Wirecard casino payments belong to the past. The German provider offered players a virtual card they could load and spend without exposing their everyday bank card, but it entered insolvency in 2020. Below: how Wirecard and Click2Pay worked, what they cost and what UK players use now.
What was Wirecard?
Wirecard was a German payment company, trading since 1999, that processed online payments and built a strong presence in casino deposits. Its ambitions were large: by buying other payment systems, it aimed to compete with established e-wallets such as Skrill and Neteller.
For players, the headline product was a virtual card. Online it behaved much like a credit or debit card, with a number you could enter at checkout, yet no physical plastic was ever issued. You loaded money onto it and spent from that balance.
How did Click2Pay become part of Wirecard?
Click2Pay was a widely used casino payment system that Wirecard bought, after which Wirecard took its place in the cashiers of UK casinos. Players who had paid with Click2Pay moved across to the Wirecard brand, which is why older reviews often list the method as Wirecard (Click2Pay).
Buying Click2Pay was part of a steady expansion that, for a while, made Wirecard one of the best-known names in gambling payments.
Why did players choose a Wirecard virtual card?
Privacy was the main draw, because a Wirecard virtual card let players fund casino accounts without handing their regular card details to the operator.
Speed helped as well. Opening an account meant entering a few personal details on the Wirecard website, and anyone who selected the virtual card received its details straight away, ready to load and use the same day.
How did Wirecard deposits and withdrawals work?
Wirecard deposits followed the same pattern as an ordinary card payment: load the virtual card, then enter its details in the casino cashier. The usual sequence looked like this:
- Register on the Wirecard website and request the virtual card.
- Transfer money to the Wirecard balance from a bank account or regular card.
- Pick Wirecard in the casino cashier and enter the virtual card number.
- Confirm the amount and start playing once the funds arrive.
Withdrawals were less consistent. Some casinos let players both pay in and cash out through Wirecard, while others accepted deposits only, so checking the cashier rules in advance was always necessary. Once winnings reached the Wirecard balance, players could send them on to a bank account or regular card, or spend them directly at online shops and other services that took the card.
What did Wirecard cost players?
Wirecard’s main cost was a fee of 3% that the provider charged, in most cases, whenever players topped up the balance from a bank account or regular card.
Most casinos added nothing on top of Wirecard payments, so the 3% top-up fee was the figure to factor in.
Which currencies did Wirecard support?
Wirecard supported six currencies: the British pound, US dollar, euro, Swiss franc, Australian dollar and Canadian dollar. Their standard codes are:
- British pound (GBP)
- US dollar (USD)
- Euro (EUR)
- Swiss franc (CHF)
- Australian dollar (AUD)
- Canadian dollar (CAD)
The company operated in practically every country and presented itself as a secure go-between for banks and online casinos.
What happened to Wirecard in 2020?
Wirecard entered insolvency in 2020, which ended its run as a casino payment option. That is the key fact for anyone researching a Wirecard casino today.
Treat any casino page that still advertises Wirecard deposits as outdated. Before you send money anywhere, confirm in the cashier which methods are live, and contact support if a listed option looks unfamiliar. Our guide on how to spot a scam casino explains other warning signs worth checking.
Which Wirecard alternatives suit UK players?
The closest Wirecard alternatives for UK players are e-wallets, phone wallets and direct bank payments. E-wallets and phone wallets keep your card number away from the casino, which was the core appeal of Wirecard.
- E-wallets: Skrill and Neteller were the benchmarks Wirecard wanted to match, and they serve a similar privacy purpose.
- Phone wallets: Apple Pay casinos and Google Pay casinos let you pay from your phone without typing card numbers into the cashier.
- Bank payments: bank transfer casinos suit players who prefer paying directly from their own account.
One route is closed: credit cards, including Visa and Mastercard credit cards, cannot be used to gamble at UK casinos. For a wider look at cashier options, see our payment methods hub and our deposits and withdrawals guide.
Do Wirecard casino bonuses still apply?
Wirecard casino bonuses belong to the same era as the payment method, so offers described in older reviews should not be treated as current. Welcome and reload deals still exist, but they are tied to the casino rather than to a payment brand.
Before you deposit, read the terms for excluded payment methods, minimum deposits and wagering rules. Our casino bonuses and deposit bonuses pages explain how these offers work, and players who care most about getting money out quickly can compare fast payout casinos.
How should you check a casino’s payment options?
Check the cashier, the terms and the licence before depositing, because payment pages on older sites can lag behind reality. A short routine helps:
- Open the cashier and confirm the method appears for both deposits and withdrawals.
- Make sure the casino holds a valid UK licence; our page on casino licensing covers what to look for.
- Expect identity checks before your first withdrawal, as explained in our KYC verification guide.
The Wirecard story is a useful reminder that even large payment firms can fail. Choose methods you can verify today rather than ones remembered from old reviews, and browse licensed options from our UK casino hub.
Frequently asked questions
Can you still use Wirecard at a UK casino?
No, Wirecard stopped being a casino payment option when the German provider entered insolvency in 2020. Casino pages that still list it are out of date. Check the live cashier before depositing and choose a current option such as an e-wallet, a phone wallet or a bank transfer instead.
What was Click2Pay and how is it linked to Wirecard?
Click2Pay was a popular casino payment system that Wirecard acquired and then replaced with its own brand at UK casinos. That is why many older reviews refer to the method as Wirecard (Click2Pay). Both names now belong to the past, because Wirecard itself entered insolvency in 2020.
Why did casino players like Wirecard?
Casino players liked Wirecard mainly for privacy, since its virtual card kept their regular bank card details away from the casino. Sign-up was quick, the virtual card details arrived immediately, and any withdrawn balance could be spent at online shops or moved on to a bank account or regular card.
How much did Wirecard charge for top-ups?
Wirecard usually charged a fee of 3% when players loaded their balance from a regular card or bank account. The fee came from the provider rather than the casino, and most casinos added no charge of their own to Wirecard payments. Players who topped up often therefore saw those small percentages add up.
Can I use a credit card instead of Wirecard at a UK casino?
No, credit cards cannot be used to gamble at UK casinos, and that includes Visa and Mastercard credit cards. If you want a method that keeps your card number away from the casino, look at e-wallets such as Skrill or Neteller, or at Apple Pay and Google Pay, and confirm in the cashier which ones a casino accepts.
Which currencies did Wirecard accept?
Wirecard accepted the British pound plus the US dollar, euro, Swiss franc, Australian dollar and Canadian dollar. That spread suited UK players and international customers alike, as the company operated in practically every country. Today the list matters mainly for historical comparison, since Wirecard stopped being a casino payment option after its 2020 insolvency.