Boku Casinos – Deposit by Phone
Boku is a payment service provider that allows Canadians to easily deposit at their favorite casinos simply by using their phones.
Known as “carrier billing”, Boku is a mobile payment service that allows unbanked people with smartphones to simply add line items to their monthly phone bills. In a sense, it 
is one of the only ways to gamble online with credit, as the payment doesn’t become due until your phone bill does.
There’s no need to fund Boku with a credit or debit card or connect it to a bank account. Some players who own bank or credit union accounts, credit and debit cards, or even eWallets like ecoPayz, Skrill, or Neteller still prefer the convenience of carrier billing.
Canadians as a whole are one of the most prolific users of smartphones in the world. The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) estimates that about one-third of all Canadian households rely on wireless services exclusively. They also state that over 90% of Canadians have mobile phones while only about 41% have landlines.
Worldwide, Boku processes in excess of $3.5 billion annually in 20 markets serving over 13,000,000 active users per month. With over 160 carrier connections it’s highly likely that your monthly cell phone plan is all you need in order to play at an online casino in Canada.
Best Boku Casinos
Mobile Carriers Supporting Boku
Unfortunately for Rogers Wireless users, Boku only works with Facebook, Sony, and Wargaming. So if you are a Rogers customer you will need to try one of our other deposit methods.
According to Statista, the next two top providers are Bell Canada and TELUS Mobility. If you are a Bell or Telus customer you are in luck as Boku is supported for you! Most of the other dozen or so prominent carriers across the provinces also welcome and support Boku payments so you have nothing to lose if you try.
Although you might use your mobile device to make a deposit, you can play casino games on any device with a web browser that is connected to the internet.
You might ask yourself…
Why should I use Boku?
We’ll suggest a few reasons you might want to consider:
- It’s a great option to look at if your bank or debit card provider tends to block casino transactions. If you don’t have a bank account or any active cards it’s one of the best options for depositing.
- It’s fast and easy – What could be more simple than entering a deposit amount and your phone number and then replying to a text message? That’s super simple in our estimation and no other method is faster.
- No personal information is transmitted – Deposits are purely financial transactions with no need to register an account, wait for identity or account verifications, or anything else. Simply deposit, reply to a text message (SMS) to confirm, and play.
Speaking of easy, there are three simple steps:
- Navigate to the cashier or banking section and select Boku, Pay by Mobile, or Pay by SMS
- Enter an amount of $30 or less
- Reply to the text message to confirm
Wait a minute! I’m afraid they almost make it too easy to play at your favorite casino, so be sure to not get in over your head or chase losses. Gambling in Canada is supposed to be fun!
Boku Direct
If you have a favorite online casino that you play at often, you can set up a quick deposit option much like a recurring payment. If you see Boku Direct in the cashier simply select 
the option if you want the system to remember your phone number for you. You’ll get a text message asking if you want to use the service and all you have to do is reply in the affirmative.
The next time you visit the casino you can click on the quick deposit option to deposit immediately without even entering your phone number.
Boku Fees
While we have come across a few international casinos online that do charge fees for depositing with Boku, we haven’t found that to be the case for Canadian players. The operators know we sometimes have trouble depositing so they try to make banking with them as easy as possible. If you deposit CA$30, you should have $30 to play with!
Frequently Asked Questions about Boku
How long will it take for my deposit to be credited?
Boku payments are instantaneous. You check the status of your transaction by visiting the Boku Customer Care Portal.
Can I use Boku if I have a “pay-as-you-go” or pre-paid phone?
Yes, as long as you have sufficient funds in your phone balance and your pre-paid phone is not provided by Cricket, AT&T, MetroPCS, Straight Talk, or Verizon. Other carrier’s prepaid plans should be fine.
Why can’t I use my Canada Bell post-paid monthly plan and phone?
Yes. Be sure that Carrier Billing and Premium services are enabled. The process is different for certain phones and individual carriers.
Can I cash out my winnings with Boku?
The answer is currently, “no”. However, the system does have refund capabilities through the newer “phone-on-file” facility they have introduced to provide a more “frictionless” check out process.
For the time being, you will need to use an alternative withdrawal method such as an eWallet, Bitcoin, paper checks, or a bank transfer if you have an account. lease check the withdrawal section of the casino cashier prior to depositing and talk to customer service if you need to, to be sure you can et your winnings after a lucky session.
I’m currently in the U.S., can I use Boku to deposit?
No. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait until you return home to use carrier billing at an online casino. Thanks to unsettled legal issues surrounding the US UIGEA of 2006, carriers will not allow Boku payments if they see that your phone is in the US.
Can I review my deposit history?
Yes. Simply visit the secure Boku Customer Care Portal to see the status of all transactions going back 6 months. Once you enter the portal you can see and cancel subscriptions if you want to or block your phone number from future payments.
Does Boku provide customer support?
Yes. A complete and comprehensive Boku FAQ is available online. There is also an online form to address any issue related to your phone number/account. The secure facility uses reCAPTCHA, conforms to the company privacy policy, and allows the uploading of documents and other attachments.
Why can I only deposit $30 at a time?
The relatively low limit was negotiated between Boku and the participating carriers. The last thing they want is for customers to run up big bills they are unable to pay and end up with disconnected phone service. It’s also a security feature.
Which Canadian casinos online accept Boku payments?
All sites listed on this page accept Boku payments. As the payment method is gaining in popularity more are being added all the time.
Boku Casino in Canada Conclusion
Carrier billing through Boku provides Canadians a safe, secure, and easy way to deposit. While the most popular wireless provider in the country does not support Boku payments, most of the others do.
There are no fees for using Boku as the casinos pick up the tab. They want your business and will offer special Canadian bonuses along with alternate banking methods that are cheap or free and easy to use.
The current $30 limit may frustrate some players, but if you like to play with a bigger bankroll and are patient, you can accumulate multiple deposits in your account before playing.
