How does Boku work and who is behind it?

Michael Powell
4 min readMar 26, 2024

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Boku is a payment method that is only offered in a few real money casinos. Payment is only possible via cell phone. An app is not required for this. Billing takes place via the mobile phone provider. In this article, we take a closer look at the payment method and how it works. We will also look at security as well as the advantages and disadvantages.

boku.zendesk.com

How does Boku work?

With Boku, players can deposit directly into the casino using their cell phone. The smartphone serves as an electronic wallet, the so-called e-wallet. Players do not have to enter any bank details. The bank account is not initially debited as the payment is made via the cell phone bill. In most cases, this payment method only works if it is a smartphone with a contract. With a prepaid cell phone, the credit balance is usually not sufficient.

The money is available on the gaming account immediately after the deposit, even though the cell phone bill is only settled days or weeks later. Payment security is guaranteed, as the player receives a PIN by SMS, which they enter to complete the transaction. Withdrawals of winnings cannot be made using this payment method.

Deposit at an online casino with Boku

Depositing at online casinos with Boku is done in just a few steps:

  • Select Boku as the payment method in the cashier area of the casino, alternatively “Payment via mobile provider” or “Pay by cell phone”
  • Enter the deposit amount and cell phone number
  • Receive SMS with PIN
  • Enter your PIN to verify the payment
  • Receive and confirm another SMS with the deposit amount

The money is available on the gaming account immediately after the deposit. Only later will the payment amount be debited from your cell phone bill.

Are there fees and limits?

There are no fees for payment with Boku, as the payment is billed via the cell phone bill. However, the bank may charge fees if the amount of the cell phone bill is debited from the current account. How high these fees are depends on the bank in question. Direct banks usually do not charge any fees for transactions.

Online casinos generally do not charge a fee when paying with Boku. An explicit bonus for paying with Boku is not granted. However, new customers can be rewarded with a bonus that is independent of the payment method. To receive the bonus, players must fulfill the bonus conditions and wager the bonus several times.

One disadvantage of Boku is that only extremely low limits apply per transaction. The deposit limit is a minimum of 10 euros and a maximum of 30 euros. There is also a monthly limit of 240 euros. Once this limit has been reached, no more payments can be made with Boku for the rest of the month. However, the limits are not set by Boku, but by the national telephone supervisory authorities. This protects telephone providers from payment defaults.

What exactly does Boku do?

Boku enables simple mobile deposits with retailers and other online service providers, including online casinos. Deposits are made via the mobile phone provider and are billed via their monthly invoice. The advantage for online service providers is that they receive their money quickly. Customers using this payment method can pay quickly and easily from anywhere in the world, as all they need is their cell phone and a cell phone contract.

Boku launched the first mobile payment network in 2021. It combines mobile wallets and mobile carrier billing into one simple payment scheme.

Is Boku secure?

Boku enables secure, fast and anonymous payment. Users only need to enter their telephone number when paying. It is not necessary to enter bank details, credit card details or other personal data. The payment is verified with a PIN. Two-factor authentication ensures security. The data is transmitted with SSL encryption during payment and is protected against unauthorized access.

Advantages and disadvantages of Boku

Boku enables simple and fast payments. All you need is a cell phone with sufficient credit. Boku has several advantages. However, the disadvantages of this payment method should not be forgotten.

Advantages:

  • Quick and easy payment
  • Secure payment
  • Anonymity during payment, as no personal data is requested
  • No bank or credit card details required
  • Money is available in the casino account immediately after depositing
  • Billing only takes place later via the mobile phone provider
  • Payment can be made from anywhere
  • Payments are free of charge

Disadvantages:

  • currently only offered by a few online casinos
  • No payout of winnings possible
  • only low limits

Conclusion

Boku is a payment method that only works via cell phone and is secure. The money is credited to the casino account immediately after the deposit is made. The payment is anonymous, as no personal or bank details are requested. The limits for deposits are low. Withdrawal of winnings is not possible with Boku.

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