Pay by Mobile Casino Fees & Surcharges: Complete UK Guide (2025)

Q: Are carrier-billing fees tax-deductible for players?

No. Gambling winnings are tax-free in the UK, but deposit processing fees are personal entertainment costs and cannot be reclaimed.

Q: Why do some casinos show £9.75 after a £10 deposit?

That’s usually a 2.5 % “handling” deduction layered on top of the carrier cut, charged by the operator’s PSP. It’s rare but legal if disclosed.

Q: Can I get a refund of the surcharge if I self-exclude?

Once processed, fees aren’t reversible. However, if you self-exclude within 24 hours, some casinos will goodwill-credit the deducted amount as bonus funds to your withdrawal method .

Q: Is it cheaper to deposit in euros or dollars?

No. Currency choice doesn’t affect the carrier fee; the mobile network still charges a percentage of the GBP-equivalent.

Q: Do carrier-billing fees count toward wagering requirements?

No, any percentage deducted before the funds reach your balance is not counted as deposited capital for wagering; only the net amount credited is eligible.

Q: Is the surcharge applied before or after the £40 daily Payforit limit?

The surcharge is applied after the carrier approves the gross amount, so the full £10 you authorise counts toward the £40 limit even if only £8.50 lands in your wallet.

Q: Are free-spin bonuses adjusted when a phone-bill fee is deducted?

Yes, casinos calculate free-spin eligibility on the net amount received, meaning a 15 % fee could push you below the minimum required for a spins package.

Q: Does the SMS confirmation itself incur a premium-rate text charge?

No, confirmation texts for Boku, Fonix, Siru, and PayviaPhone are free for UK users; they are sent via shortcodes exempt from outbound SMS billing.

Q: Will I see the carrier’s 10–15 % commission detailed on my phone bill?

No, mobile bills always list the gross charge (e.g. £10); the carrier commission is settled between the casino and billing provider off-bill.

Q: If I raise my network Spend Cap, will my phone-bill fee change?

No, altering your Spend Cap only increases the maximum you can charge; it has no effect on the percentage commission deducted by carriers or casinos.

Author:

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Last Updated: 10 June 2025

Pay by mobile casino fees can be charged when making a deposit. Depositing at a UK online casino by charging the payment to your phone bill is fast and card-free, but it isn’t always fee-free.

This article drills into why fees exist, how large they typically are, which casinos (and payment providers) tend to charge them, and – crucially – how to avoid unnecessary surcharges without ditching the convenience of Pay by Mobile.

Why do fees appear on Pay-by-Phone deposits?

When you confirm a £10 pay by mobile casino deposit via Boku, Payforit or Fonix, the mobile network is effectively extending you a micro-loan and handling settlement with the casino on your behalf. For that service, carriers bill the casino (or its payment gateway) a commission that can reach 10–15 % of the transaction value. Operators face three options:

Absorb the fee as a cost of doing business (most player-friendly choice).
Apply a flat surcharge (e.g., “£1 processing fee” on every phone deposit).
Credit less than you authorised (e.g., you pay £10 but only £8.50 reaches your wallet).

A minority of UK casinos choose option 2 or 3 – creating the “phone bill casino fee” complaints you’ll see on forums.

Will you be charged a fee for using pay by phone bill at a casino online?

Most UK online casinos do not charge any fees for deposits made via pay-by-phone bill, making it one of the most convenient and cost-effective ways to fund your account.

However, some mobile network providers may apply a small service charge on these transactions, so always verify with your operator before you deposit.

Key points on pay by phone fees

Casinos: Generally no extra fees for pay-by-phone deposits.
Mobile Networks: May add small service fees—these vary by provider.
Deposit Limits: Typically low (£10–£30 per transaction) due to fee structures
and responsible gambling policies.
Check First: Review both the casino’s banking terms and your mobile network’s
policies to confirm any charges.

Recommendation for pay by phone bill fees

Before making a pay-by-phone bill deposit, contact your mobile network provider to confirm whether any fees apply and read the casino’s terms & conditions for pay-by-mobile transactions. This simple check helps you avoid unexpected charges and ensures a smooth deposit experience.

Table showing typical pay by phone bill casino fee structures in 2025

Fee Model	How It Looks in the Cashier	Real-World Example
Zero-fee (casino absorbs cost)	“£10 deposit ➜ £10 credited”	MrQ, Hyper Casino
Flat surcharge	“£10 deposit + £1 processing fee”	Monster Casino (15 % flat)
Net credit reduction	“£10 deposit ➜ £8.50 credited”	Select White-label Curacao sites

Table showing a provider-by-provider pay by phone bill cost snapshot

Billing Provider	Typical Merchant Commission	How Casinos Handle It
Boku	≈ 12 %	Majority absorb; a few deduct 15 % to cover VAT overhead.
Fonix (Pay by Mobile)	≈ 10 %	Similar to Boku; often fee-free due to slightly lower base rate.
Siru Mobile	≈ 15 %	Higher cut means casinos frequently pass on a flat £1 fee.
PayviaPhone	≈ 13 %	Usually billed as a 15 % deduction or bonus-ineligible deposit.

Figures are industry averages sourced from Payment Service Provider (PSP) rate cards and operator disclosures 2024–2025.

4 tips on how to spot a pay by phone bill casino surcharge

Open the casino Cashier → select Pay by Mobile → check the amount gamblingauthority.co.uk/li>
Scan the Banking FAQ section for a line like “A 15 % carrier-billing fee applies.”
Look for bonus fine print; “Deposits made via Pay by Mobile are excluded from this promotion” is a soft fee in disguise.
After deposit, cross-reference your phone bill: pay-monthly users will see the gross amount (£10), even if the net credit was less – proof a deduction occurred at casino level.

Six ways to minimise Pay by Mobile Casino Fees

Stick to fee-free brands: our Top 5 Pay by Mobile Casinos list tracks fee status monthly.
Use phone bill for small trial deposits (e.g. £10) to test a casino, then switch to debit or Apple Pay for larger amounts.
Leverage network promotions: EE and O2 occasionally subsidise Boku fees for partner sites during marketing pushes.
Time deposits near billing cycle reset so any percentage haircut occurs just before your monthly budget refreshes.
Hunt for cashback loyalty: some casinos offset carrier costs with 10 % weekly loss cashback (effectively cancelling the fee).
Compare Siru vs Boku: if one provider deducts a flat £1 and the other takes 15 %, Siru is cheaper below £6.66, Boku cheaper above.

Key Takeaways

Carrier fees average 10 – 15 %; whether you see them depends on the casino.
Boku and Fonix deposits are usually fee-free; Siru and PayviaPhone more often deduct.
Avoid hidden costs by reading cashier previews, bonus terms, and our regularly updated fee tracker.
If a deduction wasn’t disclosed, escalate through the PSA – the regulator is on the player’s side.

Summary table of pay by phone bill fees and charges

Aspect	Pay-by-Mobile Casino Fees (UK)
Why fees exist	Carriers charge casinos ≈ 10 – 15 % commission for fronting the deposit; operators either absorb, add a flat surcharge, or credit you less.
How often you pay	Most UK casinos absorb the fee (player sees £0). A minority add £1 flat or deduct ~15 % from the credited amount.
Typical fee models	Zero-fee: £10 → £10 credited (MrQ, Hyper). Flat surcharge: £10 + £1 processing (Monster). Net reduction: £10 → £8.50 credited (some Curacao white-labels).
Provider cost snapshot	Boku: ≈ 12 % commission – mostly fee-free; rare 15 % pass-through. Fonix: ≈ 10 % – usually fee-free. Siru Mobile: ≈ 15 % – casinos often charge £1 flat. PayviaPhone: ≈ 13 % – often 15 % deduction or bonus-ineligible.
Key warning signs	Cashier preview shows £10 ➜ £8.50 credit. Banking FAQ notes “15 % carrier-billing fee”. Bonus T&Cs exclude phone-bill deposits. Phone bill shows full £10 while casino wallet got less.
How to minimise fees	Stick to zero-fee brands (track monthly). Use phone bill for small £10 test deposits; switch to debit for bigger top-ups. Compare Siru vs Boku: Siru cheaper < £6.66, Boku cheaper above. Leverage cashback promos or network-subsidised periods (EE/O2 marketing pushes).
Key takeaways	Carrier fees average 10–15 %; Boku & Fonix deposits are usually fee-free, Siru and PayviaPhone often aren’t. Always read cashier previews and bonus terms to avoid surprise deductions.

Pay by Phone Casino Fees and Surcharges FAQs

Are carrier-billing fees tax-deductible for players?

Why do some casinos show £9.75 after a £10 deposit?

Can I get a refund of the surcharge if I self-exclude?

Is it cheaper to deposit in euros or dollars?

Do carrier-billing fees count toward wagering requirements?

Is the surcharge applied before or after the £40 daily Payforit limit?

Are free-spin bonuses adjusted when a phone-bill fee is deducted?

Does the SMS confirmation itself incur a premium-rate text charge?

Will I see the carrier’s 10–15 % commission detailed on my phone bill?

If I raise my network Spend Cap, will my phone-bill fee change?

What happens to the fee if my phone-bill deposit fails mid-process?

Chris Vaughan Senior Writer & Editor

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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.