Everything you need to know about using PayPal at online casinos
Considering the enormous payouts up for grabs at the top online casinos, it makes perfect sense to seek out a payment method that’s trustworthy, easy to use and secure. PayPal ticks all three boxes.
Established before the millenium, PayPal has become synonymous with online payments and is now a household name. PayPal is fast becoming the online casino player’s payment method of choice. So many of us now have PayPal accounts connected to our bank for all sorts of online purchases. The same simple payment flow, only requiring email and password, is now available at a number of casino sites.
Why use PayPal?
PayPal isn’t the only casino banking option that guarantees secure payments. There are other options at your disposal which offer a comparable service, so what is it that sets PayPal apart? Essentially, it boils down to convenience, trust, speed and reliability.
PayPal users know that they are using a reputable and trustworthy service that has nearly 20 years of experience in safely and securely processing payments. Of course, this reputation was built upon the outstanding service on offer. Using PayPal doesn’t require you to share your credit or debit card details with any third party, such as your chosen online casino. PayPal takes a number of technical measures to help you stay secure, including email confirmations, key pinning and data encryption.
Not only are deposits made using PayPal are instant, but withdrawals are often faster than more traditional methods, too. This is of great benefit to players who want to cash out quickly. Plus, new players can sign up for a PayPal account free of charge! You can even make quick, easy payments on the go and manage your PayPal wallet through the native PayPal mobile app which is available for download on Android and iOS devices- this is especially handy if you want to play casino games on your mobile. Now that you know why PayPal’s user base is in the millions, let’s take a look at how you can use PayPal to deposit at online casinos.
How to play online at a PayPal-friendly online casino
- Compare and choose an online casino
Before you can make a deposit and start playing, you’ll need to register an account at an online casino that accepts PayPal first. Not sure where to start your search? We’ve done the legwork for you – our expert review team has carefully curated a list of the very best online casinos that provide full PayPal support. All casinos on our site hold a valid license, so you’re guaranteed safe payments and fair gaming. Remember to keep an eye out for any deposit limits in place before signing up. Maximum deposits usually vary depending on your payment method of choice and PayPal is no different.
- Sign up
Once you’ve picked out a favourite site, follow our link to sign up and become eligible for your exclusive casino welcome bonus. You’ll be done within minutes – all you need to do is provide a few personal details!
- Create a PayPal account
If you haven’t signed up already, you’ll need to register an account with PayPal to use it at your chosen online casino. Simply head over to PayPal’s site to get started. It’s a simple, straightforward process. Many players already have a PayPal account but if you don’t, simply pop over to its website and create one. It’s a very straightforward process which only takes a minute or two to complete. To open a personal account, you’ll need to provide your first and last name, address, phone number, and email address.
- Make a casino deposit
Head over to the cashier page of your chosen online casino to make your PayPal deposit. If you’re a new player, you can usually expect to receive a welcome bonus immediately after your first deposit, unless you’ve opted for a no deposit bonus. If you have a deposit bonus code, you’ll be prompted to enter this on the cashier page. Simply choose PayPal as your payment method and follow the on-screen instructions to make your deposit.
- Play your favourite games
PayPal is renowned for its speed, so you’ll be able to use your newly deposited funds to play almost immediately! Once your account is funded and ready to go, you’ll be able to play some of the best online casino games, from slots, blackjack and other table classics to video poker and live dealer casino games. The best online casinos have jam-packed collections with hundreds of games on offer – you’re sure to find something that you fancy.
Security
PayPal’s security is arguably second to none when it comes to online payments. This is undoubtedly the main reason why millions of users worldwide trust PayPal for all kinds of payments, from grocery shopping to betting. We already know that by using PayPal, you eliminate the need to share sensitive data such as your debit card number. PayPal doesn’t stop there in its quest to keep your payments secure, though. There are a number of other measures in place to prevent fraudulent activity. Let’s take a look at some of these methods.
The PayPal Security Key is the company’s own two-factor authentication protocol. In addition to your account password, you enter a one time pin that’s unique for each login, giving you enhanced account security.
When you use PayPal from your computer or mobile device, you’re guaranteed to connect only with Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) sites with Transport Layer Security 1.0 (TLS) or higher. This is the current industry standard for trusted communication channels and transmitting information across the internet in a secure manner.
Key pinning is a feature of the PayPal iOS and Android mobile apps. Essentially, this locks your device to the PayPal server, meaning no imposters can intercept the connection request and imitate PayPal.
Fees
While most PayPal transactions are free, there are some fees for certain payments and transfers – be sure to check this.
In addition to PayPal’s own fees for credit card users, some online casinos may add extra processing costs on top. This isn’t particularly common, but we’d recommend checking out the terms and conditions just to be sure.
Welcome bonuses
You might find that while some casinos do accept PayPal as a payment method, they state that depositing with PayPal disqualifies you from claiming a welcome bonus. This isn’t a frequent occurrence, and is much more common with other e-wallets such as Neteller casino deposits. We recommend playing it safe – always check out the terms and conditions of any bonus offer before parting with your hard-earned cash.
