Boku and Payforit at UK Casinos Today
If you searched for a Boku casino or a Payforit casino, the picture today is different from what older guides describe. Both names were once linked with depositing by phone bill, but neither is a common option in UK casino cashiers today. You can still pay by mobile at some UKGC-licensed casinos; the payment simply runs through a different provider. Here is what changed and what to expect if you want to deposit this way.
What Boku Is Today
Boku Inc. is a payments company listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market. It connects digital brands such as Spotify, Netflix and Microsoft to local payment methods, including direct carrier billing, digital wallets and account-to-account bank payments. Carrier billing still made up 55% of its revenue in 2025. When we checked in October 2026, Boku’s homepage and its 2025 annual report described the business without mentioning gambling, and the merchant rules for Fortumo, the carrier-billing platform Boku owns, list gambling and lotteries among the services that cannot use it.
What Happened to Payforit
Payforit was a payment scheme backed by the UK’s major mobile networks from 2007. Accredited payment companies hosted standard payment screens, so you could charge a purchase to your bill or pay-as-you-go credit without handing over card details. You will rarely see the Payforit name in a casino cashier now: pay-by-mobile deposits at UK casinos run through payment providers that connect directly to the networks.
How Pay by Mobile Works at UK Casinos Now
Most UK casinos that offer pay by mobile use a provider such as Fonix, a UK mobile payments company whose customers include gambling operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. The steps are much the same wherever you play:
- Choose pay by mobile or pay by phone bill in the cashier and enter the amount.
- Enter your mobile number and confirm the payment on your phone, usually by tapping through the payment screens or by text message.
- The deposit is added to your monthly bill, or taken from your credit if you are on pay as you go.
If a payment fails, your network may have barred third-party charges or not enabled mobile billing for the service, so check with your network. The method is also under pressure: Fonix reported in its 2026 annual report that its gambling-related business declined as a number of gambling operators left the UK market.
Deposits, Withdrawals and Limits
| Deposits | Added to your monthly bill or taken from pay-as-you-go credit |
| Withdrawals | Not available: pay by mobile is deposit only |
| Limit per payment | £40 |
| Limit per billing period | £240 across all charge-to-bill payments |
| Fees | Some casinos add a fee, sometimes up to around 15% |
| Regulation | Ofcom for phone-paid services, the UK Gambling Commission for the casino |
The caps come from the Payment Services Regulations 2017, and EE, Vodafone and Three all set them out on their help pages. They cover everything you charge to your bill, so app purchases, text donations and competition entries count towards the same £240, and Three notes that the limit cannot be removed or changed.
Because you cannot withdraw to a phone bill, you will need a second method, such as a debit card, to cash out. Add it early and complete the casino’s identity checks before you ask for a payout.
Bonuses and Pay by Mobile
Read the bonus terms before you deposit by phone. Some UK welcome offers can only be claimed with a debit card deposit, so a phone bill deposit may not qualify. Since 19 January 2026, wagering on UK casino bonuses has been capped at 10 times, and slot stakes are capped at £5 per spin, or £2 if you are 18 to 24, however you pay. Looking for Boku slots? A pay-by-mobile deposit goes into the same balance as any other, so you can use it on the same mobile slots.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- No card or bank details to enter at the casino.
- Can be used on pay monthly contracts and pay as you go.
- The £40 and £240 caps keep deposits small.
Cons
- Deposit only, so you need another method to withdraw.
- Boku and Payforit are rarely offered, and fewer casinos offer pay by mobile at all.
- Some casinos add a fee.
- On a contract you pay later, so it is easy to lose track of spending.
- Offers that require a debit card deposit will not count a phone bill deposit.
Safety
Since 1 February 2025, phone-paid services in the UK have been regulated by Ofcom, which took over from the Phone-paid Services Authority. The casino itself must hold a UK Gambling Commission licence, so check its licence details before you deposit. Look at your phone bill for charges you do not recognise; the payment provider, such as Fonix, can appear on it by name.
To stop phone bill payments altogether, ask your network to bar them. On EE you can text BAR to 150, and Vodafone lets you apply a bar to stop all charges; on EE, a Spend Cap alone will not block these payments. For more ways to stay in control, see our responsible gambling page.
Alternatives to Boku
- Pay by Phone Bill: our full guide to depositing by mobile today.
- Paysafecard: prepaid deposits without entering bank details.
- PayPal: an e-wallet for deposits and withdrawals; check whether the bonus excludes e-wallets.
- Apple Pay: pay with the debit card saved on your iPhone.
- Trustly: Pay by Bank straight from your current account.
Gambling Responsibly
Gambling should stay a paid-for form of entertainment. Set a budget before you play, and if gambling stops being fun, these UK services offer free, confidential help:
- GamCare: National Gambling Helpline, 0808 8020 133, open 24/7.
- GamStop: free self-exclusion from all UKGC-licensed gambling sites.
FAQ
Can I still pay with Boku at UK casinos?
Rarely. Boku now focuses on payments for large digital brands, and the merchant rules for Fortumo, its carrier-billing platform, do not allow gambling. Most UK casinos that offer pay by mobile use another provider, such as Fonix.
What happened to Payforit?
Payforit was a payment scheme backed by the UK’s major mobile networks from 2007, with standard payment screens for charging purchases to your phone. It has largely disappeared from UK casinos, where pay-by-mobile deposits now go through providers connected directly to the networks.
How much can I deposit by phone bill?
Each charge to your mobile bill is capped at £40, and all charge-to-bill payments together are capped at £240 per billing period. The limits come from the Payment Services Regulations 2017, and EE, Vodafone and Three all apply them.
Can I withdraw winnings to my phone bill?
No. Pay by mobile is deposit only, so you need another method, such as a debit card, to withdraw your winnings.
Are there fees for paying by mobile at a casino?
Some casinos add a fee to phone bill deposits, sometimes up to around 15%. Check the cashier before you confirm the payment.
How do I stop phone bill payments?
Ask your network to bar charge-to-bill payments. On EE you can text BAR to 150, and Vodafone lets you apply a bar to stop all charges.
