Click and Buy Online Casino Sites

A Brief History of ClickandBuy

ClickandBuy launched in 1999 during the first wave of internet payment innovation. The eWallet concept was still relatively new, and the platform built a strong position by offering a straightforward way to pay online without handing sensitive financial details to every merchant. It expanded well beyond Germany into dozens of markets, eventually supporting transactions in 193 countries.

In March 2010, Deutsche Telekom AG - one of Europe's largest telecoms companies - acquired ClickandBuy from Intel Capital for around €80 million. The company's headquarters moved to London, and with FCA authorisation as an Electronic Money Institution, ClickandBuy had solid regulatory standing in the UK market.

Competition in digital payments intensified sharply through the early 2010s. Neteller and Skrill had already put down deep roots in the iGaming sector, while PayPal continued to dominate mainstream online commerce. Improvements in direct card payment security squeezed ClickandBuy's market share further.

In late 2015, Deutsche Telekom announced it would wind down the service. ClickandBuy stopped processing all payments on 30 April 2016, with around 80 jobs lost. Account holders were given notice to withdraw any remaining balances before that date.

How ClickandBuy Worked

The idea was simple: ClickandBuy sat between the player's bank account or card and the online casino. Instead of entering card numbers or bank details at each site, players logged into their ClickandBuy account and approved payments from there. The casino never saw the underlying financial data.

Withdrawals worked in reverse. Players requested a cashout from the casino to their ClickandBuy account, then transferred that balance to their linked bank account. Processing was slower than deposits, typically taking a few business days depending on the destination bank and the casino's own schedule.

Fees and Costs

Opening and maintaining a ClickandBuy account was free. Using it, though, came with some costs worth knowing about.

• Credit card funding: A 3.9% fee applied when loading funds via credit card. On larger deposits, this added up quickly.
• Bank transfers and other methods: Funding via bank transfer, Giropay, or other supported methods was free.
• Withdrawals: Every withdrawal to a bank account cost a flat €1.85, regardless of the amount.

These fees were reasonable for the era but became harder to justify as rivals reduced or dropped transaction charges. For players making frequent small withdrawals, that flat €1.85 per transaction was a real drag.

Security and Regulation

Security was arguably ClickandBuy's strongest point. The single sign-on model meant players shared their card or bank details only once - with ClickandBuy itself - rather than entering them at every casino they used. That cut the risk of card data being compromised through a breach at any individual merchant.

ClickandBuy was authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as an Electronic Money Institution. FCA oversight meant the company had to meet strict standards around safeguarding customer funds, anti-money laundering compliance, and consumer protection - an additional layer of confidence on top of whatever licensing the casino operator held from the UK Gambling Commission.

The platform used standard eWallet security measures of the period: encrypted connections and account verification. These were solid for 2016, though the broader payments industry has moved well beyond them since, with biometric authentication, two-factor verification, and tokenised card payments now standard.

ClickandBuy and Online Casinos

During its operational years, ClickandBuy was accepted at a range of online casinos, sportsbooks, and bingo sites, including several well-known UK-licensed operators. It was offered alongside other eWallets and traditional payment methods, and was particularly common at European-facing sites.

For casino players, the main practical benefits were instant deposits and a natural budgeting layer. You could load a set amount into your ClickandBuy account and only spend what was there, rather than having the casino cashier connected directly to your full bank balance.

That said, not every casino that accepted ClickandBuy for deposits also allowed withdrawals through it. Players sometimes had to use a different method to cash out, which was a genuine frustration - though not a problem unique to ClickandBuy. Some current payment methods face the same restriction at certain operators.

Why ClickandBuy Shut Down

The 2016 closure came down to competitive pressure. The online payments market moved fast through the 2010s, and ClickandBuy couldn't keep pace with better-funded rivals with deeper market penetration.

PayPal had the general online payments space locked up. In iGaming, Neteller and Skrill had built products specifically around casino and sports betting players - loyalty programmes, VIP tiers, tighter operator integrations. Prepaid options like paysafecard appealed to players who wanted to avoid linking a bank account entirely.

Deutsche Telekom's decision to shut down was commercial. Despite paying €80 million for the platform just six years earlier, the return hadn't justified continued operation. Rather than invest further in a product losing ground, the company exited the payments business entirely.

What Happened to ClickandBuy Users?

When Deutsche Telekom announced the closure, account holders received several months' notice to withdraw their remaining balances. The service stayed open for withdrawals through 30 April 2016, after which all accounts were closed.

Players who had used ClickandBuy for casino deposits and withdrawals had to switch to other methods. Most UK-licensed casinos already offered several alternatives, so the transition wasn't particularly difficult. The main inconvenience fell on players who had relied on ClickandBuy as their primary method and needed to set up a new eWallet or link card details directly.

Alternatives to ClickandBuy for UK Casino Players

Since ClickandBuy closed, UK players have had plenty of options at UKGC-licensed sites. The most commonly available include:

• PayPal: The largest eWallet, widely accepted at UK online casinos. Instant deposits, relatively fast withdrawals, and strong buyer protection.
• Neteller and Skrill: Both are popular in the iGaming sector specifically, with multi-currency support, fast processing, and features aimed at casino players.
• Debit cards (Visa/Mastercard): The most direct option for most UK players. Note that credit card gambling has been banned in the UK since April 2020 under UKGC regulations.
• Paysafecard: A prepaid voucher method that lets you deposit without linking any bank account or card - useful if spending control is a priority.
• Bank transfers: Slower but reliable, and increasingly supported through faster payment rails.
• Pay by mobile: Methods like Boku allow deposits charged to a phone bill, though withdrawal options through these are typically limited.

The Legacy of ClickandBuy

ClickandBuy no longer exists, but it had a real part in shaping how online payments developed in the early internet era. It was one of the first services to show that consumers would use a digital intermediary to protect their financial details - a principle that underpins every modern eWallet and tokenised payment system.

In iGaming specifically, ClickandBuy was part of a generation of payment platforms that helped build trust in online casino transactions at a time when many players were understandably reluctant to enter card details on gambling sites. Instant deposits, intermediary protection, regulatory oversight - these remain the criteria players and operators use to assess payment methods today.

Its closure is also a useful reminder that payment methods can disappear. Players who rely on a single deposit method may find themselves scrambling at short notice. Keeping at least a couple of payment options set up and ready is sensible practice.

Responsible Gambling

Whichever payment method you use at an online casino, responsible gambling practices matter. The UK Gambling Commission requires all licensed operators to provide deposit limits, loss limits, session time reminders, and self-exclusion options. GAMSTOP offers a free national self-exclusion scheme covering all UKGC-licensed online gambling sites.

If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, support is available through GambleAware and the National Gambling Helpline.

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