Pay by Mobile Deposit Limits in the UK
Mobile phone billing has emerged as a convenient way for UK players to use pay by mobile for casino deposits without needing a bank card or e-wallet. Pay by mobile casino deposits allow you to charge a deposit to your phone bill (or prepaid credit) with just a phone number and SMS confirmation.
In this guide, we explain exactly how pay by mobile deposits work in the UK, focusing solely on the deposit process.
What are Pay by Mobile Deposits?
A pay by mobile casino deposit (also known as pay by phone bill deposit) is a payment method where the money you deposit to an online casino is charged to your mobile phone account. When you deposit £10 at a casino using this method, that £10 will either be added to your next monthly phone bill (if you’re on a pay‑monthly contract) or deducted from your available pay‑as‑you‑go phone credit. All you need is an active UK mobile number.
What is Payforit?
Payforit is not a single company but a collaboration between UK mobile networks to enable carrier billing for services (including casino deposits) in a standardised, secure way. When you see options like “Pay by Phone” or “Mobile Deposit” at a casino, it’s usually leveraging the Payforit scheme behind the scenes, often via providers like Boku (one of the world’s largest mobile payment platforms) or Fonix (a UK‑based carrier billing provider).
Pay by Mobile Deposits: Boku on O2 Step by Step
To clarify the process, let’s walk through a realistic example of a pay by mobile deposit. Suppose a UK player on the O2 network wants to deposit £10 at an online casino using Boku (a popular pay by phone service):
- Select “Pay by Phone” in the casino cashier: Player logs into her casino account and goes to the deposit section. She selects the “Pay by Mobile (Boku)” option and enters a £10 deposit amount. The casino’s payment interface asks for her mobile number.
- Enter mobile number: The player types in her O2 mobile phone number (07xxx xxx xxx). The casino now requests Boku to initiate a charge to that number.
- Receive SMS confirmation: Within seconds, she receives a text message from Boku (or O2) on her phone.
- Confirm the payment via SMS: The player replies “YES” to the text as instructed. She would enter that code back on the casino site to confirm if given a PIN.
- Deposit success: Almost immediately after sending the confirmation, the player sees a confirmation page or message from the casino that her deposit was successful.
- Billing: Later, when the player’s monthly O2 bill arrives, the £10 deposit will appear on it. It might show under a section for “Premium services” or “Carrier billing” with a line describing the charge (for example, “Boku deposit” or the casino’s name).
Key Pay By Mobile points:
- The player didn’t have to enter card details or log in to an online wallet.
- The casino deposit process is hands‑off. Your carrier and the payment provider handle the financial settlement behind the scenes.
- It’s important to know the limits and ensure you have the capacity on your phone account.
Major Pay-by-Mobile Deposit Providers (UK)
Payforit
The backbone of UK “Pay by Phone” deposits, backed by all major networks.
- Secure web or SMS confirmation; no bank details shared.
- Strict limits: £40/day and £240/month.
- Usually fee-free for players; casinos absorb carrier charges.
- Works on O2, EE, Vodafone, Three and virtual operators (Giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, etc.).
Boku
The most recognisable consumer brand for phone-bill deposits.
- Enter phone number, approve SMS—no app or account needed.
- Typical limits: £30/day; about £100/month.
- No direct user fee, but a few casinos add a small surcharge.
- Supported by EE, O2, Vodafone, and Three (contract & PAYG).
Fonix
A newer carrier-billing option that streamlines confirmation steps.
- Direct network authentication on mobile or SMS code on other devices.
- Limits mirror Payforit: up to £40/day, £240/month.
- Player fees are rare; the casino covers the backend cost.
- Compatible with all major UK networks and their MVNOs.
Quick Comparison table of Payforit, Boku and Fonix
| Provider | Daily Limit | Monthly Limit | Typical Fee to Player | Networks | Verification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payforit | £40 | £240 | None (rare £1–£2 at some sites) | O2, EE, Vodafone, Three + MVNOs | SMS or secure web prompt |
| Boku | £30 | ≈ £100 | None (occasionally 2–3 %) | O2, EE, Vodafone, Three | SMS confirmation |
| Fonix | £40 | £240 | None (casino covers cost) | All major networks + MVNOs | Direct carrier auth or SMS |
Can I Raise my Pay by Phone Bill Deposit Limit?
- Contract customers: log into your network’s online account or call customer services to request a higher spend threshold. Approval depends on credit status.
- Pay-as-you-go: top-ups plus unused credit must cover the deposit; the £30 daily cap cannot be lifted.
- Casino-side limits: even if your network approves £50+, the casino may still hard-cap at £30 for responsible-gambling compliance.
Pay by Mobile Deposit Limits, Fees, and Requirements
- Deposit Limits: UK networks impose a daily cap (commonly £30 or £40 per day) and a monthly cap (around £240) for charges to your bill.
- Fees: Generally, no direct fees are charged to the player for making a pay by mobile deposit.
- Mobile Network and Account Requirements: To pay by mobile, you must have a UK mobile phone number that accepts carrier billing charges.
- SMS Confirmation Mechanism: Every deposit must be confirmed via SMS or PIN.
Pay by Mobile Casino Deposit Security and Regulation
Transaction Security
From a technical standpoint, carrier billing is very secure. The confirmation process (via a one‑time PIN or SMS reply) acts as a form of two‑factor authentication—it ensures that only someone in possession of your phone can authorise a charge.
Privacy
The casino does not receive your phone’s billing information beyond the phone number and confirmation that the charge succeeded.
Regulation (Financial)
In the UK, pay-by-phone transactions fall under “phone‑paid services.” These transactions are not treated the same as bank payments. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates banking and e‑money and does not regulate carrier billing for digital transactions. These are considered telecommunications services charges rather than credit or banking products.
Regulation (Telecom and Consumer Protection)
The key regulatory body here is the Phone‑paid Services Authority (PSA), funded by Ofcom (the UK telecom regulator). The PSA sets rules for all premium rate services and carrier billing. This includes things like charity donations via text, buying ringtones, or, in our case, paying for services like online gambling via your phone bill.
UK Gambling Compliance
Any casino deposit method must align with UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) regulations. Pay by mobile deposits generally meet these requirements because:
- A deposit via phone will only be made if you have an active SIM.
- The low limits make large‑scale money laundering impossible via this channel.
- The casino will still have verified your identity through other means when you registered, so using a phone deposit doesn’t bypass KYC (Know Your Customer) checks; in some cases, they might verify your phone number as part of your account details.
- UKGC also ensures that gambling operators provide ways for customers to set deposit limits and control spending—pay by phone deposits count toward those limits just like any other deposit.
Responsible Gambling and Safety
Due to the caps, you can’t rack up huge debts via your phone bill. Keep your mobile account secure. Don’t share your phone with people you don’t trust, and put a lock or PIN on your SIM or messages.
Summary Table of Pay by Mobile Deposit Information
| Feature | Payforit | Boku | Fonix | General / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Secure web page or SMS prompt; charge added to bill/PAYG credit | Enter phone number, approve SMS reply; no app or account needed | Direct carrier authentication on mobile or SMS code cross-device | All pay-by-phone methods route the charge through your mobile account |
| Daily limit | £40 | £30 | £40 | Phone-paid Services Authority caps most deposits at £30–£40 per day |
| Monthly limit | £240 | ≈ £100 | £240 | Hard network caps protect against overspending |
| Typical player fee | None (rare £1–£2 at a few sites) | None (occasional 2–3 %) | None (casino covers cost) | Casinos usually swallow carrier commissions; always check T&Cs |
| Network support | O2, EE, Vodafone, Three + MVNOs | O2, EE, Vodafone, Three | All major networks + MVNOs | Any UK SIM that allows premium billing can use these services |
| Verification | SMS code or secure web confirm | SMS confirmation | Silent carrier auth or SMS | Acts as two-factor authentication; no bank/card data shared |
| Security & regulation | PSA rules; UKGC-licensed casinos; FCA not involved (telecom charge) | Low limits + SMS PIN protect users; falls under Phone-paid Services Authority | ||
| Withdrawals | Cannot withdraw to phone bill—use bank transfer or e-wallet | Phone-bill methods are deposit-only channels | ||
| Raising limits | Contract users may request higher network cap; casino limits still apply | PAYG users bound by available credit and default £30/£40 caps | ||
Pay by Mobile Deposits Caps Conclusion
Pay by mobile is a secure and regulated payment channel in the UK, albeit under telecom regulation rather than banking law. The combination of UKGC‑licensed casinos, PSA oversight on the carrier billing process, and technical safeguards means you can trust pay‑by‑phone deposit methods as much as any other mainstream payment option.
Pay by Mobile Deposits in UK Casinos FAQ
Chris Vaughan is a Senior Writer and Editor at GamblingAuthority. He has more than 18 years of experience in the iGaming industry and has great knowledge of game developers, trending games and casino research.
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