Boku is a mobile payment provider that has gained a stellar reputation for facilitating punters with fast and secure deposits into their betting accounts. In this Boku betting guide, we’ll discuss what Boku is all about, the best Boku betting sites, and what it offers us, punters.
What is Boku?
Boku is a payment method that allows you to top up your sportsbook account using your mobile phone. It was founded in 2009 by Mark Britto, Erich Ringewald and Ron Hirson shortly after acquiring Mobillcash and Paymo and combining their assets. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California, U.S., and has set up 10 wallets in 9 different countries, reaching approximately 1.4 billion users.
So why has Boku been so successful? Like e-wallets, such as PayPal and Skrill, Boku saves you from having to reveal personal bank details to your bookmaker. The difference between Boku and the e-wallets mentioned above is that, with Boku, players do not pay through their bank account, but through their monthly phone bill or existing credit instead. All you need is a mobile number to use it. In a world where convenience is prized above all else, it’s easy to see why Boku has performed so well.
Boku Betting Benefits
There are a number of great reasons to use Boku for betting. Here are the main ones.
- It’s Completely Free
The best things in life are free, and it doesn’t cost a thing to create an account at Boku, nor to use their services. They'll never charge any transaction fees, so unless the sportsbook does so, you won’t lose a penny moving your funds around.
- None of That Registration Mumbo Jumbo
Everything you do nowadays seems to require registration, but this isn’t the case at Boku. There’s no need to memorise any login details. All you need to do is provide your mobile number, and you’re good to go.
- Your Personal Details Remain Personal
There’s no chance your bank details can ever be stolen and used. Why? Because you never share them with the Boku betting site. The only info you share is your mobile number, which isn’t going to be of any use to anyone who gets their hands on it.
- Text Message Verification
Even if somebody tries to make a payment using your mobile number, they still won’t succeed. For a Boku payment to be processed, it needs to be authenticated via text message – which is something only you can do.
- Play Now, Pay Later
Boku is as convenient as it gets. You can deposit funds straight into your sportsbook account and settle the bill later in the month.
Disadvantages of Using Boku Betting
Of course, we want to give you the full picture here. There are a couple of drawbacks to using Boku that we should discuss.
- Deposit Limits: Boku is not remotely suitable for high rollers since it’s designed for small transactions. Punters can’t deposit more than £30 a day using this payment method, which is obviously quite a limitation for some players.
- No Withdrawals: You won’t be able to use Boku as a withdrawal method. You’ll need to find another method to cash in on your funds.
How to Deposit Funds Using Boku
There are two ways to deposit on Boku betting sites, which will depend on whether the bookmaker directly offers it as a payment method or not. Let us explain.
In cases where Boku is offered as a payment method, such as at BoyleSports, making a deposit is very straightforward.
- Log in to your account and click deposit to raise a list of your options.
- Select Boku and enter the amount you want to add.
- Once you confirm, you’ll be redirected to the Boku website, where you’ll enter your mobile number and click “Buy”.
- Finally, you’ll receive a text message on your mobile asking you to confirm the transaction. Reply to the text with “Y” and your deposit will be processed instantaneously.
Unfortunately, the option to use Boku directly is not as commonly offered as we’d like, but there is a way around this using NETELLER, one of the most well-known e-wallets. All players need to do is make a Boku deposit into their NETELLER e-wallet and proceed to using this payment method to fund their betting accounts. Since NETELLER is widely offered by most sportsbooks, you’ll still have a pathway into topping up via Boku.
The biggest issue lies in the fact that, unlike with Boku, many bookies don’t allow you to claim their welcome bonus if you deposit through NETELLER. Go through the bonus T&Cs to find out if that’s the case, and, if so, try using another deposit method to ensure you don’t miss out.
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#1
 BoyleSports
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
*New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile only. £20 in FREE Bets (FB) as £10 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7 day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#2
 Unibet
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. No deposit required for NI customers. Call 08081699314 to claim. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#3
Paddy Power
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
New Customer Offer. Place your FIRST bet on any Sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £10. Only deposits made using cards will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#4
 bwin
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ | New UK players only | Min deposit req. £10 | Certain deposit methods excluded | Place 1 sport bet (3+ selections) | Excl Horse Racing | Min stake £10 | Max stake £20 | Min Odds 2/1 (3.0) | Max FreeBet £20 for football only | FreeBet valid for 7 days | FreeBet stake not returned | Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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Alternatives to Boku Betting
How does Boku betting compare to some alternative payment methods?
Debit Cards
Debit cards are one of the most popular routes to depositing and withdrawing money from a betting account. Their main appeal is tied to their convenience; almost everybody owns a debit card and using them is very easy. The concern with debit cards, however, is that they are not as secure as other methods since they reveal sensitive data to the bookmaker.
E-Wallets
E-wallets like PayPal, Skrill, Trustly, and NETELLER have grown tremendously in recent years. Besides being easy to use, these payment apps allow players to enjoy peace of mind while making cashless online transactions. Like Boku, you'll never have to reveal any of your card details, meaning your sensitive data is never at risk. On top of that, e-wallets facilitate lightning-quick withdrawals, something every punter will appreciate.
Google Pay & Apple Pay
Google Pay and Apple Pay are two more mobile payment systems that allow for contactless payments. These methods enable speedy transactions by linking your Google or Apple account to your preferred payment method. Once again, your sensitive data is never shared with the bookie.
Boku Betting FAQs
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Only BoyleSports currently offer Boku a deposit method. However, you could add funds to your NETELLER e-wallet through Boku, and then deposit using BoyleSports through Unibet, Paddy Power, or bwin.
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Nope! Boku does not charge any associated fees to top up using their service.
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Boku is quick and convenient, and allows you to deposit without sharing any bank details. It also gives you the option to settle your bills at the end of the month in one go.
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There is a max cap of £30 per day using Boku.
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No. You will have to use another payment method to withdraw.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
Boku is another excellent choice in a sea of payment methods. It represents a great avenue to move funds into your account in a secure and efficient fashion, requiring you to reveal no more than your mobile number. While you’ll find that it isn’t as widespread as debit cards and e-wallets, it’s still possible to top up with Boku indirectly through NETELLER.
Hey, I'm Matteo, and I'm a writer that lives and breathes sports. The typical weekend for me revolves around (falsely) hoping Manchester United will make it back to the top, ruining my Fantasy Premier League team, and getting off my lazy butt for a run.
