Skrill vs Neteller: Which eWallet Is Better for UK Casino Players?
Skrill and Neteller are owned by the same parent company (Paysafe Group), regulated by the same UK authority, and offer the same basic eWallet experience for UK casino players. The choice between them isn’t obvious. We use both regularly when testing UK casinos, and the real differences come down to fees, casino acceptance, and a couple of features that only matter to specific types of player. The honest verdict upfront: neither is objectively better. It depends on what matters most to you.
Quick Comparison at a Glance
| Feature | Skrill | Neteller |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Paysafe Group | Paysafe Group |
| Founded | 2001 (as Moneybookers) | 1999 |
| UK Regulator | FCA | FCA |
| Deposit Speed at Casinos | Instant | Instant |
| Typical Withdrawal Speed | 24-48 hours | 24-48 hours |
| Card Top-Up Fee | Free | 2.5% |
| Bank Transfer Fee | Free | 0-1% |
| One-Tap Feature | Skrill 1-Tap | Net+ Card (physical/virtual) |
| Bonus Eligibility | Often excluded | Often excluded |
Where They’re Identical
Strip away the branding and Skrill and Neteller are essentially the same product. Both are owned by Paysafe Group and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Security is the same on each: 128-bit SSL with two-factor authentication, customer funds held in segregated accounts under FCA rules. Casino deposits are instant either way, and most operators process withdrawals to either wallet inside 24-48 hours.
Casino acceptance is close too. Across the operators we review, Skrill is accepted at around 27 brands and Neteller at around 26. Those counts will shift as we add new reviews, but the underlying acceptance percentages don’t move much. Some operators carry one eWallet but not the other, which is one reason we suggest opening both.
Day to day, there’s nothing meaningful between them.
Where Skrill Wins
Free Card Top-Ups
This is the biggest gap between the two wallets right now. Skrill funding via debit card is free. Neteller still charges 2.5%. On a £100 top-up that’s £0 vs £2.50. Spread that across a year of regular deposits and it’s real money.
Cheaper Bank Transfer Funding
Skrill is free on bank transfer too. Neteller charges 0 to 1% depending on the method and region. Most UK Neteller users land somewhere in that range. Skrill doesn’t apply the fee at all.
Skrill 1-Tap
After the first authorisation, Skrill 1-Tap lets you deposit at the same casino with one tap. No password re-entry. It’s faster than Neteller’s standard login flow, and the difference is noticeable on mobile. If you’re a regular at one operator, those saved seconds add up.
Where Neteller Wins
The Net+ Prepaid Mastercard
Neteller offers a physical and virtual prepaid Mastercard tied to your wallet balance. You can spend the balance at shops, online, and at ATMs without going through a bank transfer first. The card costs $10 to apply for, $10 a year, plus a 1.75% ATM fee (minimum $1). Skrill has no equivalent for UK users. If skipping the bank-transfer step matters to you, the Net+ card is the reason to pick Neteller.
Tier-Based Fee Benefits
Neteller’s tier system lowers fees and raises limits as your transaction volume goes up. Skrill has the same kind of structure, but Neteller’s tends to work out better for high-volume users. For casual players this won’t move the needle. For frequent players, it can be worth a few hundred pounds a year in fees.
Slightly Faster Verification (Anecdotal)
In our testing, Neteller verification tends to complete a touch faster than Skrill. We can’t guarantee it, but if you want to be ready to deposit quickly, it’s worth knowing.
The Bonus Problem – Both Lose
This is the biggest drawback they share. Most UK casinos exclude both Skrill and Neteller from welcome bonus eligibility. Big-name operators like Ladbrokes and Coral are on the list. Depositing via either wallet usually means giving up the welcome offer.
If a welcome bonus matters to you, deposit via debit card first, claim the bonus, clear the wagering, then switch to Skrill or Neteller for ongoing play. We flag bonus exclusions for every operator on our Skrill and Neteller casinos pages, so you can check before you sign up.
Fees Breakdown
The full fee picture, drawn from current official Skrill and Neteller pages:
| Transaction Type | Skrill | Neteller |
|---|---|---|
| Fund via bank transfer | Free | 0-1% |
| Fund via debit card | Free | 2.5% |
| Casino deposit | Free (operator side) | Free (operator side) |
| Casino withdrawal | Free (operator side) | Free (operator side) |
| Withdraw to bank | 1.75% (min EUR 3.50) | 1.75% (min USD 3.50) |
| Wallet-to-wallet transfer | 2.99% (min EUR 0.50) | 2.99% (min USD 0.50) |
| Currency conversion | 3.99% | 3.99% |
| Inactivity fee (6+ months) | EUR 5/month | USD 5/month |
Skrill is the cheaper wallet to fund. Once money is in either, the costs match. UK accounts are billed in GBP at the prevailing exchange rate, but the official fee schedules quote in EUR (Skrill) and USD (Neteller).
Which Should You Choose?
- Choose Skrill if – you fund your wallet via debit card or bank transfer. The fee savings are the biggest single difference between the two wallets. Skrill 1-Tap also helps if you play at one casino regularly and want the fastest mobile checkout.
- Choose Neteller if – you want a prepaid card to spend winnings directly without bank transfers. The Net+ Mastercard is the only real Neteller-only benefit. Higher-volume players may also find Neteller’s tier system works out cheaper at their level.
- Open both if – you play at multiple casinos and want maximum flexibility. Some operators accept Skrill but not Neteller, others the reverse. Both wallets are free to open, and having both gives you a backup if one of them has a processing issue at a specific casino.
Our Verdict
For most UK players, Skrill is the cheaper wallet to fund. Free card and bank-transfer top-ups make a real difference if you deposit often. Neteller wins on the Net+ Mastercard, and on tier benefits if you’re a high-volume player.
Both are FCA-regulated and backed by the same parent company. For most players the answer is simple: open both. They’re free, they cover different operators between them, and you’ll have a backup if one wallet has a hiccup at a specific casino. For operator-level detail, see our best Skrill casinos and best Neteller casinos pages.
Sources & Further Reading
- Skrill – Official Fees Page
- Neteller – Official Fees Page
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
- Skrill Casinos in the UK – BestCasino.co.uk
- Neteller Casinos in the UK – BestCasino.co.uk
- PayPal Casinos – BestCasino.co.uk (alternative with fewer bonus exclusions)
- Paysafecard Casinos – BestCasino.co.uk (prepaid alternative)
- Fast Withdrawal Casinos – BestCasino.co.uk
- Best Casino Bonuses – BestCasino.co.uk (offers that accept eWallets)
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