BACS Bank Transfer Online Casinos

The online gambling industry in the UK is one of the strongest, longest-running and most diverse compared to others, offering players a myriad of payment methods to use, among which the most trustworthy is BACS bank transfer. This is also one of the longest-standing solutions for online transactions in the country, which, when first appeared, solved modern players the biggest problem when it came to banking. The solution is still offered across most, if not all, UK online casinos, which only adds to its credibility. What is BACS bank transfer and why choose it as your online casino payment method?

About BACS Bank Transfer

When BACS bank transfer first appeared, many, many years, decades ago, it was the most revolutionary thing to appear across online casinos. Since the dawn of online gambling, there weren't any just as efficient and convenient methods to use. Players were obliged to use either credit cards or cheques to make a deposit, and most of the time, that included a physical visit, a trip to the bank. Then, a direct bank transfer solution was launched in the UK, that processed transactions via the BACS system. The name is an acronym for Bankers Automated Clearing Services, so, what it does is, facilitate the way money is moved from one bank account to another.

As implied by its name, this is a solution that will facilitate all money transfers that you can make from your bank account to another, including direct debit, instant banking, fast payments and eChecks. Each of these is subject to different processing times and fees, but if you use the traditional option, a direct bank transfer, you'll get the best terms.

There is one thing to know about it though; the solution stands by its three-day rule. This means that no matter what, your transfer will arrive at the desired destination in three banking days. Day one is for the payment to be submitted to the BACS system, meaning you’d need to fill out a payment file and submit it. Day two is when the payment is processed by the bank. And, day three is when the funds are transferred via direct credit or direct debit and the payment is settled.

Now, normally, online casino players would be discouraged by this fact, but considering this is one of the safest, most well-renowned and trustworthy solutions in the country, UK players are still choosing it over others. As long as a player has an active bank account, they can rest assured that their money will be transferred safely to the desired destination. So, if interested in knowing how to get started with it and use it across online casinos, we’ll cover that next, so stay with us.

How to Start Using BACS Bank Transfer

From what you’ve read, you must have assumed that you need to have an active bank account with a UK bank. The BACS system only works with UK banks, so the only pre-condition you need to meet is that. If you don’t have one, you’d need to head over to the nearest one, or do it online, and apply for a bank account.

After you get your account active, you'd need to ask the bank to create your online banking profile. You'd need to get your credentials, such as codes, numbers, security passwords and the BACS Service User Number, or in short, the SUN number.

The transaction will be processed either using third-party software approved by BACS or directly through your bank. Either way, you can rest assured that this is one of the most cost-efficient ways to make online transactions. In particular, it is incredibly convenient for high-rollers who wish to make deposits using large amounts of money. In fact, the solution is especially used for giving businesses the opportunity to make purchases and payments with huge amounts of money, and for processing employees' salaries across the UK.

So, even if you had any doubts about using its services, you are probably now convinced that BACS bank transfer is the solution for you to use across online casinos. Ready to learn how to do it? Continue reading.

Depositing and Withdrawing with the Solution

As you could see, you don’t need to create any new profile or account in order to use BACS bank transfer. This leaves you with plenty of time to search for the best UK casino to join to use it. You know that the online gambling industry in the country is huge, and actually, some of the largest companies in the world are UK online gambling companies. And, as mentioned, the solution is offered across most, if not all, UK online casinos, legit sites regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, so you can rest assured that you’ll have a fun, but also safe gambling time. Just check out a few options, and after you find the one for you, create an account with that casino.

From there, to make a deposit with BACS bank transfer, you’d need to do the following:

1. Go to the online casino’s Cashier/Banking/Deposit page.
2. From the list of offered methods, look for BACS bank transfer’s logo or choose the Direct Bank Transfer option.
3. In the new window, enter your bank account and BACS Sun number.
4. Specify how much you’d like to deposit, and confirm the transactions.
5. In three days, your deposit will arrive on your online casino balance.

The three-day rule applies, but not every single time you're transacting with the solution. Believe it or not, depending on the UK banks involved, sometimes, the deposit might arrive within 24 hours! Therefore, we can safely say that your transaction will be processed in 24 hours to 3 business days.

When it comes to withdrawals, you've probably gathered that you'd be able to make them with this solution. Considering it is a direct bank transfer solution, it can process transactions the other way around. The casino must send your winnings to your bank account, and this time, expect the transaction to be processed in 3 days, and no less. In fact, it might even take the casino additional 48 hours to verify and process your request, so it might even take up to 5 days for the withdrawal to arrive.

Even though not the fastest withdrawal method, this is still one of the solutions that UK players swear by. In case you’d like to use it to cash out your winnings, too, make sure you go through the same procedure as the one described for depositing.

Coverage and Restrictions

As you would assume from what you’ve just read, BACS bank transfer is a solution available in the UK only. Sure, there are similar services available in other countries, but the BASC system only works with UK banks.

Therefore, to use it, you must be a UK citizen with an active bank account. If a player from any other country, you’d need to check which direct bank transfer solution is available in your country.

Fees and Additional Charges

You should know that the BASC system allows for a transfer between two partnered banks, so no fees should apply to complete the transaction, as usually, no third parties are involved in the process.

However, as mentioned previously, since you can use different functionalities where third parties may be involved, fees would apply. Also, check with your online casino to see whether it charges fees for using the solution, especially for withdrawals, as fees may apply.

Accepted Currencies

Considering this is a method that works within the UK borders only, it goes without saying the default currency is the UK pound sterling.

No other currencies are allowed when transacting through the system. And even if you somehow manage to make a transaction in a different currency, know that currency conversion fees would apply.

Customer Support

There’s an official BASC website you can visit to find out more about how the system works. Once there, go to the Contact page, and you’ll find several ways to contact its Customer Support, such as the phone lines 0370 165 0018, 0330 123 2130 and 0808 1000 423, depending on the question or problem, the on-site contact form and the social media outlets.

Naturally, you can contact your bank’s Customer Support for any issues, as well, but also your online casino’s team, in case you have issues with depositing or withdrawing. Regardless of the way you go with, you’ll get the assistance you needed.

Conclusion

It goes without saying that if a UK player, you should definitely consider using BACS bank transfer at least once for online gambling purposes. This is one of the safest solutions to go with, but also one of the most convenient, as you won’t need to create a new account to use it, but you can already use your online banking profile to make an easy transaction with it. It allows for transactions with your native currency, without currency conversion fees, and it is accepted across many UK online casinos. So, the next time you join a casino, make sure you give it a try.

FAQs

How many UK banks are processing transactions through the BACS system?

There are around 30 leading UK banks as BACS participants, allowed to process direct bank transfer transactions, including HSBC UK Bank, the Bank of England, Virgin Money, the Bank of Scotland and TSB. You must have a bank account with at least one of them, so you can start using the solution right away.

How long has BACS bank transfer been offered in the UK?

The solution has been offered in the UK for more than 50 years. First, it went by the name Inter Bank Computer Bureau when it was launched in 1971, but later on, it was renamed BACS.

If not available for withdrawals, what alternatives to use?

To make a quick and safe withdrawal, in the lack of BACS bank transfer, you can use modern eWallets, such as Neteller, PayPal or Skrill, to cash out your winnings in a matter of minutes.

Can I reverse a transaction if I made a mistake while requesting it?

In most cases, you can. Considering this is a solution that allows for transaction processing between two banks, you could reverse a transaction since each transaction is monitored and recorded at both banks. Of course, you'd need to make a proper request, so you better contact your bank's Customer Support to figure out a way to reverse the transaction.

What can I do if a deposit I made using a BACS bank transfer never reaches my online casino balance?

You should first contact your online casino's Customer Support team, to see whether they have an insight into what happened. In case they don't have your answer, either contact BACS's Customer Support directly or call your bank. Someone will have an explanation.