Who Can Use It?
The guide lists Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, and Belgium as supported countries. It also reports that more than 20 million people across these countries use SOFORT for online purchases. In Belgium, the service is called Pay now by Klarna; in the other listed countries, it is called SOFORT.
How the Payment Works
At online checkout, look for SOFORT or Pay now. Selecting it takes you to the Pay now or SOFORT site, where you are asked for your bank’s sort code. You then sign in to your bank and receive a Transaction Authorization Number (TAN), which you enter to authorize the payment.
To deposit at a casino, open the cashier and check whether SOFORT is available. Select it, provide your bank’s sort code and sign in. A TAN is sent to your mobile device; enter it along with the deposit amount. The guide says funds appear in the account immediately.
Casinos do not support SOFORT withdrawals. To withdraw winnings, you will need another option, such as one listed among online casino payment methods.
Security Features
The guide says SOFORT uses SSL encryption and a TAN as an additional security measure. It claims merchants and casinos cannot see account details through the service and therefore do not store them. These are claims, not a new security assessment.
The guide also says the TAN entry window lasts between five and ten minutes. If the code is not entered in time, it says a replacement TAN must be requested. The guide presents this time limit as a way to make guessing the code harder.
Other SOFORT Details
If a payment problem occurs, SOFORT customer support can be contacted by email, and your bank may also be able to help. The address displayed in the guide is [email protected].
SOFORT itself does not charge fees, though a bank may impose its own. Check your institution’s terms before paying. The guide’s further suggestion that SOFORT fees would probably be lower than those of other payment services is unverified. It says Envoy Services Limited or Worldpay AP Limited may appear as the payee on a bank statement, describing both as SOFORT payment gateway partners.
Advantages
The guide identifies these possible benefits of using SOFORT for online gambling:
- Deposits are described as arriving in real time.
- The guide says it is widely accepted at casinos that accept UK players.
- No account registration is required in advance.
- The guide describes several security measures intended to protect the account.
Disadvantages
The guide also notes these limitations of SOFORT:
- Use is restricted to players in certain European countries.
- Withdrawals are not supported. Before cashing out, you must register another payment method, such as a credit or debit card.
- The stated currencies are EUR and CHF. CHF is limited to players from Switzerland.
- The stated transaction range is a minimum of 1 EUR or 5 CHF and a maximum of 2000 EUR or 2500 CHF per transaction.
Conclusion
For people in countries where SOFORT is offered, the guide presents it as a convenient way to deposit for online gambling. It also says the provider plans to expand, but this does not establish where or when the service may become available. Make sure a separate withdrawal method is supported before placing wagers.
