How carrier billing works
When you choose pay by phone in the cashier, you enter your mobile number, receive an SMS with a code or a confirmation link, and approve the charge. The casino's billing partner, Boku in most markets or Siru Mobile in the Nordics, then adds the amount to your next monthly phone bill or deducts it from prepaid credit. The casino balance is credited instantly. No financial information changes hands, which is why the method scores high on privacy, and the identity check is effectively your phone contract. Availability in our data covers the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Norway and Finland for Pay by Phone, and Finland, Sweden, Norway and the UK for Siru Mobile.
Limits, fees and bonus rules
Carrier billing is designed for small amounts. The minimum deposit is 5 for Pay by Phone and 10 for Siru Mobile, and carriers impose daily caps that are commonly around 30 and monthly caps that rarely exceed a few hundred, set by the operator and regulator rather than the casino. Fees vary: Pay by Phone is free at the casino but the carrier may add a charge, while Siru Mobile applies a carrier fee of up to 10%, which makes it the most expensive deposit method in our ratings. Both are sometimes excluded from welcome bonuses, so check the terms.
Why you cannot withdraw to your phone bill
Carrier billing is a one-way channel. Mobile operators are not licensed payment institutions in the way banks and e-wallets are, and they have no mechanism to send money to a customer beyond crediting a phone account, which regulators do not permit for gambling winnings. The result is that every pay-by-phone casino must pay out through another route. In practice the casino asks you to register and verify a bank account, an e-wallet such as Skrill, Neteller or MiFinity, or a crypto wallet, and pays winnings there, usually subject to a 10 to 50 minimum withdrawal. Because that destination must be in your name and verified, the privacy advantage of carrier billing is confined to the deposit side.
When pay by phone makes sense
Carrier billing suits occasional, small deposits where convenience matters more than cost: a 10 top-up on the go, a first deposit to test a casino, or play in a country such as Norway where bank cards are blocked for gambling. The low caps double as a built-in budgeting tool, which some players value. It does not suit regular play, larger stakes or bonus hunting, because fees, limits and exclusions all work against it. For players who want the same no-bank privacy with better limits and no fee, a Paysafecard or Neosurf voucher is usually the better choice, and an e-wallet adds withdrawals on top.
Key takeaways
- Pay by phone charges a deposit to your mobile bill via SMS confirmation and credits the casino instantly.
- Limits are low, typically around 30 per day, and Siru Mobile can add a carrier fee of up to 10%.
- Winnings can never be paid to a phone bill; you need a verified bank account or e-wallet for withdrawals.
- Best for occasional small deposits; vouchers or e-wallets are better for regular play.
Frequently asked questions
Does pay by phone show on my phone bill?
Yes. The charge appears on your monthly bill or is deducted from prepaid credit, usually under the billing partner's name such as Boku rather than the casino's. On a shared contract the account holder will see it.
Can I use pay by phone on a prepaid SIM?
Usually yes, if the carrier supports it and you have enough credit. The deposit is deducted immediately. Limits are the same as for contract customers and you still need another method for withdrawals.