This document provides an overview of phone bill payments for mobile casinos. It discusses what phone bill payments are, how they work, the benefits they provide for players and casinos, relevant technologies and regulations. It also lists several mobile casinos that offer phone bill payments and notes some important things for players to keep in mind, such as transaction limits, blocking payments, and being unable to withdraw winnings via phone bill.

1. A Thorough Look At Phone Bill Payments At Mobile Casinos

2. The Ultimate Guide to Phone Bill Payments | Table of Contents
What are Phone Bill Payments?
Benefits of Phone Bill Payments
How it works?
Technology and Regulations
Step-by-Step Guide to Phone Bill Payments
Phone Bill Payments at Mobile Casinos

3. What are Phone Bill Payments?
It’s like saying:
Put it on my phone bill, thanks!

4. Money is deducted from your phone credit
if you are a
Pay As You Go User

5. if you have a phone contract
Or added to your monthly phone bill

6. In the UK, you can pay by phone bill with all major phone networks

7. You can pay via phone bill using any device

8. just as you can play at a mobile casino on any device.

9. This is how money flows
from player to casino

10. The Ultimate Guide to Phone Bill Payments | Table of Contents
What are Phone Bill Payments?
Benefits of Phone Bill Payments
How it works?
Technology and Regulations
Step-by-Step Guide to Phone Bill Payments
Phone Bill Payments at Mobile Casinos
Myths?

11. 1. It is convenient.
You don’t have to sign up or register for an account.

12. 1. It is convenient.
No need to locate your wallet, find your credit card and enter all the details (16-digits, billing address, expiry date…)

13. 1. It is convenient.
No need to run to a shop to purchase Ukashvouchers.

14. 2. Everyone can use it!
The Cardless
No bank account or credit cards required. All you need is a mobile phone; phone bill payments work with any brand or phone model.
Source: BokuWebsite –Key Benefits (November 2014)
The Many
6.8 billion customers with mobile phones from 68 different countries
The Nervous
You’ll authorise every transaction, and you’ll never have to share your card details
The Busy
The payment process literally takes seconds –tap a few times and you’re done!

15. Businesses can reach more customers than ever.
Source: World Bank(November 2014)

16. That’s better than any other payment system.
Source: Mobilepaymentstoday.com (November 2014)

17. 3. Spend with confidence.
All the costs and details are clearly displayedbefore every purchase.
There are receipts via text message, notifications and reminders.
Do you want to buy 180 coins for £1.00? It will be charged to your mobile phone bill.

18. What you pay for is what you get.

19. 4. Exercise self-control.
Phone billing islimited to £30 a dayfor all users. Your phone provider has also set a monthly credit limit to help you manage your spending.
If you get near your limit, you’ll usually receive a text to let you know. This is one way life tells you that you’re in safe hands.
Manage your account at mFortuneMobile Casino

20. 5. Transactions are 100% secure.
You won’t pass any personal banking details to the merchant.
Hence, zero chance of fraud!
It is also thoroughly regulated (more on this later).

21. The Ultimate Guide to Phone Bill Payments | Table of Contents
What are Phone Bill Payments
Benefits of Phone Bill Payments
How do Phone Bill Payments Work?
Technology and Regulations
Step-by-Step Guide to Phone Bill Payments
Phone Bill Payments at Mobile Casinos
Myths?

22. There are many people involved...

23. 1. Payment intermediary
These are the middlemen in the transactions, connecting mobile networks, customers and merchants.
•They set up a billing engine, which is integrated onto the merchant’s websites.
•They set up relationships with different mobile network operators.
•They are well-versed with the regulations and make changes to their payment processes when necessary, without requiring any developmental effort from the merchant.

24. Some services offered by Dialogue, a payment intermediary

25. 2. Mobile network provider
Mobile network providers are a key player in each transaction. They:
•Send the actual text messages when asked to
•Collect payments from customers and
•Transfer money to the aggregators, i.e. the amount that is successfully billed from consumers
•Issue their own guidelines, such as O2’s ₤30 monthly limit for its users

26. 3. Merchant/ Mobile Casino
Merchants are the customer-facing business that require money- collection methods.
•Businesses that suit phone bill payments include: mobile casinos, apps, newsstands, etc.
•They contact a payment intermediary of their choice and integrate the billing engine into their website.

27. 4. Regulators
Every country has different regulations; merchants must obey the regulations of countries that they operate in.
What regulations are there to protect consumers?
•Clear and accurate pricing information
•Honest advertising and service content
•Appropriate and targeted promotions
•Protection of consumers’ privacy, including the option to stop messages and disable premium rate services free of charge.
•The ability for consumers to set limits or caps on spending

28. Regulations in the UK
Payforitis a set of standards that defines the consumer payment experience and security standards. This scheme is set up by PhonepayPlus, Ofcom, AIME and the four mobile networks.

29. Regulations in the UK
PhonepayPlusis an independent and non-profit organisationthat regulates all phone-paid services. They publish a Code of Practice, investigate consumers’ complaints and bar companies that break the rules. In the UK, every business must register with PhonepayPlusbefore accepting payment via phone bill.

30. Regulations in the UK
Ofcomregulates communication services in the UK (including TV, radio, mobiles, fixed lines and airwaves)
AIME protects network providers and the payment intermediaries (the company that sets up the billing engine.)

31. The Ultimate Guide to Phone Bill Payments | Table of Contents
What are Phone Bill Payments
Benefits of Phone Bill Payments
How It Works
Technology behind Phone Bill Payments
Step-by-Step Guide to Phone Bill Payments
Phone Bill Payments at Mobile Casinos
Myths?

32. There are two payment models:
Direct Carrier Billing
Premium SMS (PSMS)

33. Premium SMS (PSMS)
Premium SMS (PSMS)
The earliest mobile payment method.
1.Users simply send a text message to a shortcode.
2.They are then billed when the premium SMS is sent or when they receive a reply. Every message to the shortcodecosts a certain amount of money, such as 10p, £1, £2 and £5.
Example usage:Sale of ringtones, donation to charities, voting on TV shows, entry into competitions

34. Premium SMS (PSMS)
Limitations of PSMS:
1.Susceptible to scamming and unscrupulous services –Poor regulations and security
2.Merchants can only accept fixed amounts of money –Each shortcodeis configured to accept 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, £2, £3 or £5.
PSMS Scam Alert!

35. Direct Carrier Billing
The next big thing.
1.You’ll enter your mobile number at the cashier
2.You’ll receive a text message. The text message may provide a PIN code, which you’ll have to enter at the website, or instructions to reply and confirm the payment.
Example usage:Social gaming, dating sites, mobile casinos. It is also used by Facebook, Google Play and Amazon Appstore.
Direct Carrier Billing

36. Direct Carrier Billing
Why is it better?
1.Secure –All communications are encrypted using a valid SSL certificate.
2.Seamless payment method –Users are redirected to the payment screen (in the image on the left).
3.Merchants can set any price points –Stores may want to accept arbitrary amounts (as customers select few items before paying), whereas apps sell virtual currency packages in fixed amounts.
Direct Carrier Billing

37. Paying by Direct Carrier Billing in Google Play

38. Technology behind PSMS
A shortcode(with four, five or six digits is configured) and the price for the shortcodeis set (10p, 25p, 50p, 75p, £1, £3 or £5.) In the UK, numbers are reserved and allocated viaShortcodeManagement Group (SCMG)

39. Technology behind PSMS
The merchant decides on one of these billing models –mobile originating billing or mobile terminating billing.
•In MO billing, the user is billed when the premium SMS is received (example, your daily horoscope text message)
•In MT billing, the user is billed when the user sends the text message (example, donations to a charity.)

40. Technology behind PSMS
The SMS Gateway is the channel in which http requests are sent and received.
These requestsfollow the http communication protocol – your mobile device requests a file, the server responds with the status and the requested content. The content can be delivered in a MMS or via a website. There are other implementations, such as SMPP, UCP, CIMD and xml.

41. Technology behind Direct Carrier Billing
1.The payment intermediary builds the billing engine, which consists of the payment panel, a web-service API and an integration portal. This is offered as a software development kit to the merchant.
2.Within the integration portal, the business can decide how to price their products, when the payment pop-up should appear, which page to redirect the user to after the payment is completed, and other decisions.

42. Technology behind Direct Carrier BillingAfter all these parameters are chosen, a web developer would integrate the billing engine with their website using an application programming interface (API).
4.The merchant’s development team will have to configure the whole payment process.
The payment process, from start to end.

43. Payment Panel on all devices

44. Comparison between mobile payment models

45. The Ultimate Guide to Phone Bill Payments | Table of Contents
What are Phone Bill Payments
Benefits of Phone Bill Payments
How it works?
Technology and Regulations
Step-by-Step Guide to Phone Bill Payments
Phone Bill Payments at Mobile Casinos
Myths?

47. This video demonstrates how to deposit by phone bill at mobile casinos
Watch on YouTube here.

48. Keep track of your transactions
You can also check your phone bill, either the printed copy or on your online portal.
SMS receipts are sent immediately after each transaction.

49. Pay As You Go users should make sure that they have sufficient credit before paying.
If there isn’t enough credit, the transaction will fail and you may be blacklisted by the casino after a few times.
In most cases, you’ll need at least £10 credit.
Take note: Top up before you play

50. Your phone network operator sets a credit limit to help you manage your spending and avoid unauthorised charges.
It also protects them from bad debt.
____________________________________
There is also a £30 daily limit, as directed by the Payforitscheme.
Take note: There are transaction limits
Text message: You have reached your credit limit.

51. Take note: How to block phone bill payments
* Note: Blocking phone bill payments ≠ blocking marketing text messages
What can consumers do to protect themselves?
1.Being aware of your phone credit limits
2.Contacting your mobile network provider to disable premium rate services
3.Complaining with PhonepayPlus, the regulator for phone-paid services in the UK
For a detailed explanation of each step: please read our complete guide.

52. Take note: No bonuses at mobile casinos
At most casinos, you receive a deposit match bonus when you add money into your casino account.
However, you may only redeem these if you deposit with credit card, Paypalor Ukash.
Why is this so?

53. Take note: No bonuses at mobile casinos
The mobile casino can’t afford to give you bonuses!
There are multiple stakeholders involved in providing phone bill payments, and each stakeholder takes a share of the revenue.
The mobile casino only receives about 55%!
This is in stark contrast with Visa payments, where businesses receive about 85% revenue share. The industry is working on this matter.

54. Take note: Can’t withdraw via phone bill
Money only flows in one direction.
Mobile casino players should select another banking option when withdrawing.

55. Contact the mobile casino (the merchant)
Mobile casinos would assist you to withdraw your money. This image explains how >>
If you face any difficulties, you can also contact your mobile network provider. Under the Payforitscheme, they are required to provide assistance after the transaction has occurred.
If you would like refunds or returns…

56. The Ultimate Guide to Phone Bill Payments | Table of Contents
What are Phone Bill Payments?
Benefits of Phone Bill Payments
How it works?
Technology and Regulations
Step-by-Step Guide to Phone Bill Payments
Phone Bill Payments at Mobile Casinos

57. Which mobile casinos offer phone bill payments?
Pocket Fruity
Best Features:
Unique fusion slots and games with feature trails
Pocket Win
Best Features:
Classic slots that you can download onto your mobile device
Spin Genie
Best Features:
Adventure Island, in which players unlock bonuses and level up
mFortune
Best Features:
Incredibly social mobile poker app and exclusive games

58. Which mobile casinos offer phone bill payments?
Paddy Power
Best Features:
Often hosts great promotions and maintains a hilarious Facebook feed
Elite Mobile
Best Features:
Reliable and stylish gameplay on any mobile device
LadyLucks
Best Features:
1 million players who enjoy its popular mobile slot games
MoobileGames
Best Features:
Hosts games that are tailor-made for smaller mobile screens

59. Which mobile casinos offer phone bill payments?
Bet and Move
Best Features:
Hosts well-known games that UK players love
Very Vegas
Best Features:
Neon lights and gaudy theme on point! Lots of jackpots too
Winneroo
Best Features:
£5 Free Welcome Bonus and popular mobile games
Touch My Bingo
Best Features:
As its name goes, great options for Bingo players

60. Which mobile casinos offer phone bill payments?
Fruity King
Best Features:
Games and website are easy to use on mobile
Fruity Phone
Best Features:
Its games include popular progressive jackpots
MrMobi
Best Features:
Good customer service and reliable platform
Vegas Mobile
Best Features:
Hosts frequentpromotions and good jackpots

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