Pay-by-phone solutions have become one of British casino players’ most popular payment options. This raises several questions, namely, how big the target audience has become, how many British casinos utilise the method, and whether it can help casinos capture more players.
To get the full lowdown, we spoke with Joonas Karhu CEO of Bojoko.com, a UK igaming affiliate business. According to Karhu, adding pay-by-phone solutions to your casino is one of the easiest ways to increase your FTDs, but how exactly does this work?
Here, we will explore his insights into the data behind the number of Brits looking for pay-by-phone casinos and their conversion potential.
CasinoBeats: How popular are pay-by-phone solutions with UK players, and what trends are you seeing in this space?
Joonas Karhu: It is one of the most popular search terms among UK casino players. Tens of thousands of British players search for casinos that support pay-by-phone options every single month. These are just incredible numbers, especially as these are players who are actively searching for casinos where they can deposit through their phone bills.
Not only is this a strong signal of demand, but the trend shows no signs of slowing down. For operators, this means that adding a pay-by-phone solution is one of the easiest ways to increase first-time depositors and capture the attention of players who prioritize convenience and security in their payment methods.
CasinoBeats: How does adding the ability to pay by phone bill impact FTDs, and why should operators consider it?
Joonas Karhu: The potential is enormous if you add a pay-by-phone solution and ensure you are listed on the relevant pages of affiliates like Bojoko. We have a page dedicated to helping players choose between casinos that let them pay by phone bill. It has about 10 thousand visitors each month and is, at the moment, one of our three most popular pages.
These aren’t just casual browsers; these are players actively searching for casinos where they can deposit via phone bill. That’s a very targeted audience looking for this exact payment method, and operators who offer it are well-positioned to capture those FTDs.
The average casino listed on our page gets around 10-15 extra FTDs per month, but your position matters. The casino listed as number one can get around 200 extra FTDs just from us. You can speak with our competitors to get numbers from them. It should all add up very nicely.
This is also why I say that allowing pay-by-phone solutions is one of the easiest ways to boost FTDs. Just by setting up one additional payment method, you can get similar numbers to what you’d see if you drastically improved your bonus or offered no-deposit free spins.
CasinoBeats: How do pay-by-phone solutions help operators stand out on affiliate platforms like Bojoko?
Joonas Karhu: Only about 20-25% of the British casinos we have reviewed allow their users to deposit via their phone bill. Given the interest, this means that the competition is shockingly low.
As mentioned, casinos that add pay-by-phone solutions will instantly be featured on our dedicated overview, where practically every position will boost your FTDs. Just being on it and similar pages at our competitors will help you stand out. Players will also spot this information in our reviews and, more importantly, can filter all our lists by payment method.
There is, of course, also the added element of trust when being on comparison sites that carefully vet all the brands they trust. However, this exposure isn’t just about traffic or sign-ups, as is often the case with no-deposit offers; it’s specifically about conversions. By being featured on pages where players are specifically searching for payment options, operators tend to see higher FTD rates. This is because the intent is to sign up and make a deposit. For operators, this visibility on affiliate platforms can be a significant advantage in driving traffic and deposits.
CasinoBeats: Are there any challenges or limitations operators should know regarding pay-by-phone payment options?
Joonas Karhu: While pay-by-phone solutions are incredibly convenient for players, there are a few limitations to consider. One of the main ones is that the maximum deposit is relatively low. This is manageable for many casual players but may not appeal to high rollers or those looking to make larger deposits.
Another consideration is that these solutions can only be used for deposits, not withdrawals. Players will need an alternative method to withdraw their winnings, which can cause issues with the verification process before a player’s first cashout.
CasinoBeats: Why do you think pay-by-phone solutions have become so popular among UK players?
Joonas Karhu: Convenience is a huge factor. Depositing via their phone bill allows players to deposit funds directly through their mobile phone bills almost instantly. With just a few clicks, they’re ready to play, and the amount is either deducted from their prepaid balance or added to their next bill.
With so many payment options out there, pay-by-phone solutions offer a combination of ease and security that resonates well with players, especially those who want to make smaller, manageable deposits. This is particularly important in the UK market, where player protection and responsible gambling are priorities.
CasinoBeats: Do you see the demand for pay-by-phone growing, and how should operators prepare for it?Joonas Karhu: Yes, I think the demand for depositing via phone bills will continue to grow, especially as more players become familiar with it and trust it as a fast, secure payment method. Operators who add pay-by-phone solutions are likely to see strong results, especially with first-time depositors for the foreseeable future, though I expect the competition to increase. My advice is to get in on the pay-by-phone players now before half or the entire market is fishing in the same pond.
