When it comes to success stories from the internet books over the last couple of decades, few can compete with the glory that PayPal has achieved. Launching (granted, under a different name) In September 1998, the same month as Google, PayPal, after some other attempted endeavours, found its current form in 2000. 

Headed by Elon Musk amongst others, PayPal started its ascendency, was later purchased by eBay for $1.5 billion (and late split from them again) and is still to this day synonymous with online payments, despite the huge amount of competition. 

One industry that PayPal has had a storied history with is iGaming, to the extent that there is still the belief in some circles that PayPal will not work with online casinos of any kind. This is not true, however. Until 2015, gambling activities of all kinds were prohibited  without exception, but that has since changed, and there are numerous online casinos now offering PayPal as a payment method. 

At this point, it is said that over five million UK iGaming players have PayPal accounts. So, what is the temptation that makes PayPal such a popular payment method? What are the benefits? And is there a better option out there?

With 20 years’ experience, and over 200 million users worldwide in nearly 200 different countries, one thing PayPal has above pretty much all other online payment and withdrawal options is trust and reputation. Sometimes the biggest and most well-known option is the most reliable, and that appears to be the opinion of many when it comes to PayPal. 

PayPal are well known for their security measures, and with safety and security being such a priority for players when it comes to online casino sites, PayPal is considered a no-brainer for many. When paying via PayPal, or indeed withdrawing, you will be directed to your PayPal account, meaning PayPal, as opposed to your chosen casino site, will be taking care of the payment. Again, this adds comfort when it comes to the safety and security of you and your money. 

Despite only being allowed since 2015, PayPal is also one of the most readily available payment methods at online casinos, and with many people already having a PayPal account before signing up to an online casino, it saves the need to research a safe and secure payment and withdrawal method, and go through the trouble of setting it up. 

If you haven’t signed up for a PayPal account, another benefit comes in quite how simple it is to do so. Provide information, verify your email address, link to your UK credit or debit card account, and you’re ready to go. 

PayPal is ever evolving, working hard to maintain their position at the top of online payment methods, so new products and services, and enhanced safety measures occur regularly, as PayPal attempts to ensure it’s never behind the curve. 

There are, in all honesty, few disadvantages to PayPal as a payment method, but there are some, especially for high rollers. 

Firstly, there is a limit on the amount of money you can send and receive on a yearly basis, usually set at around £2,000. However, these limits can be lifted by PayPal after a few extra verification checks are carried out, so that shouldn’t be too much of an issue. 

Of course, there is also an obvious issue, being that some UK online casinos do not offer PayPal as a payment method at this point. As stated above, many do, but it is possible that your chosen casino does not accept PayPal, so it’s worth checking in advance if this payment method is an important factor for you. 

Another disadvantage comes as the flipside to the safety and security measures mentioned above, which results in the identification and verification processes taking a little more time.

This means that setting up your PayPal account may take a while, and it is also possible that payments from casinos may take a little longer than other options to land in your wallet, however withdrawals from PayPal to your own account should be immediate. 

There are numerous top level platforms that offer an array of casino sites where PayPal can be used as a payment method, these include:

L&L – L&L have made an impact since launch in 2011 through doing things differently, with many of their sites being intriguing and unique in style, but one thing that is common across sites on this platform, as well as wide ranging and exciting gaming options, is a wide selection of payment methods that includes PayPal. 

Nektan – Famed as much for quantity as quality, Nektan is a platform that hosts a veritable plethora of online casino sites that is growing on a daily basis.

This operator is known for the range of games available, which includes proprietary Nektan software as well as slots, table and card games, and more from a host of other software developers. Most Nektan sites offer PayPal amongst a range of other payment methods. 

Progress Play – Progress Play has been making quite a name for itself in the world of online casino sites, with several very popular sites amongst the many they have in their collection.

With over 200 games available to players at all of their sites, and excellent compatibility for desktop, mobile, and tablet devices, credit card and eWallet payments are available at Progress Play sites, with PayPal available as an option at the majority of them. 

White Hat Gaming – Also known as Caddell, White Hat Gaming is a relatively new operator, launched in 2012. Providing a myriad of options for casino and bingo fans across a choice of different and exciting sites, PayPal is, again, one of many options here in terms of deposits and withdrawals. 

It is clear that PayPal enjoys its place as one of the most reputable payment methods in iGaming, as it does across most online industries, for good reason.

While there are other options, if you’re looking for trustworthiness and reputation, speed of deposit and withdrawal, ease of use, and safety and security for you and your money, you’ll struggle to find a better option for online deposits and withdrawals at online casinos than PayPal.

If you’re chosen online casino doesn’t provide PayPal as a payment option, there are other options available. But what of these other options? Are they better than PayPal even when it is available?

Neteller – Probably the best known alternative to PayPal, this eWallet’s biggest benefit comes in the fact that it specialises in online casino transactions.

Now owned by Paysafe, Neteller is known for its safety, security, and the speed of transactions. If you’re looking for an alternative to PayPal that is available at a wide array of UK based online casinos, Neteller is many people’s go-to option.

Trustly – With a name lime Trustly, it’s no surprise that security is a priority for this Fintech company, which launched back in 2008. Trustly acts as a middleman, meaning you don’t make your payments to an online casino, you make them to Trustly, to add a dimension of safety to payments. 

Skrill – Finishing up the triad of eWallets is Skrill. Formerly known as Moneybookers, Skrill is popular amongst those who favour rebellious payment methods.

Payments are usually free and immediate, you don’t need to put in your credit card details to an online casino, and can come with a debit card to act essentially as a virtual bank account, similar to the likes of TransferWise. 

Whether these options are better than PayPal, is an opinion that differs from person to person, but they are certainly three good options if you’re looking for something else.