Pros and Cons of Using PayPal
PayPal Betting Sites: Pros & Cons
- Easy-to-use e-wallet
- Available in 200 countries
- Eligible for most bonuses
- May not be available in select locations
Making a Payment With PayPal
Payments at PayPal sports betting sites usually follow a simple and familiar flow. It involves visiting the wallet section at the sportsbook and following this process:
Find and select PayPal
Check the drop-down, then choose PayPal from the list of online betting deposit methods.
Type in your deposit amount
You’ll be redirected to the PayPal app or website; type in your deposit amount and other details required, then complete the transaction.
Start betting
Check your betting balance to see the new top-up. You can claim a bonus or go right to betting on your favorite sports.
You’ll easily complete every deposit transaction in a minute or less. Since you won’t experience any deductions in fees, whatever you type in to be deposited is what you receive.
Withdrawals and Deposits With PayPal
While PayPal supports both top-ups and cashouts, the processing speeds differ slightly. Funding your account is instant because it does not require any processing from the betting sites that accept PayPal. However, they have to review withdrawal requests and can sometimes take up to 48 hours, depending on the brand.
Once the internal processing clears, you should receive same-day payments into your e-wallet. Overall, you may have to wait for up to 3 days, which is slightly faster than what you experience at Mastercard betting sites. Moreover, no fees should incur for cashouts, but when you decide to move your funds from PayPal or transact with it from within the e-wallet, there may be some extra charges or fees.
PayPal Verification Requirements
PayPal will need you to provide personal information and documents for backup before you can use your account. The exact documents needed can differ across the locations where they operate. For me, I needed to upload a copy of my international passport or driver's license. My verification was instant, but it can take hours in some cases.
The sports betting sites that use PayPal usually also require that you complete a KYC before your first withdrawal. Like with PayPal, you will need to upload proof of identity, such as a valid ID. Other documents they may request include proof of address; a recent utility bill or lease agreement works. Some sites may also demand a selfie, which they will check against the photo on your ID. Regardless of what is asked of you, provide it as soon as possible to avoid headaches down the line.
Top PayPal Betting Sites
The three brands I’ll be discussing here are all global-facing, so there's a chance that they are accessible from your region. This also means that the payment methods you’ll see on each of them reflect what is locally supported — that may or may not include PayPal in your country. Still, these are the three bookmakers I can use PayPal on from here in the UK.
Stake.com
Stake.com supports online Sports betting with PayPal in specific locations. If you don’t see it in the banking section, then PayPal likely doesn’t work in your region. In places where it is a supported payment method, it usually functions both for deposits and withdrawals. On Stake.com, there are no transaction fees associated with using this payment method, and it is not excluded from promo claims. I made my first payment with PayPal, used the promo code , and got a welcome offer of a 200% bonus up to $2000. You can use the code from any country to get the local bonus deal, but it may differ in terms of size and the T&Cs may also be slightly different.
Betano
Another brand on the list of PayPal sports betting sites that is accessible from many countries is Betano. This platform supports PayPal for transactions and does not charge internal fees. That is great for those who are looking to make quick payments and get right to betting. Like Stake.com, deposits and withdrawals are supported and you’ll likely be ok with using Paypal to fund your sessions — unless Paypal is blocked in your region for some reason.
888 casino
888 Casino is a veteran and one of the safest places you can bet on sports. PayPal, as a brand, generally prefers to partner with operators like this, with a long-standing reputation for trust and fairness. In fact, this is one of the fastest e-wallets you can use on the platform for your deposits and withdrawals. All the generous deposit promotions you can find on 888 sportsbook can be claimed when you top up with PayPal, so you won’t be missing out on anything by using this payment method.
Daily Promos
Daily Fantasy at its Best!
Learn MoreThe History of PayPal
PayPal is one of the earliest e-wallets; it launched in the late 1990s as a digital online payment method. In no time, it became popular, and many people considered it one of the safest ways to buy and receive payments over the internet. One of the places where it was mostly used in its early days is eBay. It then slowly developed into a global brand and became accessible in more than 100 countries.
That number increased as its usage expanded across the web, and now it has reached 200 regions with support for 25 currencies. Once it became gambling-friendly, the brand only partnered with licensed sportsbooks, like those I have listed here. One of the criteria that their partner bookies must meet is compliance with anti-money-laundering laws — something that PayPal takes very seriously.
PayPal Compared to Other ProvidersÂ
PayPal sits between traditional banking and e-wallets. It is quick and ensures you have some form of privacy by not sharing your banking details directly with the bookmaker. It is also more tightly regulated than many other payment methods and e-wallets. When you line it up against other payment methods such as credit cards, Skrill, bank transfers, cryptocurrencies, and Paysafecard, this is how it performs:
| Payment method | Useful for deposit | Useful for withdrawals | Support for large transactions |
| PayPal | Yes | Yes | No |
| Credit and debit cards | Yes | Yes | No |
| Skrill | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Paysafecard | Yes | No | No |
Credit and Debit Card
Compared to debit and credit card betting sites, PayPal offers better privacy features by ensuring none of your banking details are exposed to the gambling site. From a security perspective, this is very important, as data breaches can occur. Also, if you were bothered about your credit score taking a hit or your bank recording gambling transactions, this eliminates such events. Where cards have the upper hand is in their wider coverage since, when compared to PayPal, they tend to be more accessible and usable globally. However, PayPal remains faster, especially for withdrawals.
Skrill
PayPal and Skrill share so much because they are both digital wallets. However, they were made with a completely different audience in mind. There are more sports betting platforms that accept Skrill payments than there are those that support PayPal. Still, many of these bookmakers exclude deposits via Skrill from bonus claims. It remains a go-to option for many high-volume players and provides the same privacy features as PayPal. Also, it works for both deposit and withdrawal payments at similar transaction speeds with PayPal. However, Skrill is accessible from considerably fewer countries, so Paypal might be the only choice for some players.
Bank Transfers
Bank transfers are the traditional way to move money to and from sports betting sites. In fact, they are the preferred method for high rollers or anyone looking to make a large withdrawal. Typically, a bank just collects money from your balance and sends it to the casino, so it’s a straightforward process with no third parties involved. They are also the most secure method overall because banks are answerable to stricter regulators.
However, gambling transactions can be flagged, which means at some point, you’ll be unable to deposit or withdraw from a betting site using your bank account. This imposed limit is what PayPal presents by being the middleman between your bank and the bookmaker. Furthermore, bank transfers are never instant because they require more time to process your request for a deposit or withdrawal. This can sometimes take up to seven days and may be delayed even further if you try to transact on weekends or bank holidays.
Crypto
Cryptocurrencies allow you to move more money in and out of gambling platforms compared to PayPal or Visa betting sites. Most bookmakers don’t even apply a maximum cap on how much you can deposit or cash out in a single payment. Since the transactions are processed on the blockchain, there are no records on your bank account. However, the major disadvantage is that if you make an error during payments, it is irreversible. Whereas, with PayPal, you can easily recover your funds and send them to the right details. Crypto’s main attraction is speed; withdrawals are often instant or take just a few hours maximum, and no other payment method rivals that yet.
Paysafecard
People choose Paysafecard because it is a simple prepaid voucher that lets you deposit without sharing any sensitive details. However, it won’t work for withdrawal, which means you have to search for another payment method. PayPal, on the other hand, works both ways. That said, Paysafecard is ideal for anyone looking to better manage their betting spend.
Three Essential Facts About Using PayPal
Now that we’ve covered most of what really matters, let’s explore a few key facts that are inherent to Paypal:
- PayPal is not generally available in every country or betting platform. It means even if you opt for one of the sites I’ve recommended, you’ll need to check for local availability before you register.
- You will need to complete an identity verification process on PayPal before you can start using it. Also, you may only be able to make small transactions initially. That’s until your account has built credibility with the processor over time.
- PayPal deposits are instant, but withdrawals can take up to 3 days, including the betting site’s internal processing time.
Final Take on PayPal Betting Sites
The top PayPal betting sites per location are a rare find because not every country has access to the payment method. However, if you manage to get one, you can rest assured that it is safe and secure to use. One of PayPal's top features is increased security, which means you get double protection from the betting site and the payment method. It is also discreet, making sure that the bank has no records of your betting payment and the sportsbook doesn’t have your card details. So, if you like what you see, tap the banner for any of the sportsbooks above to register and start betting with PayPal payments.
FAQs on PayPal Betting SitesÂ
Do betting sites exclude PayPal deposits from bonus claims?
No, betting sites do not generally exclude PayPal payments from bonus claims. You will be able to get and use all forms of promotions at most sites. Still, it is a good idea to read the terms and conditions of using specific bonuses, as some platforms may just include an exclusion.
Is online sports betting with PayPal safe?
Yes, online sports betting with PayPal is safe. Only regulated and secure platforms feature PayPal because the payment method requires that operators meet very specific security standards.
Can I make same-day withdrawals using PayPal?
No, you can't make same-day withdrawals using PayPal. The betting sites need to first process your withdrawal request before eventually sending it to your PayPal account. This can take an average of 3 days to complete, depending on the platform you have chosen.
What are the best PayPal online betting platforms?
The best PayPal betting sites for you depend on what is available in your location. I’ve shared three of the top platforms above that support PayPal deposits and withdrawals in my country — check them out and pick the one that suits you the most.
