This guide is part of our list of the best online casinos in Australia and explains why pay later deposits disappeared, which phone deposits still work and how to keep your spending under control.
What is a play now pay later casino?
A play now pay later casino is an online casino that adds your deposit to a bill you settle afterwards, instead of taking the money from your bank account straight away. There are three versions of the idea:
- Pay by phone bill: the deposit is charged to your mobile phone account, a system called direct carrier billing.
- Buy now pay later: a service such as Afterpay or Zip pays the casino and you repay in instalments.
- Casino credit: the casino or a lender lets you play on borrowed money and collects the debt later.
All three mean gambling with money you have not paid yet. That is why Australian regulators, mobile networks and payment companies have closed most of these routes.
Can you pay by phone bill at online casinos in Australia?
No. Australia’s main mobile networks no longer let outside companies, including casinos, charge purchases to your phone account. Pay by phone bill casino lists aimed at Australians usually describe a payment that no longer exists here.
- Telstra: ended third-party Premium Direct Billing on 3 March 2018. Only Telstra’s own content and selected partners, such as app stores, can still be charged to a Telstra bill.
- Optus: agreed to stop its Direct Carrier Billing service on 24 August 2018.
- Vodafone: began phasing out carrier billing subscriptions in 2015 and tightened its third-party billing in 2018.
The networks closed these services after customers were charged for games and ringtones they never knowingly bought. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) took action against Telstra and Optus, and both agreed to penalties of A$10 million.
You can still pay app store purchases on some phone plans, but real money casino apps are not available in the Australian App Store or Google Play.
Can you use Afterpay or Zip at an online casino?
No. Both of Australia’s best-known buy now pay later services exclude gambling:
- Afterpay: lists betting and casino gambling as a prohibited business category, so casinos cannot accept it.
- Zip: lists gambling as a restricted industry, and you cannot pay gambling merchants with a Zip card.
Casinos that advertise “pay later” through these brands are either wrong or misleading. Do not enter your Afterpay or Zip details on a casino site that claims to accept them.
Can you use Klarna at an online casino?
Not as pay later. Klarna’s merchant rules prohibit gambling without the licence the law requires and treat licensed gambling as a restricted category. Casinos that accept Australians are offshore sites without an Australian licence, so Klarna is not a deposit option for you.
UK guides list “Klarna casinos” because UK-licensed casinos can use Klarna’s pay now option, which takes the money straight from your bank account. UK rules stop players from using Klarna’s pay later option for gambling.
Why do other sites list pay by phone casinos?
Most pay by phone casino guides are written for the UK, where licensed casinos still accept phone bill deposits through carrier billing services such as Boku. Those payments need a mobile network that bills third-party purchases, and Telstra and Optus stopped doing so in 2018.
Check who a guide is written for before you sign up. A pay by phone list built on UK casinos, UK networks and pound limits says nothing about what works with an Australian phone number.
Is play now pay later the same as Pay N Play?
No. Pay N Play is a European no-account system that pays your deposit straight from your bank account and registers you at the same time, so you pay now. Play now pay later means your deposit is added to a bill you pay afterwards.
The Australian alternative to Pay N Play is a casino with light sign-up checks and PayID payments. Our guide to no verification casinos in Australia lists sites that let you register in minutes.
Is gambling on credit legal in Australia?
Licensed Australian betting sites have been banned from accepting credit since 11 June 2024. The ban covers credit cards, funds linked to a credit card (including digital wallets) and digital currency, and betting companies cannot lend you money or help you borrow from lenders. Companies that break the rules face fines of up to A$247,500. The ban brought online betting in line with land-based gambling venues, where credit card use was already banned.
Online casinos are a separate issue. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 bans operators from offering online casino games to Australians at all, so no online casino can hold an Australian licence. Playing at an offshore casino is not an offence for you as a player, but the site sits outside Australian protection.
Many banks also refuse credit card gambling on their own terms. American Express, Bank of Queensland, Macquarie Bank, Suncorp and several others block gambling on credit cards automatically. Our guide on whether online gambling is legal in Australia explains the law in full.
Why paying later for gambling is a bad idea
Paying later for gambling turns a loss into a debt. Three risks make it worse than an ordinary bill:
- You lose track of spending: deposits that do not leave your bank account straight away are easy to forget until the bill arrives.
- Losses become debts: a phone bill or instalment plan you cannot pay can lead to late fees, a cut-off service or a mark on your credit file.
- Chasing losses gets easier: credit removes the natural stop that an empty account gives you.
The safest rule is to deposit only money you already have and can afford to lose.
What does “pay by phone” mean at Australian casinos?
At casinos that accept Australians, “pay by phone” almost always means paying with your phone, not on your phone bill. The money leaves your bank account or a prepaid voucher straight away, so you pay now rather than later.
Four phone-friendly deposit methods work at most casinos that accept Australian players:
- PayID: an instant bank transfer to the casino using an email address, phone number or PayID code, in AUD. It can also be used for withdrawals at many casinos. See our list of PayID casinos.
- Apple Pay: tap to pay with a card stored on your iPhone. Our guide to Apple Pay casinos explains which cards work.
- Google Pay: the same idea on Android phones. See our guide to Google Pay casinos.
- Neosurf: a prepaid voucher you buy online and pay for straight away, then enter as a 10-character code at the casino. See our guide to Neosurf casinos.
Our full list of casino payment methods compares fees, limits and payout times.
Which phone deposit method suits you?
Use a debit card rather than a credit card with Apple Pay and Google Pay. Many banks decline gambling on credit cards, and paying with money you already have keeps you in control.
How do you deposit at a casino from your phone?
Depositing from your phone takes five steps with any of the methods above:
- Open the casino in your mobile browser: offshore casinos run in Safari or Chrome rather than an app.
- Go to the cashier: tap Deposit and choose PayID, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Neosurf.
- Enter the amount in AUD: most casinos accept deposits from about A$10 to A$30, depending on the method.
- Confirm the payment: approve it in your banking app, with Face ID or a fingerprint, or enter your voucher code.
- Check your balance: PayID and wallet deposits usually appear within a minute or two.
If you want low entry amounts, our guide to minimum deposit casinos lists sites that accept small deposits.
Why was my casino deposit declined?
A declined deposit usually has one of four causes:
- Credit card: many banks block gambling on credit cards automatically, including through Apple Pay or Google Pay.
- Gambling block: you or your bank have switched on a gambling block for the card or account.
- Daily limit: the amount is above your bank’s daily transfer limit or the casino’s maximum for that method.
- Wrong details: the PayID, voucher code or card details do not match what the cashier expects.
Try a debit card or PayID if a credit card is declined. If you set up a gambling block yourself, treat the declined deposit as the block doing its job.
Can you withdraw winnings to your phone bill?
No. Even in countries where phone bill deposits still exist, you cannot withdraw winnings to your phone account. Withdrawals always go to a bank account, an e-wallet or a crypto wallet, and the first one usually requires an identity check.
PayID is the fastest way for Australians to receive AUD winnings. Our list of fast payout casinos in Australia shows the measured payout times for each casino we have tested.
How do you spot a pay later casino scam?
Offers to “play now and pay later” at an offshore casino are a warning sign. Watch for five red flags:
- Credit offers: a casino or “partner” offers to lend you money or top up your balance on credit.
- Fake payment logos: the cashier shows Afterpay, Zip or a phone network logo that the brand does not allow for gambling.
- Requests for bank logins: the site asks for your internet banking password, which no genuine payment method needs.
- Unusual SMS charges: your phone account shows premium SMS or subscription charges you do not recognise.
- ACMA-blocked domains: the casino uses mirror sites because its main address is blocked in Australia.
If you are charged for something you did not agree to, contact your phone provider or bank first. Our guide to safe online casinos in Australia explains how to check a casino before you deposit.
What are the pros and cons of pay later and pay now deposits?
How can you block gambling payments?
Australian banks let you block gambling transactions on your cards, which is a useful safety net if pay later deals tempt you:
- In the app: ANZ, NAB and St George let you turn on a gambling block in their apps.
- By phone: Commonwealth Bank and Westpac set up blocks through their customer teams.
- Automatically on credit cards: American Express, Bank of Queensland, Macquarie Bank, Suncorp and Virgin Money block gambling on credit cards.
BetStop, the national self-exclusion register, covers licensed Australian betting sites but not offshore casinos. Use each casino’s own deposit limits and self-exclusion tools as well.
How can you gamble responsibly?
Set a deposit limit before you play, keep a record of what you spend and never deposit money you have set aside for bills. If you notice that you want to borrow to keep playing, treat it as a reason to stop.
Our guide on how to stop gambling lists the tools that work at offshore sites. If gambling stops being fun, Gambling Help Online offers free, confidential support 24/7 on 1800 858 858.
