How Do Pay by Mobile Casinos Work?
Pay by Mobile casinos let UK players deposit funds using their mobile phone number, charging the amount to a monthly bill or deducting it from pay-as-you-go credit. Under the bonnet, these deposits rely on direct carrier billing (DCB) rails, multiple authentication layers, and strict U.K. compliance. This page explains—step by step—the exact technology, payment routing and regulatory logic that make Pay by Mobile casino payments possible.
1. Pay by Mobile Casinos: What Is it?
Instead of entering card details, the player:
- Selects “Pay by Mobile” on the casino’s cashier.
- Enters a UK mobile number (or the site auto-detects it via header enrichment).
- Confirms the charge with an SMS PIN or carrier-hosted prompt.
- The casino credits the balance instantly; the amount appears on the next phone bill or is removed from PAYG credit.
No bank details, no e-wallet log-ins—just the phone. This method is possible because carrier billing providers (Boku, Fonix, others) act as an intermediary between the casino and the mobile networks.
2. Pay by Mobile Casinos Technical Flow
- User initiates: Chooses Pay by Mobile & enters amount.
- Casino API call: Backend sends Charge to the PSP (aggregator).
- PSP routing: The aggregator routes the request to the correct mobile network operator (MNO).
- User authentication: SMS OTP (or carrier confirm page). User enters PIN / taps “Yes”.
- MNO authorisation: Carrier checks balance / limits and approves or denies in real time.
- PSP callback: Aggregator notifies casino; casino instantly credits player.
- Settlement: Carrier settles with PSP; PSP settles with casino (usually on a monthly schedule).
3. SIM Verification & Two-Factor Authentication
- Header Enrichment: Auto-detects MSISDN when the device is on 4G/5G (no Wi-Fi).
- SMS OTP: 4- or 6-digit PIN sent via SMS; user enters it to complete the charge.
- Carrier Confirm Page: A secure landing page hosted by the MNO; user taps “Confirm”.
- Tokenisation: PSP stores an alias of the phone number so future deposits can bypass data re-entry while preserving privacy.
4. PSP Gateway Architecture
The casino integrates a single PSP API.
- Unified endpoint converts the request into carrier-specific formats.
- Routing logic decides which MNO gateway to call (EE, O2, Vodafone, Three).
- Fail-over, retry and SMS delivery monitoring are handled in the PSP layer.
- Alias store keeps customer tokens for repeat billing and fraud checks.
5. Real-Time Pay by Mobile Casinos Authorisation
| Stage | When? | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Authorisation | ~1–3 seconds | MNO approves; casino credits funds immediately. |
| Billing | Instant (PAYG) or next bill cycle (post-paid) | User pays via mobile bill or airtime. |
| Settlement | Typically monthly | MNO → PSP → casino, net of fees. |
6. UK Compliance Matrix
- Phone-paid Services Authority: Double opt-in, transparent pricing, receipt SMS.
- UK Gambling Commission: Age verification, AML, £40/day carrier billing cap.
- PSD2 Exemption: Digital services under ~£240/month via telecom billing.
- Credit Card Ban: Carrier billing exempt (small values, telco-mediated).
7. Key UK Providers
- Boku: Global PSP; offers single API covering all UK carriers; instant SMS-PIN flow.
- Fonix: UK-focused DCB specialist; deep carrier ties; identity & compliance add-ons.
- Payforit (Legacy): Historic UK scheme; its flow standards underpin modern “Charge to Mobile”.
- Apple Pay (Comparison): Tokenised card payment—not carrier billing—but often offered alongside.
8. Common Failure & Edge Cases
- Insufficient PAYG credit → automatic decline.
- User hits daily £40 carrier limit → decline.
- Wrong OTP or expired session → fail; no charge taken.
- Premium bar on number → request blocked; user must lift bar with carrier.
- Delayed SMS → fallback to “resend code” or voice call if supported.
- Post-paid non-payment → carrier may claw back; low incidence due to limits.
9. Business Impact for Casinos
When implemented correctly, Pay by Mobile increases mobile conversion rates, taps the unbanked or card-averse segment, and imposes low fraud chargebacks. The trade-off lies in higher acceptance fees and delayed settlement. It is best positioned as a low-limit, convenience deposit method that complements traditional banking rails.
10. Further Reading
Pay by Mobile Casino Payments (UK) FAQs
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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