Boku is one of the world’s most trusted online payment processing gateways, and it is now accepted at a growing number of fully licensed and regulated iGaming sites, including dedicated poker, bingo and lottery sites, sportsbooks, and online gambling sites.
I had to use Boku once because my normal deposit option wasn’t working at the time. I saw it, and I thought I’d give it a try.
I’m glad I did because it’s now my backup method whenever my preferred deposit option, PayPal, either isn’t working for whatever reason or isn’t accepted.
If you are considering signing up anywhere to play online fruit machines, blackjack or roulette, for example, and want a reliable deposit option that can be used on any mobile device, then you may want to at least consider Boku.
There are many casinos that accept Boku today, but you must be at least 18 to join them.
The only downside is that Boku can only be used to deposit funds into your account, not withdrawals. I’ve put together this brief guide for anyone looking to use Boku at sites that accept this popular and reliable online payment solution.
What exactly is Boku?
Boku is an online payment solution quite unlike most other online payment methods. In other words, it cannot be compared to credit or debit cards, prepaid cards, bank transfers, mobile/digital/eWallets or cryptocurrencies.
It’s classed as a mobile payment method that only requires a mobile number to make a payment.
When you enter the amount that you want to deposit, you also need to enter your valid mobile number, and then before the funds can be sent to your account, you must reply to the confirmation to complete the transaction.
When you send the free reply SMS, the money will be sent to your account using the credit you have on your phone, or the amount you topped up your account will appear on your next bill. It’s that simple.
I’ve found it really easy to use, and I also believe it’s one of the safest online payment methods because no credit or debit cards, banking information or personal information is required.
Also, it doesn’t matter what mobile device you have because only the mobile number is required.
Step-by-step guide for using Boku to top up your account
To use Boku at a website that has thousands of famous online fruitys, live dealer games, video poker and other top categories, follow this simple step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Find a reliable Boku-accepting site that’s fully licensed and regulated by a globally renowned licensing authority, such as the Gambling Commission, the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner, or the Malta Gaming Authority. I’ve found plenty that accept Boku, but before signing up anywhere, make sure the operator has a solid reputation/track record in the industry
Step 2: Fill out the website’s free online registration form to open a new account in under a minute (you must be at least 18)
Step 3: As soon as your new account has been activated, log in and then go to that site’s banking/cashier section
Step 4: Look for the deposit options, then click or tap on the Boku logo to be redirected to Boku’s official payment processing gateway
Step 5: Input the cash amount you would like to deposit. I tend to deposit £10 or £20, but you can deposit up to £30
Step 6: Enter your correct/valid mobile number, and then confirm both fields have been entered correctly
Step 7: You should now receive an SMS asking you to reply with the letter ‘Y.’ The FREE SMS reply you must send to complete the transaction has to be sent within 15 minutes, or the deposit won’t work. As soon as you reply, the money should arrive in your account as available funds in just seconds
Step 8: The money sent to your account will either come directly from your device’s credit or will appear on your next mobile phone bill registered for that number
Final thoughts
As mentioned, I only tend to use Boku as more of a backup and not as my main deposit option. It’s reliable, convenient, and secure, but I’m not too keen on the fact that it can’t yet be used for withdrawals.
When it comes to withdrawals, I use my PayPal account or my Visa card.
The last thing I will mention concerns responsible gambling. To ensure you don’t overspend at any Boku-accepting site you decide to join, consider setting deposit limits.
I’ve found it helps me remain well within my budget because I know how easy it can be to try to chase my losses. Setting deposit limits, session time reminders and win/loss limits all help me stay in much better control of my spending so I can’t chase any losses I incur. You might like to try the same.
UK players tend to have access to a range of ‘safer gambling tools,’ as required by law, and they are the best line of defence against spending more than you originally budgeted for.