SMS Billing: Convenient or Risky?

When you log into your favourite online casino or sportsbook, you’ll soon find that there is a massive variety of different ways to pay. From the traditional credit/debit card payments through to the new wave of online payment portals, such as Neteller and Skrill, there is something to suit everyone’s situation. When it comes to sites operating on a mobile platform, there is one other type of payment starting to take hold: SMS payments, whereby the user sends an SMS and the payment is added to their mobile phone bill when it lands on their doormat.

As with all new technologies – especially when it comes to money management – the jury is firmly out on whether this type of payment method is a good thing for users of mobile gambling sites. This article looks at the pros and cons of this payment type, so you can make an educated decision when deciding whether to make your next payment using your trusty cell phone…

It’s Incredibly Easy

The biggest positive aspect this type of payment has is the fact that it is so unbelievably convenient – you can top up your account wherever you are, even if you don’t have your credit card or UKash voucher to hand. Even if you did have your credit card on you, who really wants to spend ages digging out of your pocket and then typing in the payment details, when you could tap in a quick SMS message in just seconds? With an SMS payment, you’ll be playing your favourite game or betting on your chosen team faster than you ever thought possible!

It’s Really Safe

One of the biggest fears people have about making payments online is the fact that they have to input their bank account details into a site – something that is safe on most reputable gambling sites, but still causes a few jitters in those with more nervous dispositions. With SMS payments, there is no need to input any personal details into a website – the cell phone company will already have the bank details and, because cell phone companies are such huge businesses, you know your details are safe with them.

Make Payments When You Have No Money

When you make an SMS payment, the money is placed straight into your gambling account. It doesn’t, however, make its way out of your bank account until your phone bill is taken, so you don’t need to be flush with money in order to make a deposit in this way. This is a double-edged sword though: those who are good with their money will be able to maintain their discipline and make sure they don’t overspend, but others will find it tough to balance the amount of deposits made with the amount they have to pay in one lump sum at the end of the month. So, it is a massive advantage to those who are financially responsible, but those with a worse grasp of their money might find it gets them into trouble.

To read even more about this topic, check out this great phone bill casino guide from Droid Slots. If you want to try your hand at mobile slots, we recommend mFortune.