Launched in 2009, Boku is a mobile payment processing company which allows customers to pay for goods and services online via their normal phone bill. While this might sound like outdated technology, Boku has become a popular method as the security and convenience offered place it among the best methods in the business.
Even those who have a prepaid or a pay-as-you-go phone, rather than being tied to a contract, can use Boku to shop online. In that case, the cost of the goods or services purchased would simply be deducted from their available balance, rather than added to their monthly phone bill. In short, all you need to use Boku is a mobile phone number.
There is no need to share any other personal or financial information with merchants, which is a big tick in the box for a lot of people. Add in the fact that Boku payments are processed almost instantly and this is a handy option. If you want to find out more, Boku has a FAQ page with some of the most asked questions.
Punters who decide to use Boku will need to be wary of a few things, given that there are pros and cons with every payment method. Below, we have listed three pros and three cons of using Boku as your payment method when placing bets:
Safe and Secure: Boku is considered to be a very safe way for punters to deposit money into their betting accounts. A telephone number is all that is needed, meaning you do not have to share any other personal information or card information with the sites in question.
Easy To Use: While there are many convenient payment methods available today, Boku is still one of the most convenient and it is free to use as well. Not having to enter card details or login to an e-wallet is a big plus for many, because it certainly does not get any easier than just entering a telephone number.
Low Minimum Deposit: Punters can generally make deposits as low as £5 with Boku, which is always a good thing. Having said that, the maximum deposit amount is significantly lower than other payment methods, which is worth keeping in mind.
No Bookmakers Directly Accept it: BoyleSports used to be the only bookmaker to accept Boku in the UK but this is no longer the case. The payment method is no longer accepted and anyone who wants to use it will have to deposit via Neteller, which is a workaround that requires more effort but gets the job done.
Only For Deposits: Given the nature of Boku, it can only be used for making deposits and the maximum deposit amount is rather low, capped at £30 a day for the time being. It can still be a handy option, but punters will have to use other fast methods for the withdrawals.
Welcome Offer Ineligibility: Most bookmakers tend to restrict their welcome and sign-up offers to certain payment methods. A debit card is usually the only method for these offers but some betting sites also accept Apple Pay.
As mentioned, BoyleSports used to be the only betting site in the UK to accept Boku as a deposit method, but that is no longer the case. Punters can still sign up for the bookmaker, which has an impressive sportsbook, but they will have to use the so-called Neteller workaround which requires additional effort.
The popular e-wallet Neteller supports deposits via Boku and this means that punters can fund their Neteller accounts via the phone bill. Then, they can deposit into their betting accounts via Neteller. It should be noted that the list of Neteller bookies is limited, though beggars cannot be choosers.
Note: Fees might be incurred during the process of depositing into Neteller, which is worth noting.
Operator | Min. Limit | Max. Limit | Transaction Fee | Processing Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
Betfred | £5 | Not specified | No fee | Instant |
Hollywoodbets | £5 | £5,000 | No fee | Instant |
Unibet | £5 | £10,000 | No fee | Instant |
BoyleSports | £5 | Not specified | No fee | Instant |
SBK | £10 | £3,000 | No fee | Instant |
William Hill | £10 | £25,000 | No fee | Instant |
If you are new to Boku, you can follow our step-by-step guide on how to deposit with the method on betting sites below:
For the time being, there is only one way to deposit into a betting account with Boku: the Neteller workaround. Simply put, you must deposit funds into Neteller via Boku and then choose a betting site that accepts Neteller deposits.
After choosing a betting site that accepts Neteller, you need to add funds to your Neteller account via Boku. Head over to your Neteller profile, add Boku as a payment method and follow the on-screen instructions to make a deposit.
Keep in mind that you will be asked to enter a verification code that is sent to the mobile number provided. This ensures that other people cannot use your telephone number for deposits.
Once you have signed up to the chosen site, or logged in if you already have an account, you need to head over to the cashier. If BoyleSports, you need to tap on the balance in the top-right corner, and then on 'Deposit'. In the cashier, choose Neteller as the payment method and follow the instructions.
You should now be brought back to the betting site, where the fund should be in your account already. It is really that simple, making it one of the most convenient payment methods.
Isak is an experienced content writer with a background in sports journalism. Having focused mainly on football in the past, he certainly knows a thing or two about the betting industry. At BettingLounge, Isak makes sure that all of the content is up to date, specialising in reviews of UK betting sites.