Currently, it seems that everyone is moving from laptops and desktop computers to mobile devices. The convenience of being able to perform daily computing tasks on the go has led many to use their phones and tablets for work-and these devices are certainly powerful enough to run most small businesses.
Removing the tether to a desktop or even a laptop has proven to be a significant boost to workplace efficiency for many.
The casino industry is also changing, with many casinos now offering a mobile platform to their players. This can be a native app (where conditions allow) or a mobile-optimized site that allows players to enjoy their favorite games in a browser.
Over the years, the difficulty and cost of processing payments for online gaming sites has not changed. Since the inception of virtual casinos, there have been several monumental changes in payment processing. The most significant of these was the discontinuation of PayPal's gaming service in 2002. This was followed a few years later by the UIGEA law in the US, which further restricted the processing of payments handled by our online gaming operators. All in all, we, the players at the virtual tables, had to pay a premium for our fun. The end result of these changes has been a shift to smaller processors based in Europe that charge our operators absurd rates. Ya Virtual Table!
The gaming industry has tried several ways to solve payment problems. Here are some of the more prominent recent attempts: 1. **PayPal:** This ubiquitous service is now almost as good as cash. However, it took more than a decade after its invention for PayPal to become widely available, and even now many Internet users are locked out. 2. **Third-party processors:** Services like Neteller and Skrill exist, but they are far from perfect solutions. They charge fees that can be as high as credit cards, and they are not available to everyone. 3. **Cryptocurrency:** A new darling of the online payment world, bitcoin and others are still used by only a small percentage of people. Given their nature, there's no guarantee they'll be any less of a headache for the gaming industry.
A new payment method has emerged in recent years, and it may be the easiest yet: paying through your phone bill. Today, there are many casinos that use this method, and we have compiled a list of the best Pay by Phone casinos on the market:
All this has probably left you wondering how it all works. Fear not. We will walk you through the process. You can decide if this is something you want to consider for your next deposit.
How Does It Work?
This is the most common question about paying with your phone. Here is how the process works:
Start the process by finding a casino that accepts phone bill payments. We have listed a few above to get you started. Once you have a casino in mind, you will need to create an account with a processing company that works with that casino. This could be Boku or Zimpler or another company - but your casino should indicate which processing partners it has. After you create the account, you'll probably need to prove that you have the phone number you say you have by entering it into your phone and getting a text back, which you then show to the processor.
You are now fully prepared and ready to make your deposit. There are several factors to consider when making a deposit. First, if you have a pay-as-you-go phone, make sure you have enough credit to complete the transaction. If you have a standard phone plan, make sure that your phone settings allow you to make payments (and if not, your payment processor can guide you through setting up your phone to allow you to make deposits). Now, go to the casino cashier, select the amount you wish to deposit, choose your payment method, and you will receive a text message that you must reply to to confirm the transaction. Follow all of these steps exactly, and if all goes well on your end, you can consider your gaming account funded!
Why Pay With My Phone?
There are several advantages to making your deposit via your phone bill.
Incentive from the Site
It benefits the casino if you deposit by phone. This is because they pay significantly lower fees to these processors than they do to credit card companies. So, the thinking goes, some of that savings should come back to you in the form of bonuses or promotions when you make a deposit by phone.
Credit for those without Credit
Many people either do not have a credit card or prefer not to use one for transactions at online gambling establishments. However, they can make an instant deposit to an online site and pay for it at the end of their phone bill cycle. As long as your plan allows, consider your phone as another way to fund your gambling habit.
Deposit Limits
If your carrier allows you to pay via your phone bill, they will most likely limit your transactions to a certain amount on a daily or weekly basis. This makes the phone payment method a built-in monitor of your play, ensuring that you don't overspend at your gaming site, which is another excellent way to prevent problem gambling. If your phone is prepaid, you will be able to spend up to your remaining balance, but keep in mind that your phone may not work tomorrow as a result.
Is Paying with My Phone Safe?
The short answer is yes, it is a secure transaction. In fact, it is safer than many ways to use your credit card. One reason is that the information associated with your bank account is never transmitted to the gaming site. The phone company you use has your banking information on file, and that's where any bill you incur will be settled.
If you choose to make your deposit this way, you'll need to have your cell phone nearby when you enter the confirmation code. Only the person holding the phone can use this method to access gaming sites, which is a good way to keep your account from being drained by scammers.
What Countries offer this service?
This response is in a constant state of flux as the payment method becomes available in more and more countries. The mobile phone payment model started in the UK and Australia, but has quickly spread to other places. It's not as common in the U.S. as it is elsewhere, for obvious reasons, but we can assume that it's only a matter of time before Americans can pay for their deposits through their phone bills.
Conclusion
When it comes to new payment methods, paying with your phone bill seems like a no-brainer. As gaming has gone mobile, payments for deposits have gone the same way; being able to lump our expenses into as few bills as possible is a boon for everyone. This method is on the rise, so look for sites that offer it as a payment option. Better yet, look for sites that offer incentives to use it!