Betting with PayPal: the Best PayPal Betting Sites

Last updated: by Leon Marshal

PayPal Logo When we created this site, we spent a long time thinking about the greatest PayPal betting sites. It was an arduous process, but we whittled it down to just five top PayPal bookmakers. The table we have created for you below looks at its bonus amounts, minimum and maximum deposits, total rating, mobile app and odds. Take a look below in order to see which operators we reckon are the finest for betting with PayPal.

The Best PayPal Betting Sites
BookmakerRatingEssential InfoSports Welcome BonusSecure LinkT&C
5.0 out of 5 Minimum Deposit: £10 Maximum Deposit: Adjustable Odds Levels: Up to 94.87%Top OddsFull T&Cs Apply! Please gamble responsibly. 18+
4.9 out of 5 Minimum Deposit: £10 Maximum Deposit: Adjustable Odds Levels: Up to 94.64%£10Full T&Cs Apply! 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: £10, max £10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. Neteller,Skrill and Paypal not eligible.
4.8 out of 5 Minimum Deposit: £10 Maximum Deposit: No limit Odds Levels: Up to 98.64%£10Full T&Cs Apply! min odds 3/1 (4.00) / min 3 selections / free bet valid 7 days / T&C apply / 18+ / Begambleaware.
4.7 out of 5 Minimum Deposit: £5 Maximum Deposit: Adjustable Odds Levels: Up to 94.32%£30Full T&Cs Apply! For new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required. 18+ Begambleaware.org
4.6 out of 5 Minimum Deposit: £5 Maximum Deposit: £99,999 Odds Levels: Up to 98.09%£20Full T&Cs Apply! 18+ New UK+IRE customers only. PayPal and certain deposit types excluded. Min £5 bet within 14 days of account registration at min odds 1/2 = 4 x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 4 days on sports, stake not returned, restrictions apply.
4.6 out of 5 Minimum Deposit: £10 Maximum Deposit: Adjustable Odds Levels: Up to 97.13%£10Full T&Cs Apply! 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £15 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible.
4.6 out of 5 Minimum Deposit: £10 Maximum Deposit: Adjustable Odds Levels: Up to 97.23%£30Full T&Cs Apply! New online customers only, min £10/€10 stake, win only, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 3 X £10/€10, 30 day expiry, free bet/payment method/player/country restrictions apply.
Last Updated on 18 March 2024  by Chief Editor Leon Marshal
All Sites Are Licensed by the Gambling Commission
The top PayPal betting sites

Top PayPal Betting Sites

  • 🥇 YetiBet ✪ Best PayPal Betting Site
  • 🥈 Betiton ✪ Bookie with Fast PayPal Withdrawals
  • 🥉 NetBet ✪ Good PayPal Bookie
  • bet365 ✪ Top Deposit Speed
  • Ladbrokes ✪ Fast Withdrawal Times

There are certain criteria that we have considered when creating this review. We think that minimum and maximum amounts are something important to consider, knowing that you have full flexibility with your money. Bonus amounts are very important, giving you some great value upon signing up with the payment method. In addition to this, we have helped you to figure out which bookmaker is the best by giving it a total rating out of five. Another thing to look out for is whether they have specific bonuses for using the payment method itself.


How Do I Use PayPal for Betting

All this information about PayPal bookmakers is pretty useless if you don’t know how to use it for betting itself. Thankfully we are on hand to explain to you how to bet using the service. What is important to know is that PayPal cannot be used directly for betting, at least not legally. All bets have to go through an intermediary such as an online operator that holds a licence with the UK Gambling Commission. Therefore, PayPal is used for depositing into an online bookmaker, and from there you bet with the balance in your betting account. We will explain how you can fund your account and use it to deposit into an online bookmaker in the section that we have created for you below.

Funding My Account and Depositing into an Online Bookmaker

Funding your account is super simple. It can either be linked to your debit card or your personal bank. Once you have added your payment method, then you have to click the Transfer Money button. From there you are presented with a new page, where you can easily move money from your current account or debit card into your PayPal balance. Then once your account is topped up, go on to your bookmaker and find the deposit option. When you deposit the amount of money you want, you will be directed to a pop-up page where you may be asked to log in to verify your account. It’s really that easy. You can also deposit directly through your bank account without having to top up your account.

The three steps to using PayPal for online betting
  • Step 1Join your bank account or card with your PayPal accountSelecting a way to fund your PayPal account
  • Step 2Deposit cash into your PayPal accountFund your PayPal account with cash
  • Step 3You can now use PayPal to deposit into your accountYour PayPal account is now available for cash deposits

Are PayPal Bookmakers Compatible with Mobile?

The simple answer to this question is yes, but let’s explain it in some more detail. As well as being able to use it on your phone, when you deposit via the payment method on your mobile device you will be redirected to the mobile app where you can verify your account with just one-click touch ID or by typing your password in. This makes it one of the quickest payment methods for mobile gambling. To learn more about betting on an app, head on over to our mobile betting guide.

How to Open a PayPal Account

Before you can use this payment method in order to deposit with a betting site, you have to open an account. We will detail exactly how to do it right now. The first step is to go onto the main PayPal site itself. Once you have done that, you can click the sign up button on the top right hand side of the site. The next step is choosing either a personal account or a business account. As this account will be used for betting, you should pick a personal account. After that, you fill in your personal details, such as your name, email account, address and mobile phone number. Next, add your card details and/or your bank account. Then verify your account to make sure that it is really you using the account. Add a bank account, submit a direct debit instruction and confirm it in order to be fully linked up. In order to explain how easy it is for you in more concise detail, we have created this slideshow for you below. Take a look now!


The Main Reasons for Betting with PayPal

Now you know everything about how this payment method works, you might be asking yourself just why you should use it. In order to help you make the right decision about whether it is right for you, take a look at the advantages in the six boxes we created below. If you like what you see, why don’t you start betting with PayPal now?

  • SafetyUsing this payment service means that your card details will never be used on the betting site. This means that you can deposit and withdraw in the full knowledge that nobody can see your card details. This is also much quicker than having to type in your card number when you want to deposit some money. Additionally, your PayPal can be linked directly with your bank account, taking out the middleman altogether!
  • FeesAs well of ease of use, we find that its very important to deposit and withdraw money without incurring any charges for doing so. Users of PayPal will be happy to know that they can use the payment method in the UK absolutely free of charge. This is much better than competitors Skrill and Neteller, who do charge for transactions that come in and out of their e-wallets.
  • TransactionsOne thing bettors really value this day and age is speedy transactions. Slow withdrawal and deposit times can be a real drag. When you use PayPal all deposits occur more or less instantly, whilst withdrawals can be processed in as little as two hours. This is much quicker than card withdrawals, which in certain cases, can be as long as five days. The fact this can all be done in just a few clicks is also remarkable. 
  • BonusesThere isn’t much point of using a payment method if it cannot be used to claim a bonus. This is why we are happy with the service provided at PayPal. The vast majority of PayPal bookmakers allow it for claiming bonuses. You can learn everything you need to know about welcome offers at our exclusive bonus page.
  • E-WalletProfessional bettors know the importance of having accounts across several bookmakers. This is so they can have the best deals for their money. What is great about using it for all of your betting needs is that you can use it as an e-wallet across all of your different bookmakers. As it is so quick you can transfer between accounts within the same day.
  • Card and BankNot sure whether to use it through your card or through your bank account? Thankfully when you use this operator, you have the choice of one or the other. You can either link the account to your debit card or bank account.

Disadvantages

Sadly, like with all payment methods, no one service is a complete bed of roses. Therefore, there are a few disadvantages that can be found when using it. Firstly, some operators do not accept the payment method – especially the smaller ones. Additionally, if you move out of the UK and want to bet via PayPal on a compatible bookmaker, you may still be blocked from using it on the site. There is also the problem of freezing accounts, which can happen from time to time. We will tackle this specific problem in our FAQ answer at the bottom of our page.


Why Is PayPal The Safest Payment Method?

The number one priority when it comes to betting is making sure that you are doing it safely. When you are using PayPal you can be certain that it is extremely secure. As it serves as a middle man it means that you never have to put your card or bank details on a betting site. While we find that this isn’t necessary, given the stringent security measures of a betting site, it does add that extra layer that a card or bank payment cannot give. All your transactions are encrypted and only able to be accessed by you. Additionally, if something does go wrong with your payment, they have their own methods in place to try and get you your money back – something that you can’t find with a traditional bank. For these reasons, we believe that this is the perfect payment method for all bettors to use.

Infographic representing both PayPal and safety

How to Avoid Being Scammed?

In this day and age, where we get connected to the internet more and more each day, scams can ruin lives, both financially and emotionally. Despite the immense security that PayPal enforces to make sure betting can be done safely, you may still be subject to scams if you don’t protect your information correctly. Therefore, we would recommend a series of safeguards in order to make sure that betting is a fun experience and not a disastrous one. Important sites for you to keep in mind are the highly respected Independent Betting Adjudication Service and the national UK Gambling Commission. Below are some bullet points that we have added that we think may be of importance to you when trying not to fall afoul of dodgy scammers. Please will you take a look and see if there is anything that you may not have thought of when making sure you are betting safely.

  • Making sure only you know your password details.
  • Don’t share your bank or card details with anyone.
  • Make sure that you bet on a secure computer server.
  • Make sure that you are the only person using your betting account.

Fees

When you are betting, it is highly important that you get the absolute best value for your money. That is why we strongly urge looking for surcharge-free payment methods when you deposit and withdraw money. Thankfully for users of the PayPal service, you can bet in the full knowledge that you haven’t spent any money on fees while betting with the site. This is in distinction to other payment methods such as Skrill and Neteller, which can take up to 3% of your fees – which can be quite a substantial amount over time.

Infographic representing the fees at PayPal

How Did We Test the Best Bookies for PayPal?

To test the best bookies, we looked at each of them individually and rated how they met our testing criteria. We looked at how easy it is to make deposits with the operator, paying special attention to the limits they have on these payments. What we really want to see is low deposits, meaning that you can play with low stakes if you want. Another important thing was the speed with which this would take – obviously the faster the better. Odds levels and the bonus amount were also deeply considered. More and more bookmakers are adopting PayPal – to see which newcomers also accept this payment method, check out this article!

History of PayPal Related to Sports Gambling

PayPal may have begun in 1998, but it was a long road before it became heavily associated with online betting. This is due to it being an American company, and the United States being particularly averse to online gambling. This can be traced to the Federal Wire Act of 1961, where John F Kennedy passed legislation to stop inter-state gambling through wire transfers. This aversion to betting is due to both America’s long-standing history of money laundering through gambling, especially within the Italian and Irish mafia, and the creation of casinos in hitherto deprived areas such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Native American reservations. This was amended in 2002 to also include online card payments and bank transfers to gambling sites.

As a result many bettors moved to the newly public PayPal, then a subsidiary of eBay. They were quickly pursued and made to pay $200,000 to the state of New York, and $10 million to the government in general. The company was very close to becoming bankrupt as a result. To take precautions against further indictments they suspended taking any money to process betting from 2003 onwards. This decision was reversed in 2010, with the caveat that they would only do it in countries whereby online gambling (and PayPal transactions) are supported.

Infographic representing a timeline of PayPal and betting

This means that they choose the companies that they work with carefully in order to make sure that they are in the right place and fully within the right limits of the law. Therefore, if you want to take a look at their acceptable use policy, you can see that betting is an activity that requires approval by them before being set up. This is most importantly “if the operator and customers are located exclusively in jurisdictions where such activities are permitted by law.” Two years ago they quietly reintroduced themselves into certain sections of the USA where online gambling is still seen to be something of a grey area. This move has been widely suspected to be linked to the fact that they had completely spun off from Ebay in 2014 and is now looking for extra ways to find revenue. Therefore we expect PayPal to be used by more operators in the future!


Start Betting with PayPal Now

Now that you have read nearly everything that you need to know about the PayPal service and betting with PayPal, we recommend using this payment method for your betting needs. We generally think that due to the criteria mentioned above, that it is the perfect tool for betting online. Below we have highlighted the exact operator we believe you should bet with when using PayPal, and have listed the the welcome bonus. bet365 are well respected, offer good withdrawal times, and have all the betting markets covered. They are an all-round good PayPal bookie.

bet365 Free Bet Offer: Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! For new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required. 18+ Begambleaware.org


How Do Other Competitors Compare?

Although this page has been dedicated to the benefits of betting with PayPal, there are other payment methods that you should consider. For example, if you are looking for other e-wallets, then why don’t you use either Skrill or Neteller – although be conscious that they can charge fees for use. If you want to be anonymous, which PayPal doesn’t promise, then you can always use Bitcoin – which processes all your payments with full encryption. It doesn’t give you the option to top up your account in cash, whereby a paysafecard can be purchased from a local convenience store. Lastly, if you want full integration with your smartphone, why don’t you try processing your payments using Apple Pay? If any of these alternative payment methods interest you, please feel free to browse them by clicking on one of the links that we have provided for your convenience below. To learn more about punting online, head on over to the top UK betting sites!


Q&A Regarding PayPal Betting Sites

Have you still got something you want to know? Listed below are some of the most common questions punters ask in relation to PayPal betting sites.

Why Don’t All Betting Sites Accept PayPal?

There are many betting sites out there that have just started up, so they may not have the infrastructure to set up PayPal just yet. Additionally, PayPal is very cautious about who it partners with, using a long vetting process before they team up with a bookmaker, so it could be because they do not trust the operator yet. We are sure that as it expands, the vast majority of operators will come to use it. Check out our list of the top PayPal betting sites if you're on the hunt for a PayPal bookie.

How do I use PayPal for betting?

To use PayPal for betting, you first need to create a PayPal account. Once you've done that you can link your bank account or debit card and transfer money between your eWallet and your current account. We created a guide to the process which you can see here.

Why Has PayPal Frozen My Money?

There are many reasons why they could have frozen your money. They can do this when they cannot authorise your account, suspect you of money laundering, you have logged in from a strange location, have bet in the wrong country, or if you have used your account to fund nefarious and illegal activities. Keep in mind that these are security measures to keep you safe and to prevent your account from getting into the wrong hands. We recommend reading the guidelines available on the PayPal site before signing up for an account in order to prevent your money from being frozen.

Where can I use PayPal for betting?

PayPal can be used in over 200 countries and can be transmitted in 25 different currencies. Keep in mind that you are only allowed to access your gambling account within the confines of Great Britain, so if you're abroad you won't be able to deposit or withdraw. This is a UKGC regulation and any licensed operator won't accept users from other parts of the world. All the top PayPal sites on this page are UKGC certified. We recommend checking the PayPal website for a full list of countries where it is allowed.