Pay by Phone Casino in South Africa
What comes to your mind when thinking about convenient online casino banking methods? First of all, e-wallets and cryptocurrencies pop up in our minds. But although these options are good, they offer nothing close to pay-by-phone casinos in terms of convenience and security. Plus, we use mobile devices for such a broad scope of activities. Furthermore, we play favorite games on our smartphones. So why not use the phone bill option on top of the rest? This solution slowly transforms from an alternative payment method into a preferred payment method. Thus, with this payment solution, you’re always a screen tap away from depositing funds at your favorite mobile casino sites.
But as easy as it sounds, making your first pay-by-phone mobile casino payment can be a tricky affair. That’s why this post is here to explain to you what this payment solution is and why you should start playing at a pay-by-phone casino like yesterday. All you need, is a registered mobile phone number with a South African network. If you, however, wish to get familiar with the full list of payment solutions available in South Africa, press the link.
Top Recommended Pay by Phone Casinos 2024
What is Pay by Phone Casino?
Pay-by-phone casino is simply a legal online gambling site that allows players to make deposits via phone bill. But how these phone casinos work is relatively straightforward. As gamers use their mobile bills to transact with the mobile casino, they can see changes in the balance at the end of each billing cycle. These transactions mainly done by third-party companies like Boku and PayForIt. Although you can also create a phone bill directly using the mobile phones carrier.
Pay-by-phone or pay-by-mobile is often confused with pay by SMS. But while these payment terms can be used interchangeably, they are quite different. Thus, with pay by phone casino, you’ll need a third-party app like those mentioned above to process payments. But SMS payments are more direct. Typically, the mobile casino will give players an account or bill to which they will send payments. Good examples of SMS payments are PaySlay, Relay, Podium, Airtel Money, and M-PESA.
What Are Phone Bill Deposit Casinos?
Pay by phone bill casino is an online casino that allows deposits from your phone bill. In other words, you’ll deposit and begin playing without necessarily settling the payment on the spot. It’s like a play now and pay later scheme. Plus, pay by SMS mobile casinos should support direct deposits or via at least one of these payment methods; Boku, Payforit, Siru Mobile, or Zimpler. But don’t worry! We’ll discuss these payment option in detail later in this guide.
Meanwhile, you might be wondering if pay by phone casinos are safe. Actually, most phone bill casinos are licensed and regulated, just like traditional gambling sites. Even better, this payment solution itself is 100% secure. The fact that you won’t give away any bank or credit card details to the payment processor or casino is an added security layer. Now, who wouldn’t like that?
But be sure to play at the best online casinos that respect the local gambling laws. For example, UK Gambling Commission banned credit card gambling in April 2020. Now this means phone bill casino payments don’t conform with the latest guidelines in the country. The idea is to stop players from gaming with unavailable money. So, be sceptical about a UK casino that offers pay by phone payment service.
The Pros and Cons of Pay by Phone Bill Casinos
It's evident that there are many advantages of playing at a pay by phone casino. But while that's true, there're a few downsides to keep in mind as well. To shorten the long story, here are the pros and cons of using phone bills at the casino:Pros
- Fast sign-ups as no bank details are required
- Safe and secure payment methods since you only give the phone number
- Deposits are almost instantaneous
- Low transaction charges or zero in platforms like PayForIt
- Play now and settle the bill later
- Pay by phone deposits qualify for bonus promotions
Cons
- There are deposit limits
- You can't cash out via pay by phone bill service
- Not available in all countries
- It can lead to problem gambling if not managed professionally
- Some casinos and mobile carriers don't support this payment
Why Use a Pay by Phone Casino?
There are many upsides of playing at a pay by phone casino. First, these casinos offer top-level payment security compared to standard payments. Typically, your bank details or credit card information isn’t necessary to process payments. Now, this reduces any chances of your financial data being compromised by a third-party payment provider. Remember also that these casinos are fully licensed and regulated in their jurisdictions.
Another fantastic advantage of phone bill casino payments is fast processing durations. In this payment method, you’ll enjoy instant deposits compared to payments via ewallets and credit cards which can take a few minutes. Gamers don’t need to provide their bank or e-wallet details for the casino to process payments. The lack of third-party input also reduces transaction costs, often zero in most phone bill methods.
Lastly, payments via phone bill can help you manage your play and bankroll effectively. For starters, this banking method allows you to play and pay later. This makes sure that you can participate in a lucrative casino tournament with a short deadline. Also, as said before, pay by phone bills have maximum deposit limits, usually around $30. Plus, you can easily keep track of your online gambling transactions with this method.
Simple Guide to Deposit at Pay by Phone Casino
Getting started with this payment method is relatively straightforward. You’ll begin by creating an online casino account. Most mobile casinos don’t request loads of information. Instead, you’ll only provide your legal names, date of birth, physical address, email, and phone number. After that, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the payments page of the casino and choose your preferred pay by phone bill method.
Step 2: Now enter the amount you want to fund into the casino and provide the registered phone number.
Step 3: The payment will reflect on your casino account instantly. Also, the casino will send you a confirmation SMS to your linked phone number. In some instances, the SMS can have a code that you’ll use to authorise payment at the casino. It’s that easy!
Step 4: After making your deposit, you can start playing all your favourite casino games.
Things to Know When Using a Pay by Phone Casino?
Before using a pay by phone casino, there are few things you need to know. First off, the pay by phone casino don’t care if you’re playing with borrowed money or not. They will sweep away all your bankroll, leaving you in debt at the end of the billing cycle. Fortunately, it’s not a huge amount.
Additionally, pay by phone casinos don’t usually allow withdrawals. This can be very inconvenient as players must create an alternative way to withdraw funds from the casino. It is also notable that not all mobile casinos and mobile network carriers support this payment method. Furthermore, it can be a little bit challenging to keep track of your casino spending until you get the monthly bill. So, use it carefully to avoid getting into a gambling mess.
How We Find the Best Pay by Phone Casinos in South Africa
Finding the perfect pay by phone casino is not as easy as it sounds. That’s because you have to look at vital features like licensing, bonus amount, support, and payment methods. Also, reliable online casinos should offer mobile support via instant play or standalone iPhone and Android apps. So, without dilly-dallying much, let me walk you through the strict criteria we used to dig out the best online phone bill casinos.
Security and Fairness
The best phone casino sites must show proof of licensing to cut it in our list. In South Africa, for example, a local pay by phone casino must be approved by the NGB (National Gambling Board). If it's an offshore casino, we ensure it's licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, the Government of Gibraltar, the Swedish Gambling Authority, and so on. Also, the casino website should be SSL encrypted. You can confirm this by ensuring the website starts with HTTPS. In addition, click the "padlock" icon on the website URL to reveal the SSL certificate.
Rewarding Bonuses
Due to the cut-throat competition in the online gambling industry, casinos are offering big bonuses to entice players. This can be no-deposit bonuses, deposit bonuses, cashback, tournament invitations, etc. But although freebies are good, you should reconsider claiming it if the reward looks too good to be true. In most instances, rogue casinos will offer super-high bonuses only to tie you with unreasonable wagering requirements, high minimum bets, and short deadlines. So, read the bonus fine print to ascertain that it's realistic.
Variety of Casino Games
The size of the game catalogue at a pay by phone casino is another critical deciding factor to consider. That's because casino libraries come in different shapes and sizes. For example, you can find an extensive library only to realise that slot machines contribute to it 90%. On the other hand, a casino can have an 'average' library but boast a nice blend of slot machines and table games. In that case, go for the former, as you'll enjoy more varieties. And lest I forget, the best casino game library should be powered by NetEnt, Betsoft, Evolution, Microgaming, Pragmatic Play, and other big names.
Fast and Safe Payments
What are the payment channels available at the casino? Is the transaction processing time instant enough? These are some of the checkboxes a pay by phone casino had to tick to get the green light from us. Reliable phone bill casinos support payments via Siru Mobile, Zimpler, Payforit, and Boku. When it comes to e-wallets, the casino should support transactions through PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, and Paysafecard. The thing is that these banking options are known to offer fast and safe payments. Remember also to check the casino payment terms to know the maximum withdrawal period and limit. Anything more than five business days is a big NO.
Fairness and Transparency
With so many casino options out there, it's only proper to ensure that you're playing at the fairest platforms. So, apart from playing games supplied by the biggest names in the industry, make sure the games have been tested for fairness. Just say, the casino must show proof that the game results aren't skewed. To confirm this, scroll down the home page and check if the casino is tested and audited by independent bodies like eCOGRA, Gaming Associates, iTech Labs, and more. Then, click the name of the testing body to see the certificate with all the tested games.
Reliable Customer Support
Like it or not, you'll likely experience a few tricky moments at the online casino. For example, you may not know the bonus promo code, or the casino can simply suspend you for no good reason. Also, it's common for transactions to take more than the stipulated time. So, to avoid this gut-wrenching experience, ensure the casino support is always on standby 24/7. They should be available via phone, email, Twitter, or live chat. Personally, I prefer live chat support because it's available 24/7, and responses are instant. A detailed FAQ page will come in handy too.
Mobile Compatibility
One of the main driving forces behind the fast growth of the online gambling industry is mobile technology. Today, most gamers want to play on the go instead of using static desktops. But while most online casinos are compatible with mobile platforms, some go a notch higher with standalone apps. These apps are designed to offer seamless play on Android or iOS. In short, the best mobile app should provide everything you'll find on the desktop version.
Different Types of Pay by Phone Services
Boku
From 2009, Boku is a mobile payments solution provider headquartered in California, US. This platform allows online casinos and other businesses to collect payments via mobile wallets and carrier billings. Currently, Boku is the biggest mobile payments provider with over 900 million active members spread across 75+ countries. Some of the digital wallets supported by Boku include GoPay, GrabPay, AliPay, M-PESA, and Paytm.
Siru Mobile
Siru Mobile is another innovative phone bill company, which is functioning back from 2011. Plus, it supports mobile carriers like Vodafone, Orange, O2, Telenor Group, and more. Thus, using this app to make deposits is fast and smooth, as checkouts only take around 30 seconds to complete. However, Siru Mobile limits payments to £500/€300 per month. Depending on how you look at this limitation, this can be good or bad news. For casino bankroll management, it’s definitely good news.
PayForIt
PayForIt is another payment service provider that uses your mobile credit to pay for online services, including casino gambling. With this cashless form of payment, deposits only take a few seconds to process. In addition, PayForIt charges zero transaction fees. Just provide your mobile phone number, and you’re on your way to making your first mobile credit payment. PayForIt supports mobile networks like Vodafone, EE, O2, Three, and Virgin.
Zimpler
Also, check if the pay by phone casino supports Zimpler payments. Established in 2002, this Swedish company was initially called PugglePay before rebranding to Zimpler in 2016. Having said that, getting started at Zimpler is easy, provided you have a registered mobile phone number. After signing up, you can get phone bills via SMS or email. The invoice can then be paid via a direct bank transfer or deposit using the carrier network. Note that the bill must be cleared within 14 days, or a penalty charge is applied.
PayViaPhone
Lastly, the online casino might also support payments via PayViaPhone, although this method is not available in South Africa yet. Like the others, this payment method charges users on their phone bills after making deposits or payments. It’s available in UK casinos only, and payments are only made in pound sterling. In some casinos, this payment method allows you to deposit directly via billing using your mobile carrier network. And although it supports withdrawals, a 15% fee is applicable.
Pay by Phone Casino Bonus Promotions
Up to here, you must be wondering if pay by phone payments can qualify you for the deposit bonus. Well, the thing is that some payment methods are excluded from bonus amount. This is common with e-wallets like Neteller and Skrill, which players have previously used to exploit bonus systems.
Fortunately, that’s not the case with pay by mobile deposits. As the casino will usually reward you for making mobile credit payments or credit card payments. Thus, you’ll qualify for a matched deposit of 100% up to $100, $200, or even $2,000, depending on the gambling site. Some casinos can even offer 200% matched deposits. Another thing, the online casino can throw in a few free spins into the fray.
But before you claim the bonus, it’s paramount to read and understand the bonus term. Many times, pay by mobile deposits are capped at around $30. Therefore, learn about the minimum qualifying deposit before making the payment. You won’t qualify even if you make a $0.1 deposit less. Moreover, the bonus terms and conditions page will tell you more about the expiry date, minimum bet limit, playthrough requirement, bonus code, and other important bonus information.
Mobile Casino Games You Can Play with Pay by Phone
Pay by phone bill is now a mainstay at most online casinos in South Africa. This is thanks to the swift and secure transactions that have endeared it to most players. As a result, many casino companies allow players to enjoy as many games as possible using pay by phone deposits. You’ll enjoy the same game catalogue you would with other banking methods. Below is a brief recap of pay by phone casino games:
Online Slots
Slot machines are a mainstay at most mobile casino sites. In fact, you're likely to play a slot machine after making your first phone bill deposit. That's because most casinos tie their bonuses to slots. Popular pay by phone slots include Gorilla Kingdom (NetEnt), Crown of Egypt (IGT), Starburst (NetEnt), Gonzo's Quest (NetEnt), and many others. Of course, you can also play jackpots like Mega Moolah by Microgaming and Funky Fruits by Playtech.
Online Blackjack
Blackjack is arguably the most popular classic table game on any casino floor. It boasts straightforward game rules and high RTP (return to player). After depositing using your phone bill, proceed to choose a blackjack variant and aim to bet the dealer for the coveted 21. Interestingly, there are several blackjack variants from different developers. For instance, you can enjoy numerous multipliers with Lightning Blackjack by Evolution. Or, play with unlimited players in Unlimited 21 Blackjack by Ezugi.
Online Roulette
Roulette is another classic table game that mobile casino players can't get enough of. Players can make outside bets like Odd/Even and Red/Black or inside bets like Straight Up and Line bets. But there is a secret; don't play on the American wheel if you don't want to blow your phone bill bankroll. It has 38 pockets, giving it a high house edge of 5.25%. On the other side, the European wheel with 37 pockets has a low house edge of 2.7%. Fortunately, most mobile casino sites know this, often offering the European variant.
Table Games
Roulette and blackjack are not the only RNG-based table games to play with phone credit. Any self-respecting mobile casino must add variants like poker, craps, sic bo, and baccarat to its catalogue. In the case of poker, this is another skill-based game, similar to blackjack. The game allows players to decide when to stand, call, double down, bluff, and so on. This can reduce the house advantage to less than 0.50% in variants like Texas Hold 'em and Deuces Wild.
Live Casino Games
Are you sceptical about playing one-dimensional RNG table games? Well, enter the "Live Casino" section and enjoy a realistic experience streamed in HD quality from live studios. These games are hosted by professional croupiers who will immediately make you feel the part. Evolution and Ezugi have really excelled in creating entertaining live casino games and game shows. But note that live games don't give free lunches. In simple words, they don't have a demo version. So, sharpen your playing skills before risking anything inside the live dealer room.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pay by Phone
How long do deposits and withdrawals take using pay by phone?
When you use a pay by phone service to make an online casino deposit, money transfer is instant. By this, I mean that the funds will reflect in your casino account in less than a minute. However, this might depend on the pay by phone casino you're playing at and the payment service. But generally, deposits are super-fast without any delays.
Do pay by phone casinos charge depositing fees?
Fortunately, no! Most mobile casinos won't charge players anything to pay by phone bills. But as an intelligent gamer that you are, it's fair enough to cross check if the online casino charges anything. This information should be readily available on the casino's payment page. It's here that you'll also learn about the transaction limits and duration for all the available payment methods.
What is the maximum deposit limit for pay by phone casinos?
The main drawback of pay by phone casinos is that players can't deposit any amount they wish. In short, these methods have a maximum deposit limit. This is usually $/€/£30. The main idea is to ensure responsible gambling. But that aside, always check the terms and conditions to ascertain the maximum/minimum deposit limits.
Are pay by phone casinos the same as pay by SMS casinos?
Actually, it's not the same thing, although it's common to find people referring to pay by phone as pay by SMS. Although both confirm payments via SMS after a successful deposit, pay by phone uses third-party payment processors to facilitate transactions. On the other hand, pay by SMS makes direct transactions between the mobile casino and the phone network provider.
Am I safe playing online with my mobile phone?
Yes, gambling online with your mobile phone is just as safe as using your computer, if not safer. Just find a reliable casino and create an account. But always remember to update your mobile operating system since new updates come with better security features. Also, take other precautions like avoiding public Wi-Fi and sharing passwords.
Will I have to pay charges on deposits and withdrawals?
In most cases, you won't pay anything to make deposits at popular pay by phone methods like Boku and PayForIt. However, confirm if the payment method charges anything before making a deposit.
Is it safer to use over a credit card or debit card?
Generally speaking, pay by phone deposits are safer than credit/debit card deposits. With the former, you won't disclose your bank or credit card information. This also makes payments faster than credit/debit card transactions.
Do all casino sites accept pay by phone?
No, some online casinos don't support payments via pay by phone. This is common in the UK, where credit card gambling was banned in April 2020. So, all said, it depends on your local gambling laws and the mobile casino itself.
Last updated: 13. July 2022