If you’ve seen or heard the term “pay by mobile” or “pay by phone”, you must be curious to know how they work. In recent times, these online payment methods seem to be popping up all over the world. It’s especially true for online betting sites in the UK.
In this post for PMCA Online, Jimmy Daytona will break down the legal aspects of online gambling in the UK and teach us how to use Boku smartly. Let’s go.
Jimmy Daytona Explains the Legality of Online Betting
What payment method you will use for online gambling is a matter for later. The first thing you need to ensure is the legality of the case. So, we asked, is online gambling legal in the UK?
Mr Daytona’s answer was reassuring. You’d be glad to know that online gambling in the UK has been legal for a very long time. The United Kingdom Gambling Commission regulates the industry based on the Gambling Act 2005.
While the legislation doesn’t exclusively mention betting with Boku, it notes that online sports wagering is legal as long as it’s done on a licensed website.
As for Boku, it’s regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, which means it’s also legal to use in the country. So, when you use two lawful things together or to complement each other, it’s legal.
PMCA Online Feature ─ What Is Boku?
If you haven’t used this mobile payment system in the UK, you must have heard of it. It’s a mobile partner for all mobile carriers in the UK. It automatically means you can use it for betting sites that accept it. If you have a registered phone number in the country, you can use Boku.
Jimmy Daytona has already shared the link to the sites accepting this pay-by-mobile method.
The primary modality here is to pay for the service via your mobile carrier. It means you’ll pay your mobile bill instead of depositing it directly into your sportsbook account. Based on what type of plan you have with your carrier, you can use Boku betting sites in 2 different ways.
Pay Mobile Bill (Postpaid)
If you pay the bill for your mobile carrier on a fixed date every month, you use a postpaid connection. It is the simplest way to use Boku, as you don’t have to think about funding when betting. You can keep using Boku, and the bill will be added to your mobile bill for the next billing date.
Pay As You Go (Pre-paid)
Although less used, many people still use the pre-paid model for their mobile connection. The main difference in this approach is that you must have the funds deposited as phone credit. There is no billing cycle every month. It automatically means that you can only use Boku to deposit in betting sites when you have the funds in your phone.
Should You Use Boku in the UK?
It is the most critical question you can ask about this payment method. It sure sounds nice on paper. But how feasible is it for betting? Let’s find out in this video.
It’s Convenient
One of the main reasons you might think of using Boku as a payment method is that you don’t want any hassle. Connecting your bank or e-wallet account to an online betting site is time-consuming and risky.
When you use Boku for deposits, you’re not exposing personal details to the betting site or on the internet. The mobile carrier company already has your data, and it’s protected in secured servers.
It’s Very Safe
As a sensible gambler, safety should always be one of your first concerns. Boku is the world’s largest mobile network, and its security features reflect the volume. That involves payment methods, too, as they’re the channel to carry the money.
All the portals you must use for the deposit are protected with SSL 128-bit encryption. Also, the company is governed by the FCA.
You Can’t Withdraw
It is the biggest drawback of Boku as a payment method. It’s been designed as a “payment method” and not a transaction method. As a result, you can only deposit real money into your betting account but not withdraw with it.
Jimmy Dayton requests you not to worry as he has a few tricks up his sleeve that you can use. You’ll still need to use a backup payment method for withdrawals. Stay tuned for that.
Limited Deposit
Boku only allows up to £30 deposit in a day. You can’t even deposit the whole sum at once. You’ll have to go for 3 separate £10 deposits.
Now, this is a curse if you’re a high roller. In the fast-paced online gambling scenario, you’ll burn through £30 before realizing it. As soon as you do, you’re done for the day, and you have to wait for the next day for a deposit again.
When you use Boku, you don’t have to use manual deposit limits or betting limits to keep yourself in check. On the contrary, it could be a blessing if you’re a very responsible gambler. £30 is a very decent amount for an occasional bettor, in Jimmy’s opinion.
Best Alternatives to Boku for Withdrawals
As Jimmy promised, he will share some alternative payment methods you can use in the UK to withdraw your real money funds.
- E-Wallets: Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, EcoPayz, etc., all belong to the E-wallet category. These are widely considered the best online methods for gambling deposits and withdrawals. Some of these methods were solely designed for processing such payments. We’re looking at you, Neteller!
- Bank transfer methods: Most licensed online betting sites in the UK allow online bank transfers. You may do it via Trustly or any other medium as well. Bank transfers usually take up to 5 days, but the fees are more bearable than E-wallets.
- Cryptocurrencies: If you’re looking into a truly “hassle-free” online payment method, you must use cryptocurrencies. It doesn’t matter whether you use Bitcoin, Litecoin, XRP, or Dogecoin because they all are on blockchains. And blockchain transfers are nearly instant and free from all kinds of regulations.
How to Deposit with Boku
- Sign up for a Boku betting site from the list.
- Visit the banking page and choose Boku from the list.
- Enter the amount you want to deposit.
- Enter your phone number to receive an OTP for authentication.
- Enter the OTP to complete the transaction. You should receive an SMS after the deposit goes through.
