SOFORT is an online payment service currently available for most bank account holders in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, The Netherlands, and the UK. Founded in Munich, Germany, the system has spread rapidly over the past few years and now supports a large portion of most of Europe's major banks. For online casino players, SOFORT provides a quick and safe way to add funds to hundreds of online casinos.
If you are from one of the listed countries that support SOFORT, odds are that your bank is compatible with their services. All bank transfer activities in SOFORT are now done through Klarna Payments, the company whose open banking technology SOFORT has been using since 2014.
SOFORT is a real-time online bank transfer service that works as a link between players and online casinos and allows players to deposit funds directly into their casino accounts. You don’t need to have a registered account to transfer funds to an online casino that accepts SOFORT because it is a direct transfer service from your online/mobile banking app.
Since it is a popular online casino deposit method, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding the right SOFORT casino for yourself. You will notice that all transactions now go through Klarna, so their recognisable pink colour will be the clue that you are still in the right spot.
Is SOFORT a Good Deposit Method at Online Casinos?
What makes SOFORT so popular and widely used in online casinos is probably the fact that users don’t need to share their bank account or credit card details with the casino.
Another benefit that SOFORT provides is security. When you make a transfer to a merchant (an online casino in this case), the casino receives encrypted data, and your bank takes all precautionary measures to secure the transaction.
Like with many other deposit methods, transactions with SOFORT are almost instant, and the funds should be in your casino account in no time. SOFORT has fees for conducting bank transfers, and they come in different rates that include a monthly basic fee, a transaction fee, plus the turnover percentage.
How to Make a Deposit with SOFORT at Online Casinos?
Adding money to an online casino account with SOFORT is remarkably simple. First of all, if that is your preferred deposit method, then you should find an online casino that uses SOFORT. Note that all the casinos listed on this page accept SOFORT as a deposit method, regardless if they are new online casinos or well-established ones.
Next, you need to sign up at a SOFORT casino if you don’t already have an account with them. If you do, then just sign in, and follow these steps:
- Go to the cashier and enter the amount you wish to deposit
- Choose SOFORT (powered by Klarna) as the payment method
- Pick your country and enter your bank's basic information to be redirected to your bank's website
From there, the transaction will be handled directly through your bank. This allows you to transfer funds into your casino balance without disclosing your account number or TAN/PIN to any third party. As we already mentioned, all transaction data will be encrypted, so the casino won’t get your financial information.
How to Withdraw Funds with SOFORT at Casinos?
Before withdrawing funds from a casino with SOFORT, you need to check if the casino offers SOFORT as both deposit and withdrawal methods, as those can sometimes differ. That information should be listed on the casino website, but you can also find it in the “Payment” section of our expert casino reviews.
Once you are certain that you have chosen a casino that allows SOFORT as a withdrawal method and that you meet the casino’s terms and conditions, you can proceed to request your withdrawal:
- Go to the cashier and select SOFORT as a preferred withdrawal option
- Enter the amount you wish to withdraw
- Follow the instructions and input all the required information
- Confirm the transaction
The funds might take a few days to reach your account since the casino needs to confirm your withdrawal, and banking transactions usually take several days to process. There might be some fees attached to the withdrawal, but SOFORT is very transparent about that, so there shouldn’t be any surprises.
Disadvantages of SOFORT when Using it at Online Casinos
Unfortunately, SOFORT's services are limited to players from select European countries who have an account at participating banks. If your bank doesn’t support SOFORT, you will simply have to find another way to add funds to your online casino account. Some regions do offer services similar to SOFORT's, so if you are not eligible, check out some of our other deposit methods to see if there is a good alternative.
Another drawback of using SOFORT is the fact that not all online casinos accepting SOFORT for making deposits also accept it as a withdrawal method. To avoid any problems, we highly recommend checking this information before making a deposit at an online casino.
Should You Use SOFORT at Online Casinos?
All things considered, SOFORT is undoubtedly one of the most popular payment methods for European online casino players. The company offers the same confidentiality and safety that most online payment processors do, except that it does not sacrifice efficiency in the process. In fact, all deposits can be handled in a matter of seconds. You don't even have to register a separate account or go through any verification hassles.
Also, if you are wondering which online casino accepts SOFORT, the answer is that many of them do, as you can see from the list on this page.
If you prefer a mobile casino experience, you shouldn’t have any trouble using SOFORT as it is connected to your online or mobile banking app. And most casinos with SOFORT are optimised for small screens, so your experience should be as enjoyable as playing on your computer.
