How To Use Boku
Deposits: Pay-As-You-Go Vs Mobile Contracts
There are two ways you can use Boku to pay for goods and services. There’s an option for people who are contracted to their mobile carriers and an option for people who aren’t and prefer the pay-as-you-go route.
Boku Deposits As A Pay-As-You-Go Customer
If you are on a pay-as-you-go contract, you still have the option to make a Boku casino deposit. However, instead of having your expenses added to your monthly phone bill it will be deducted from your mobile data allowance, which you would usually use to browse the Internet, send messages and make phone calls.
Practical example: Imagine your mobile phone carrier charges you £20 for 10GB of data. In this scenario, each 1GB of mobile data costs £2. If you decide to make a Boku casino deposit worth £10, then your carrier will reduce your data allowance to 5GB.
However, it’s important you understand that you cannot pay by phone with Boku when you turned your pay-as-you-go deposit at your phone carrier into a bundle, e.g., 3000 calls, 300 texts, and 12GB of data at Three.
Mobile Contracts
If you do have a monthly contract for your mobile phone than using Boku is even simpler. Instead of having to work out how much data is being deducted for each Boku casino deposit, the amount is simply added to your monthly phone bill. On the bill, it will state ‘Boku’ so you know exactly how much you spent.
Making Deposits With Boku
Boku is available in 50 different countries and open to everyone 18 years and older, so the likelihood is high that you’re able to pay by phone at your online casino of choice. Having partnerships with O2, EE, T-Mobile, Orange, Vodafone, and Three in the UK, Boku has created a strong network with operators.
Making deposits at casino sites is quick and straightforward, and all you need is an active Internet connection – Wifi, 3G and 4G works – and an Internet-enabled device. You can even use your laptop and still pay with Boku since all you need is your phone number.
All of this and the fact that Boku is so easy to use has made the payment method one of the top options at online casino sites. If you’re interested in playing at a Boku casino, all you need to is follow the steps below:
Find Boku casino sites that accept the payment option and make sure you’re registered. Then click the ‘Deposit’ button on your account.
At the deposit screen, click on the ‘Pay by Mobile’ or the Boku logo and click ‘Continue’.
At the Boku deposit casino screen, select or enter how much you wish to deposit and click ‘Continue’.
Enter your mobile number and then confirm your payment request.
That’s it! You’re ready to start playing.
Withdrawing Winnings With Boku
Some people have asked us whether you can also request withdrawals via Boku back onto your mobile phone. Some online casinos, in fact, state that you have to use the same payment method for deposits and withdrawals.
Boku, however, is an exception as the service cannot be used for withdrawals, which makes perfect sense. You wouldn’t want to load your winnings of potentially a few hundred pounds onto your pay-as-you-go contract, would you?
When it’s time to withdraw earnings, we recommend using an e-Wallet such as Skrill, Neteller or PayPal as they have the fastest processing times. In most cases, the money is with your wallet within 24 hours or less.
How To Choose A Boku Casino Site
Check For A Valid UK License
Before you can start using Boku as a payment option, you’ll need to double-check that the online casino you’re registering with is actually safe to use. The best way to check this is by finding out whether or not the online casino possesses a valid license from the UK Gambling Commission. Most online casinos operating in the UK do possess a license, but some overseas casino sites can be accessible to UK players but not possess a license, making them risky to play with.
All of the online casinos we suggest on this page are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. But if you’re registered at an online casino not listed here, you can check whether or not they’re licensed by scrolling down to the website footer and looking for the UK Gambling Commission logo. If it’s there, the site is regulated and possesses a license.
One of the reasons it’s important to play at a licensed casino is that they follow the Gambling Commission’s tight regulations and rules on gambling. As a licensed gambling site, the casino pledges to combat problem gambling, offer help and support to those vulnerable and in need, display fair terms, ensure all games are fair, and so much more.
Deposit And Withdrawal Limits
Now, there are some limitations when it comes to depositing and withdrawing with Boku. Firstly, many casino sites accepting Boku have a deposit limit of £30 a day and a minimum deposit amount of £15. What’s more, most Boku casino sites will deduct a 15% fee for using Boku from your deposit. This cannot be avoided. What’s more, only certain mobile networks accept the payment service, usually O2, 3, and EE. Anyone who is with Vodafone and Virgin may not be accepted, but this generally depends on the individual casino site.
Also, as mentioned above, you cannot use Boku for withdrawals. This means that you are always required to select an alternate payment method. Being forced to change payment methods can get frustrating quickly and may lead you to swap to another method permanently.
Boku Casino Bonus
Similarly to many e-Wallet payments, most online casinos offering Boku as a payment method prohibit players from using Boku to claim bonuses and promotions. This, again, may force you into using an alternate payment method. However, there are some online casinos that do allow you to use Boku for claiming bonuses, which is why it’s always important to check the terms and conditions before making a deposit.
If you’re looking to register at an online casino that accepts Boku, why not take a look below for our suggestion of the best Boku casinos with good bonuses. Some of them are great!
Best Boku Casino Bonuses
Different Types Of Boku Casinos
Boku Casinos With Live Games
Since so few online casinos accept Boku as a payment option, it can be difficult finding a casino site that accepts Boku and offers everything you’re after. For example, some Boku casino sites don’t offer any live casino games (Where real dealers are streamed directly to you and can be interacted with). Luckily for you, we’ve decided to round up the top five Boku casino sites that offer live casino games – don’t worry, you can thank us later!
Top Boku Casinos With Live Games
Mobile Boku Casinos
Although Boku is a complete mobile-focused payment method, there are some online casinos that offer Boku but do not provide players with a mobile app. Casino sites that do this require you to play in-browser which some players find irritating. Those of you who enjoy downloading mobile apps should take a look at our suggestions below of the best mobile Boku casino sites that offer mobile apps.
Top 5 Boku Sites With Mobile Apps
Benefits Of Boku
There are several key benefits to using Boku as a payment method. Firstly, since the payment method doesn’t require you to use any personal information such as an address, card numbers or bank information, so there’s no worry about someone stealing such details. In addition, the payment is easy to use and is on the rise, so many more casino sites may begin to accept it over the next few years. The daily deposit limit also helps to regulate your spending via Boku unless, of course, you move on to an alternate method.
Unfortunately, the disadvantages may outweigh the positives in this case. For example, the daily limit may prove to be extremely irritating to people who like to make regular deposits. What’s more, the frequent fees added on to all deposits mean you lose money whenever you deposit. And since Boku cannot be used for withdrawals, you’re forced to select an alternate method and may have to complete a series of new verification checks. Lastly, we’ve mentioned before but there’s an overall lack in the number of online casinos accepting Boku so it can actually be somewhat difficult to find a good Boku casino site.
Are Boku Casino Sites Safe?
Boku casino sites are incredibly safe. In fact, Boku is one of the safest deposit options you can use. The reason Boku is appealing to so many people is that it’s not tied to your bank account. Most casinos require a form of payment that is linked to your bank account or cards, but Boku isn’t. It’s only connected to your mobile number which means you don’t need to provide the Boku casino site with any of your personal or financial details, which many people dislike doing.
In addition to this, Boku only allows up to £30 deposits so if someone did manage to hack into your casino or Boku account, they wouldn’t be able to do much with it compared to other payment options. Lastly, Boku works with leading mobile carriers who follow a strict set of rules and employ some of the best security services around. In fact, the UK has several organisations that regulate phone pay services including PhonePayPlus, Ofcom and AIME. In short, there’s nothing to worry about when it comes to Boku casino sites.
Responsible Gambling
While using Boku sounds like a great idea, it’s important you keep track of how much you’re spending. It can be easy to ignore or forget how much you’ve deposited and spent at Boku casino sites when using this payment method because nothing is taken directly from your bank account. So be careful as you wouldn’t want to open your mobile bill statement at the end of the month to find a shocking bill. If you do find yourself forgetting how much you’ve spent, you can easily call your mobile carrier and ask a customer service agent.
Questions & Answers (FAQ)
Is Boku worth using?
Boku is simple, easy to use and incredibly fast. On top of that, the payment option can be used on multiple devices and in over 50 different countries, making it a great payment method. However, it depends entirely on how you’re using it (Contract or pay-as-you-go) and whether you’re connected to a mobile carrier that accepts it. However, it’s important to keep track of your deposits to ensure you don’t overspend, and the fact that so few casinos accept Boku can be a little disappointing. But still, the method is great to use for gambling.
How long has Boku been around?
Boku was originally founded in 2003 as Vidicom Limited by Thomas Kirk and Glyn Smith from Derbyshire, England. In 2008, the two men received funding and the company re-established itself as Boku. After buying Mobilcash and Paymo, a mobile payment provider, Boku officially launched in 2009 and grew quickly over the next several years. It is now available to use with PlayStation, Spotify, Facebook, Google, Xbox and more, and its popularity continues to increase today.
Are there other pay-by-mobile services?
Yes, there are. In addition to Boku, players can also use methods such as Pay By Mobile and Pay Via Phone, both of which work similarly to Boku and face similar restrictions. They all function the same, and the sites we’ve listed above offer a combination of Boku and these other services.
What is the best Boku Casino?
We can’t really answer that as it’s all up to personal preference. Some online casino sites that accept Boku may offer a better selection of games than others, while others may offer more regular bonuses and promotions. It’s entirely up to you and if you can’t make up your mind, we suggest you check out some of our Boku casino suggestions from above and take a look around at the sites. If you like any of them, register and give ’em a go!
Are there any Boku casino sites that do not charge fees?
Yes, there are some that do. While writing our reviews, we’ve found that Nektan casino sites generally charge service fees for depositing via Boku. However, most other online casinos accepting the method do not charge these fees, such as Casino Gods, All British Casino, Vegas Hero, Genesis Casino, and more. If you’re looking for the cheapest option, it may be worth registering with these casino sites.
Is it better to use Boku on contact or pay-as-you-go?
We believe that it’s actually better to use it when on a mobile contract. This makes it easier to track in the long-term and will help you regulate your spending. Another reason for this is that it can be frustrating when your deposits are deducted as phone credit, meaning you lose credit to send messages or make phone calls unless you top-up. This can make it more expensive in the long-run, particularly because you’ll need credit not just to do your everyday activities, but to also visit the casino site!