept Boku
18+ | Play responsibly | www.begambleaware.org | User Agreement & Bonus T&Cs apply
1st deposit only | min deposit £10 | max bet £2 | max bonus £100 | max cashout x3 the bonus | max cashout from spin winnings £100 | x40 wagering on bonus and bonus spin winnings | 30-day bonus expiry | 24-hour bonus spins expiry | bonus is valid for selected games only
18+. Offer is available to new customers who register via the promo code CASF51. Winnings are paid in cash. Free spins are valued at 10p. Get an additional 50 free spins when you deposit and spend £10 on eligible games. Deposits made with e-wallets are not valid for this offer. Full T&Cs apply. Please play responsibly. Gambleaware.org #AD
18+. First deposit only. Min deposit £10. 100% Bonus Match on 1st deposit, max £100 bonus & 100 bonus spins on Starburst. 40x wagering(dep+bonus). 40x on spins, 4x conversion, bonus valid on selected slots. Full T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambleaware.org #AD
18+. New customers only. First three deposits only. Min deposit £10. Max total bonus £500 & 150 Spins. 30x wagering (dep+bonus). 30x on spins, 4x conversion, bonus and spins valid on selected slots. Full T&C’s apply. Please gamble responsibly. Gambleaware.org #AD
18+. New players only. Min deposit £10. 20 Bonus Spins valid on Book of Dead. Bonus funds are 100% up to £100. Bonus funds + spin winnings are separate to cash funds and subject to 35x wagering requirement. Only bonus funds count towards wagering contribution. £5 bonus max bet. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days, spins within 10 days. Affordability checks apply. Terms Apply. Gambleaware.org #AD
*18+. New players only | No restrictions while playing with cash | Min. refund bonus is £10 | Wagering on bonus is 60x | Bonus based on 1st deposit lost | Max bet with bonus is £5 | Skrill and Neteller excluded | Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. Gambleaware.org #AD
The advantages and disadvantages of using Boku
Pros
- No need for a separate account or app — Unlike other payment methods such as PayPal or standard e-wallets, a pay by Boku casino allows you to make deposits which are then either charged to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your pre-paid balance. There’s absolutely no need to set up or maintain a separate account – this makes your online gaming funds that much easier to manage.
- Use Boku on any mobile phone — Although a significant proportion of the UK population owns a smartphone, you don’t need the latest tech in order to play at a Boku casino or bingo site. You can make a Boku payment on any device that can send and receive text messages — even on the earliest mobile phones.
- A secure payment method — Many players prefer playing at a Boku mobile casino because of the additional security it provides in relation to personal and financial information. Because your Boku payment is charged to your phone bill, you don’t need to share debit card details with either the casino or a third party service provider. Likewise, your details aren’t stored anywhere so you are less susceptible to hacking, fraud and identity theft.
- No fees — when using the Boku pay by mobile option, you won’t be charged a fee by your mobile service provider once you’ve made the deposit into your Boku casino account. The amount that you deposit is the same amount that appears on your bill. However, it’s important to note that a Boku online casino may charge a fee for offering the service. So be sure to check the T&Cs carefully before playing at any pay by Boku casino or slots site.
- Simple to use — making a Boku casino deposit is a straightforward process. You simply access the banking or cashier page and follow the instructions as you would with any other payment method.The only discernible difference is that you’ll need to have your mobile phone handy to receive a confirmation text message.
Cons
- Withdrawal not available with Boku — with Boku, pay by mobile casino sites that accept the service require you to cash out with another provider. If you don’t have another method that you can use, your withdrawn funds will usually be sent to you in the form of a cheque – not ideal for players that demand swift processing times.
- Deposits are limited — You will generally be limited both in the size of individual transactions and the total amount you can add to your account in a day when you make a Boku casino deposit. In most instances, the maximum amount you can deposit in a 24-hour period is £30. For casual and occasional players, this probably doesn’t present much of a problem. For experienced, high-rollers however, these limits may prove a bit off-putting.
- Deposit Fees – As we mentioned previously, while most iGaming sites won’t charge a fee for depositing, the vast majority of pay by Boku casino and slots sites most certainly will. And unfortunately, it’s a pretty significant amount with some operators charging up to 15% of your deposit. This means that if you make a deposit of £15, £2.75 will instantly be taken away from your cash balance.
How to Deposit and Bank With Boku at Online Casinos
So what precisely does the process of making a Boku casino deposit entail? And what are some of the things you should keep in mind before signing on the dotted line? Let’s find out.
Banking with Boku
First of all, you need to weigh up all the pros and cons if you are thinking about signing up to play at a Boku casino. And while there are growing numbers of casino sites and Boku bingo platforms, you really need to consider whether this is the right payment method for you.
Deposit and withdrawal times
One thing you can be sure of when you pay at a Boku payment friendly casino is that your funds will be credited to your account and can be accessed straight away. There is no processing time, so you can start gambling immediately. However, as you can’t withdraw using Boku, you need to find an alternative method when you want to cash out. We recommend PayPal, or an e-wallet like Neteller or Skrill – these offer the fastest payout times although keep in mind that there will usually be a processing time of at least 48 hours at almost all online casinos before payments are completed. See our PayPal casinos page if you’re interested in using this option.
Ease of opening an account
There is no separate Boku account to set up or manage. As long as you have a mobile phone and are playing at a casino with Boku, there is not much else you need to do. When you select Boku as your payment method on the banking or cashier page and enter the amount you want to deposit, you’ll be prompted to enter your mobile phone number. You’ll then receive a text message, asking you to confirm the payment amount. Once this is done, your funds become available.
Fees structure
Your mobile phone carrier will not charge you a fee for using Boku payment options at an online casino — the amount that you deposit into your casino account will be reflected on your next phone bill. If you use a pay-as-you go mobile, the deposit amount will be deducted from your pay-as-you-go balance. However, the majority of sites on our Boku casino list will charge you a fee for using this service. While this is generally 2.5%, you should check the T&Cs of each individual site before signing up.
Other Casino Payment Methods to Compare with Boku
How to Use Boku at Online Casinos
If you’re wondering how to deposit by Boku at your chosen pay by mobile casino, slots or bingo operators, the following step-by-step guide should help.
Step 1: Select a Boku Pay By Mobile iGaming Site
Find an online casino,slots or bingo site that supports Bingo. You’ll find it in the cashier or payment methods section. Then register or log into your account.
Step 2: Choose the Boku Mobile Payment Option
Once registered or logged in, visit the cashier section and select the Bokyu payment icon.
Step 3: Enter Your Deposit
Choose your Boku deposit amount and provide your mobile phone number.
Step 4: Confirm Your Deposit Via Mobile
Once you’ve entered your phone number correctly, you’ll receive a confirmation text. Replay by typing Yes or via a code in order to authorise your Boku pay by mobile payment.
Step 5: Check Your Casino Balance
As soon as your Boku casino payment has been approved, the funds will be immediately credited to your account.
Is Boku Safe and Secure for Online Casino Payments?
Boku is a safe and secure way of making secure online casino payments. With Boku, you don’t need to provide any bank details which means that there’s no need to share sensitive financial or personal information. All you need is an active mobile phone number, be it via contract or through a pre-paid option.
Secure online casino payments with Boku are also secured with two-factor authentication. In other words, once you’ve made a Boku payment, you’ll receive a confirmation request via text that you must reply to in order to authorise the transaction. Robust data encryption protocols are also in place which effectively add an extra layer of security.
Who Should Use Boku at Casinos?
Boku is tailor-made for mobile users due to its seamless, secure and easy-to-use mobile casino deposit process. However, given the deposit limits in place and the fees that are applied to most online casino sites, it’s the kind of pay by mobile options that is perhaps better suited to low-rolling casual gamers who don’t enjoy sharing their bank details.
Final Thoughts: Is Boku the Best Mobile Payment Method for Casinos?
In terms of simplicity and convenience, there’s much to like about Boku. The process of making a deposit is very easy — just reply to a text message to confirm your deposit and the amount requested. It is also a simple and straightforward payment method in that there is:
- no new account to set up and maintain
- no new passwords to remember
- no new app to download and install
However, there are also some drawbacks, not least the fact that the number of Boku casino and bingo sites and online casinos accessible by UK players is still relatively limited. If this is your preferred payment method, you won’t have as many playing options as you might otherwise enjoy with alternative services. The limit on deposits is also a negative factor, as is the fact that the Boku casino payment option can’t be used to cash out and make withdrawals. In this regard, we highly recommend that you use the Paypal method mentioned above.
It is also important to take into consideration the high deposit fees charged by the online casino. On the whole, our view is that the Boku payment option is a good option for someone who plays at online casinos, slots and bingo sites every now and then, and neither invests nor expects to win too much. However, if you are a more serious, dedicated player, other payment methods will likely suit you better.either invests nor expects to win too much. However, if you are a more serious, dedicated player, other payment methods will likely suit you better.
AUTHOR
Dale is a freelance contributing author to WhichBingo with a particular interest in online slots, especially the development side of things. He also writes reviews of online casinos and bingo sites on a regular basis for WhichBingo and many other influential gambling websites. Away from work, he enjoys rugby, playing the piano and digital marketing.
