Trustly Expands to More UK Casinos

The way UK players move money in and out of online casinos has changed quietly but significantly. Where card payments and bank transfers once dominated, a new generation of faster, app-based and bank-linked methods has reshaped the experience. Two trends stand out: the rise of open banking and the growth of mobile-centred payment options. Here is what is changing and why it matters.

From cards to account-to-account payments

For years, debit cards were the default way to fund an online casino account. That remains common, but a notable shift has been the move towards account-to-account payments powered by open banking. Rather than entering card details, players authorise a payment directly from their bank account, usually by confirming it within their own banking app.

One driver of this shift in the UK was a regulatory change: the Gambling Commission banned the use of credit cards for online gambling, reflecting concern about people gambling with borrowed money. With credit cards off the table, debit cards and bank-linked methods became the focus, and open banking offered a natural, modern alternative.

How open banking works for players

Open banking is a framework that lets regulated third parties initiate payments directly from a customer’s bank account, with the customer’s explicit consent. In a casino context, the experience typically looks like this:

• You choose to deposit and select a bank-payment option.
• You are taken to your own bank’s app or login to approve the payment.
• The money moves directly from your bank account — no card numbers, no manual transfer details.

The appeal is a combination of speed, security and simplicity. Because the payment is authorised inside your own banking app, sensitive details are not re-entered on the casino’s site, and the transaction is confirmed using the same security you already trust for banking.

Pay by Mobile and the appeal of small, controlled deposits

A parallel trend is the popularity of mobile-centred payment methods, including Pay by Mobile services that let players add small deposits charged to their phone bill or balance. These options have found an audience for a few reasons:

• They are quick and convenient on a phone, with no card or bank login needed at the moment of payment.
• They naturally encourage smaller deposit amounts, which some players find helpful for staying in control.
• They keep card and bank details out of the casino entirely.

It is worth a note of caution, though: charging gambling to a phone bill can blur the line between entertainment spending and everyday costs, so the same discipline applies as with any other method.

Faster withdrawals: the part players notice most

If deposits have become smoother, withdrawals are where players often feel the difference most keenly. Slow payouts have long been a common complaint, and the broader move towards bank-linked and faster-payment infrastructure has pushed the industry towards quicker, more transparent withdrawals.

Several factors influence how fast you actually receive your money:

• The payment method itself, with bank and e-wallet options often faster than older routes.
• Any identity verification (KYC) the operator must complete, which licensed sites are required to carry out.
• Internal processing or “pending” times set by the operator before a withdrawal is released.

Reputable operators increasingly compete on payout speed, and clearer communication about withdrawal times has become a genuine point of differentiation.

What it means for UK players

The overall direction is positive: payments are faster, more secure and better integrated with the banking apps people already use. Open banking in particular removes friction while keeping sensitive details protected, and the disappearance of credit-card gambling has nudged the market towards methods that don’t involve borrowing.

None of this changes the fundamentals of staying in control. Whatever method you use, the safest approach is to fund play only with money you can comfortably afford to lose, set a firm deposit limit, and avoid methods that make it too easy to top up impulsively. Convenience is a benefit, but it can also lower the natural pause that slower payments once provided.

If gambling stops being fun, free and confidential support is available. GAMSTOP lets you self-exclude from all GB-licensed operators in one step, while GamCare (National Gambling Helpline, 0808 8020 133) and BeGambleAware offer advice and help. Gambling is for over-18s only and should always be treated as entertainment.