U.S. online casino players have more ways than ever to deposit funds, and pay by phone bill casinos are emerging as a convenient option.
This method is gaining popularity because it offers a fast and private way to fund your play.
That’s why we’ve decided to highlight the best pay by phone gambling sites available to U.S. players.
Let’s dive deeper into what pay-by-phone casinos are and how they work.
What is a Pay by Phone Casino?
A pay by phone casino is an online casino that allows you to deposit funds using your mobile phone bill.
In simple terms, it means you can add money to your casino account by charging the deposit to your cellphone. Instead of entering credit card or bank details, you just provide your phone number and confirm the transaction via SMS.
The deposit amount is then either added to your monthly phone bill (if you’re on a contract plan) or deducted from your prepaid mobile credit (if you use pay-as-you-go).
How does Pay by phone work for gambling?
“Pay by phone bill” casino gaming is a relatively new concept for U.S. players (more common in Europe until recently), but it’s starting to appear at some regulated online casinos.
The key feature is that your mobile carrier handles the charge. A third-party service like Boku or PayForIt often facilitates the transaction between the casino and your carrier.
As long as the casino supports this method, all you need is a phone number, and you can make a deposit without sharing any bank or card information.
Best Pay by Phone Casinos in July 2025
Below is a list of top U.S. pay by phone casinos, including their deposit limits, processing times, withdrawal methods, and bonuses:
PaybyPhone Casino | Bonus | Deposit Limit | Processing Time | Withdrawal Alternatives |
---|---|---|---|---|
BetMGM Casino | 100% match up to $1,000 + $25 free play | $10 min / $30 max per transaction (daily cap ~$30) | Instant credit to account | Bank ACH, PayPal, Play+ card, debit card for withdrawals |
DraftKings Casino | $35 Casino Credits + 350 Spins (24-hour lossback) | $10 min / $50 max per day (approx.) | Instant deposit via mobile carrier | Online bank transfer, PayPal, check (no phone bill withdraw) |
FanDuel Casino | Refund up to $1,000 on first-day losses + Free Spins | $10 min / $30–$50 max daily (varies by carrier) | Instant (billed to phone or prepaid balance) | PayPal, Venmo, ACH, FanDuel Prepaid Card for payouts |
Caesars Palace Casino | 100% match up to $2,500 + $2,500 reward | $10 min / $30 max per deposit (daily limits apply) | Instant deposit via phone bill SMS verification | ACH/eCheck, PayPal, Casino Cage (in-person) withdrawals |
Golden Nugget Casino | 100% match up to $1,000 + free spin offers | $10 min / $30 max daily (typical) | Instant (charge appears on phone bill) | Bank transfer, Play+ prepaid card, PayPal withdrawals |
Deposit limits and availability of “pay by phone” can vary by state and carrier. All the above casinos are U.S.-licensed and secure.
While deposits via mobile billing are instant, remember you cannot withdraw winnings back to your phone bill – you’ll need to use an alternative method like a bank transfer or e-wallet to cash out.
How to Deposit at Pay by Phone Casinos
If you’re ready to give this method a try, here’s a simple step-by-step guide to depositing via pay by phone at trusted online casinos.
Even if you’re new to mobile billing, just follow these steps and you’ll be set up in minutes:
Find a Casino that Accepts Pay by Phone
First, make sure you choose an online casino that supports pay by phone (carrier billing) deposits.
Refer to our list of the best pay by phone casino sites in the US above – all of those are good options. Sign up for an account if you haven’t already, and go to the Cashier or Banking section while logged in.
Select “Pay by Phone” as the Deposit Method
At the cashier section, look at the available deposit methods.
You might see options like Credit/Debit Card, PayPal, etc. Look for something like “Pay by Phone,” “Pay by Mobile,” or the name of a phone payment service (such as Boku). Click or tap that option to start a mobile deposit.
Enter the Amount to Deposit
Next, you’ll be prompted to enter how much money you want to put into your casino account. Remember the typical limits – for example, if the casino sets a $30 max via phone, don’t try to deposit more in one go, or it will be declined.
Enter a value within the allowed range (e.g., $10, $20, $30). Some casinos might also list the minimum (often $5 or $10).
Provide Your Mobile Phone Number
A field will appear to input your phone number. Make sure to enter your number correctly (including area code). Double-check it – if it’s wrong, you won’t receive the confirmation SMS.
Once you’ve typed your number, proceed to the next step (usually a “Continue” or “Submit” button).
Authorize the Payment via SMS
Keep your phone close by. Within a few seconds, you should get a text message (SMS) from the payment service or your carrier.
This message will typically ask you to confirm that you want to make the deposit for the specified amount. It may contain a verification code or simply instruct you to reply with a certain word (like “YES” or a short code).
Follow the instructions in the text: enter the code on the casino site if provided, or reply to the SMS as directed to approve the charge.
Confirmation and Funds Credit
Once you’ve authorized via your phone, the deposit will be processed.
You should see a confirmation notice on the casino site or another text confirming success. The funds should now appear in your casino balance immediately.
Check Your Phone Balance/Bill
If you’re on a prepaid plan, you may also receive a message that an X amount was deducted and what your remaining phone balance is.
If you’re on a monthly bill, the amount charged will be recorded and added to your next bill. It’s a good idea to keep track so you’re not surprised later – the SMS confirmation usually serves as your receipt.
Tips for a Smooth Mobile Casino Deposit
With these, even newcomers can confidently use a casino pay by phone method without trouble:
- Ensure your phone is on and has signal when depositing, as you need to receive and reply to the text.
- If you don’t get an SMS within 30 seconds, double-check the number you entered and that your carrier supports this service. Some smaller carriers might not.
- Make sure you have enough prepaid credit if on pay-as-you-go. If your prepaid balance is lower than the deposit you attempt, it will fail. Top-up your phone first, then try again.
- If on a family plan or shared bill, remember that the deposit charge will appear on the bill, so account holders will see it. Keep that in mind if privacy is a concern.
- Only deposit what you can afford. Even though it’s “play now, pay later” for bill users, you will have to pay that phone bill, so treat it like spending cash from your pocket.
Pay by Phone Casino Limits
Limits are on the lower side with Pay by Phone banking. Let’s see how they work.
Deposit Limits
This is where pay by phone differs significantly from other methods. Pay by phone deposits have low limits, both minimum and maximum:
The minimum deposit is often around $5 or $10, which is pretty standard and convenient for players who want to start small.
The maximum deposit is usually capped at a low amount, often $30 per transaction, or it may be a daily cap such as $30–$50 per day. Some services even limit each transaction to $10 increments.
These limits are set by payment providers and carriers to minimize risk (since the carrier is fronting the money until you pay your bill) and to encourage responsible gambling.
Monthly Limits
In addition to per deposit or daily caps, there might be a monthly limit on how much you can charge to your phone bill for third-party services (including casinos).
This could be a carrier policy – e.g., a carrier might only allow, say, $100 or $150 total per month in carrier billing purchases. This is to prevent bill shock and manage credit risk. It’s worth checking with your carrier if you plan to use this method frequently.
Carrier or Service Restrictions
Some carriers could have specific rules.
While all major U.S. carriers theoretically support mobile billing, not every online casino has integrated with every carrier. You might find that one casino’s pay by phone option works with AT&T, but maybe not with a smaller regional provider, for instance.
Usually, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint (now part of T-Mobile) are covered since they dominate the market.
How to Withdraw Casino Winnings Using Pay by Phone
One of the biggest limitations of pay by phone deposits is that you cannot withdraw funds back to your phone bill or mobile balance.
Mobile carriers and billing services currently don’t support incoming payments or credits to your phone account from casinos.
In other words, pay by phone is a one-way street: it’s only for getting money into a casino, not out.
So, how do you cash out your winnings from a pay by phone casino? You need an alternative method. Here’s what to do:
Go to the Casino Withdrawal/Cash Out Page
When you’re ready to withdraw, visit the casino’s cashier and choose the Withdraw option. You’ll see a list of withdrawal methods the casino supports (like bank transfer, e-wallets, etc.).
Select an Alternative Withdrawal Method
Common U.S. casino payment options include ACH/e-check (bank transfer), PayPal or other e-wallets, Play+ prepaid cards, paper check by mail, or even cash pick-up at a casino cage (if the operator has a partnered physical casino).
Since “pay by phone” won’t be on this list (it’s not available for payouts), pick another method that’s convenient for you. Many players use bank transfers or PayPal to withdraw their winnings.
Verify Any Requirements
If this is your first withdrawal on the site, you might need to complete KYC verification (upload ID, proof of address) as per the casino’s rules – this is standard and for security.
Also, some casinos require that you withdraw to the same method you deposited with, if possible.
Since you can’t withdraw to pay by phone, usually the casino will let you choose freely among the other methods, but they might ask you to use a bank transfer by default. Check the casino’s help section if unsure.
Enter Withdrawal Amount
Choose how much you want to cash out.
Keep in mind any minimum withdrawal limits (often $10 or $20) and that some methods have maximum limits per transaction. Confirm your request.
Wait for Processing
The casino will process your withdrawal through the method you chose. The time frame can range from a few hours (for e-wallets like PayPal) to a couple of business days (for ACH transfers or cards).
Since you couldn’t withdraw via phone, you won’t get anything related to the withdrawal on your phone bill – it all goes through the alternate method.
Tips for withdrawing from pay by phone casinos:
- Set up a withdrawal method early: It can save time to add an alternative payment method to your casino account (and get it verified) even before you need to withdraw. For example, link your PayPal or bank info when you sign up. That way, when you’re ready to cash out, it’s smooth and quick.
- Be mindful of bonus wagering: If you claimed a bonus on your deposit, ensure you’ve met any wagering requirements before withdrawing. Otherwise, the casino might not approve the cashout or could void the bonus.
- No impact on phone bill: Withdrawing won’t affect your phone in any way – you won’t see credits or charges on your phone bill from withdrawals. It all goes to your chosen financial account.
Pay by Phone Casino Fees
Typically, the costs for using this method are borne by the casino. They often pay a fee or percentage to the mobile payment provider for each transaction, but they do this as a convenience to get your business.
From the player’s perspective, it should appear free. Just be cautious to pay your phone bill on time. Otherwise, if you miss a payment, the carrier might impose late fees or cut off your phone service, which indirectly could be a costly consequence of not managing the bill that includes your casino charges.
In summary:
- No extra charges for depositing by phone in most cases.
- Low maximum deposit limits (~$30/day typical), which can be a con if you want to deposit more, but it helps control spending.
- Minimum deposits are low (usually $5-$10), making it easy to start.
- Cannot withdraw to phone, so no fees there; just be aware of any fees on the alternative withdrawal method.
- Always check both the casino’s banking page and maybe your carrier’s policy on carrier billing to know the current limits and any fine print.
Knowing these limits, you can plan your deposits accordingly – for instance, if you intend to deposit $100 total, realize you might only be able to do ~$30 via phone and need to use a different method for the rest.
This dual approach is common. Use pay by phone for quick, small deposits, and use an ACH or card if you need a bigger bankroll at once.
Withdrawal Fees
The pay-by-phone method itself has no withdrawal fees because withdrawals aren’t possible.
If you cash out via bank transfer or e-wallet, check those specific fees (many casinos offer free withdrawals, though a few might charge for wires or multiple withdrawals in a short period).
Are Pay by Phone Casinos Safe and Secure?
Yes, pay by phone casinos can be very safe, provided you stick to legal, licensed U.S. operators.
In fact, using your phone bill to deposit has some unique security perks. Let’s break down the safety considerations:
First and foremost, ensure you’re playing at a state-licensed online casino (like those in NJ, PA, MI, etc.).
These sites are regulated by gaming authorities, use encryption for transactions, and have to meet strict security standards.
A pay by phone deposit at a legitimate casino is just as secure as any credit card or PayPal deposit on that site. The method itself doesn’t make the casino more or less safe – it’s the casino’s licensing and tech that matter.
All the recommended casinos we listed are fully licensed and secure.
One of the biggest safety advantages of pay by phone is that you aren’t entering sensitive financial information on the casino site at all.
Your credit card number, bank account, or e-wallet login never comes into play. This greatly reduces the risk of that information being intercepted or misused because it’s never given out.
Even in the unlikely event of a breach on the casino’s end, there wouldn’t be credit card numbers to steal tied to your account – just your phone number.
The requirement to confirm via your phone adds a layer of two-factor authentication to the deposit.
It’s not enough for someone to know your casino password since they’d also need physical access to your phone and the ability to unlock it to read the text to authorize a payment.
This helps prevent unauthorized deposits. It’s somewhat analogous to receiving a bank SMS code for a transaction – it links the action to a device in your possession.
Mobile carriers and payment intermediaries like Boku use secure systems to process these billing transactions.
They deal with millions of micropayments for app stores, etc. The data sent is typically encrypted, and your phone account is protected by the carrier’s authentication as well. So the channel used is very secure.
No third-party account (like an e-wallet account) is created – it goes straight through your phone account, which means one less account that could potentially be hacked.
You will usually get a text receipt each time you deposit by phone. This is a good safety feature because it immediately notifies you of any charge.
If, for some reason,n a charge appeared that you didn’t initiate, you’d know right away from the text and could contact your carrier or the casino to investigate.
Compare that to a scenario where someone gets your credit card – they could run up charges, and you might not notice until later. With pay by phone, the real-time SMS keeps you in the loop.
Since pay by phone only requires a phone number, there’s virtually no risk of identity theft or financial fraud through this method alone.
A hacker cannot reverse-engineer much personal info just from your phone number (especially if they’d also need control of your phone to do anything). You’re not typing your SSN, address, or bank info anywhere in the deposit process.
On your end, you should still practice good mobile security. Have a lock screen/passcode on your phone.
If you lose your phone, contact your carrier to suspend service quickly so no one can approve charges. The same good-practice rules apply as with any financial activity on your phone.
When you deposit via phone, the amount is fixed and confirmed.
There’s no way for the casino to change it or charge more than you approved – your carrier wouldn’t allow an arbitrary higher charge to suddenly appear.
So you won’t get surprise overcharges from using this method. Just keep track of how much you deposit so it matches what ends up on your bill.
In the US, telecom companies are regulated by the FCC, and any mobile payment services they facilitate must comply with consumer protection laws.
There’s oversight to ensure customers aren’t misbilled and have recourse for disputes. For example, if a fraudulent charge did somehow occur, you can dispute it through your carrier, much like you would a fraudulent phone service charge.
While carriers might not readily refund gambling charges if you simply regret them (since you did authorize via SMS), they do have complaint mechanisms if something truly unauthorized happened.
The casinos themselves often implement additional checks for unusual deposit patterns.
If someone somehow got hold of your account and tried, say, 5 different phone numbers to deposit, that would raise flags in the casino’s system. They typically require that the phone number used matches the user or is verified to avoid fraud.
Using your phone bill to deposit is considered just as safe as other modern online payment methods. In fact, some argue it’s safer because of the limited info shared. As long as you play on reputable sites and keep your phone secure, you should feel confident that pay by phone deposits are protected.
Always review your phone bill.
When it arrives, make sure the charges match what you actually deposited. It will likely list the service (it might say something like “Boku casino deposit” or a code). If something looks off, contact your carrier. Mistakes are rare, but it’s good practice.
Also, remember that while the deposit transaction is safe, you should still gamble responsibly and within your means.
The convenience shouldn’t lead you to spend more than intended just because it’s easy. Treat it with the same caution as any other payment method.
Pay by Phone Casino Pros and Cons
Pros
Pay by phone is incredibly easy and fast. You can deposit with just a few taps on your phone, without pulling out a credit card or logging into a bank. Keeps your financial details completely confidential. You don’t have to share bank account numbers, debit card info, or even e-wallet credentials with the casino. Less risk of your details being hacked or stolen. The transaction is authorized via your secure mobile network and a one-time SMS code. Deposits are processed in real time. The money shows up in your casino balance instantly. Virtually anyone with a mobile phone can use this method. You don’t need a bank account or credit card. Encourages Responsible Spending. It has low deposit limits, often on the order of $30 per day or per transaction. Does not incur additional fees from the casino or payment provider. The $10 or $20 you charge to your phone is exactly what goes into your casino account. Since this method is designed for phones, it pairs perfectly with mobile casino gaming.
Cons
You cannot withdraw winnings back to your phone bill. You'll need to use an alternative method. Restricting maximum deposit limits, often around $30 per transaction or per day. Limited Availability. Not all online casinos accept Pay by Phone as a deposit method.
Pay by Phone Casinos – FAQs
Find here the answers to the most frequent questions casino players have about using Pay by Phone as a banking method.
It can be safer, yes. You aren’t exposing any card numbers or bank info, which eliminates the risk of that data being stolen.
The transaction requires confirmation from your personal phone, adding a layer of verification. This means even if someone had your casino password, they couldn’t make a deposit without your phone.
If your online casino doesn’t offer pay by phone deposits, several convenient alternatives exist.
Prepaid options include casino-branded cards (like Play+) or general Visa/Mastercard gift cards that create a buffer between your main accounts and the casino.
E-wallets such as PayPal and Venmo provide widely accepted digital payment solutions without exposing your banking details to the casino.
Mobile payment systems like Apple Pay and Google Pay offer quick smartphone transactions, though they charge a card rather than your carrier.
ACH instant bank transfers through services like Trustly enable secure direct bank funding without sharing login credentials with the casino.
PayNearMe lets you generate a barcode and pay with cash at local stores like 7-Eleven or CVS, offering similar privacy benefits.
Yes, you can. Pay by phone works with both prepaid (“pay as you go”) phones and monthly contract phones.
The difference is how the charge is handled: on a prepaid plan, the deposit amount is deducted from your existing airtime balance immediately.
No, it won’t affect your phone service as long as you pay your phone bill on time.
A pay by phone casino charge is just like any other charge to your phone bill (like buying an app or subscribing to a service via your carrier). It doesn’t show up on your credit report or anything.
Yes, in almost all cases. Pay by Phone deposits count just like any other real-money deposit when it comes to triggering online casino bonuses.
If you deposit the minimum amount required for a bonus (say the promo needs at least a $20 deposit, and you deposit $20 via phone), you’ll get that bonus.