Most online sportsbooks and mobile betting apps accept PayPal deposits.
PayPal is also one of the most convenient deposit methods, making it a viable deposit method for users of all types. Additionally, PayPal betting sites provide several advantages to users:
- Instant deposits and fast withdrawals
- One-touch deposits
- No deposit fees
- Privacy – PayPal sportsbooks never see users’ banking details
- Users can keep their betting bankrolls separate from their other funds
The following online betting sites accept PayPal deposits and withdrawals. Each is legal in the USA and holds a valid online gambling license in all states of operation.
Online Betting Sites that Accept Paypal
How Depositing at Paypal Betting Sites Works
PayPal is a simple deposit method for online betting. Bettors can get started by signing into the mobile sportsbook of their choice, visiting the cashier, and choosing PayPal as their deposit method.
Existing PayPal customers can log in with their existing account information to choose an amount to deposit and confirm the transaction. Users who do not already have accounts can visit PayPal.com to sign up for free. Registering with PayPal is fast and easy. After signing up, customers can use their accounts at any sportsbook that accepts PayPal.
Once users have PayPal accounts, they can upload funds via bank transfer, securely store funds online, make instant deposits, and withdraw their winnings. Additionally, customers can shop online elsewhere with their PayPal balances.
It is free to sign up for a PayPal account, and new users can get started by visiting PayPal.com to register.
PayPal asks all new users if they wish to sign up for a personal or business account. Anyone who plans to bet online with PayPal must choose a personal account because PayPal does not allow business customers to make deposits to mobile sportsbooks and gambling sites.
Users have several options to fund their PayPal accounts after signing up, including credit cards, debit cards, and bank transfers. For online betting purposes, customers should link their bank accounts to PayPal for the most flexibility. PayPal does not allow funds uploaded via credit card to be deposited to mobile betting apps and websites.
After new users have loaded their PayPal accounts or linked them to a personal bank account, they can log in to their preferred betting site or mobile app to make a deposit.
Once logged in, users can visit their sportsbook’s cashier, select PayPal as their deposit method, and follow the on-screen instructions to initiate the deposit.
After users select an amount to deposit, their betting site will send them to a secure page hosted by PayPal to log in and approve the transaction. PayPal handles the rest by moving money directly from their linked bank account to their online betting site account – all without sharing their banking details with the sportsbook.
Most PayPal betting sites process deposits instantly.
Withdrawing winnings from PayPal betting sites is easy. When they’re ready to withdraw, bettors can log in to their PayPal sportsbook accounts, visit the cashier, select “withdraw,” and choose PayPal as their withdrawal method.
Most sportsbook PayPal withdrawals are processed within a couple of business days.
One important thing to keep in mind is most Paypal betting sites only offer withdrawals to customers who have already made at least one deposit via PayPal.
If a customer funds their online betting account with a credit card or any other method, they will likely not see PayPal as an available withdrawal method.
In that case, bettors can either make a small deposit with PayPal to enable it as a withdrawal method or choose another withdrawal option such as an electronic funds transfer or check in the mail.
PayPal Gambling Pros and Cons
BettingUSA recommends PayPal for most bettors because it is flexible, fast, provides a high success rate for deposits, and can receive withdrawals. In addition, PayPal gambling sites provide an additional layer of security by keeping customers' account and card numbers hidden from operators. When it comes to online sports betting, PayPal is a convenient method overall.
The downsides to using PayPal for online betting accounts are mostly minor. Even so, it is worth noting them because bettors have plenty of alternatives.
PayPal Sports Betting and Gambling Policies
PayPal takes a conservative approach to online betting transactions. Generally, PayPal sports betting policies align with state and federal law.
As a result, PayPal only works with online sportsbooks and mobile betting apps licensed in the United States.
Additionally, PayPal is a selective operator that does not offer its services to every sportsbook. A valid sports betting license does not guarantee PayPal will be a deposit method for that sportsbook.
PayPal clearly explains it here:
Unless the merchant has been approved by PayPal, account holders may not use PayPal to send or receive payments for any form of gambling activities, including but not limited to payments for wagers, gambling debts, and gambling winnings, whether conducted online, in person, or through any other means of communication. Gambling includes placing, accepting, recording, or registering bets; participating in lotteries; or otherwise carrying on a game of chance for money, property, or other things of value.
All PayPal Sportsbooks Support Responsible Gambling via Gamban
PayPal has traditionally lacked in the responsible gambling department despite its widespread use in the online betting industry. A quick search of the PayPal knowledge base will return exactly zero articles outlining responsible gambling tools.
However, PayPal took a significant step forward in early 2022 by partnering with gambling blocking software provider Gamban. Now, all online sports betting sites that accept PayPal support Gamban's responsible gambling efforts by default.
The partnership allows PayPal customers to initiate payment blocks on multiple types of online gambling, ranging from sports betting to online casinos and poker. And unlike the self-exclusion tools individual operators and state regulators provide to gamblers, PayPal self-exclusions are all-encompassing, not limited to a single gambling site or state.
With Gamban, PayPal users can block transactions related to the following forms of gambling:
- Casino games
- Sports betting
- Horse or greyhound racing
- Games of chance and skill
- Peer-to-peer betting
- Lottery tickets
- Gaming machines
- Other gambling services such as paid handicapping subscriptions and paying others to bet on one’s behalf
If a PayPal user initiates a payment block on a specific type of gambling-related transaction, PayPal will automatically block all future transactions from that user to known gambling providers of that type. In short, the tool marks an important step forward in promoting responsible gambling at the payment level by ensuring all sports betting sites with PayPal have safeguards in place.
PayPal Sports Betting Credit Restrictions
The PayPal website does not clearly explain its policies regarding online betting with credit in the United States, resulting in considerable confusion among players attempting to fund their accounts. The gist of it is that PayPal does not support the use of credit to fund online sportsbooks or gambling sites.
Non-gamblers can use PayPal to make secure transactions on credit via two methods. First, there is a line of credit that PayPal itself extends to customers for regular purchases called PayPal Smart Connect. It provides customers a revolving line of credit with no interest if users pay for purchases of $99 or greater within six months.
Bettors cannot use PayPal Credit to fund sports betting, gambling, or fantasy sports sites due to company policies. PayPal has an aversion to mixing gambling with credit, so it does not allow customers to use their PayPal Credit accounts to fund online betting accounts of any type.
Second, customers can link their personal credit cards to PayPal. Users who link credit cards to their PayPal accounts can use their cards to fund purchases online and pay later.
PayPal does not allow customers to use outside credit cards to fund online sportsbooks or casinos.
For example, a support page at the FanDuel Sportsbook website explains its PayPal policy as follows:
You can use your PayPal account as long as you have linked it to your bank account. Deposited funds are available immediately. Funding limits are set by PayPal per user.
PayPal Daily Fantasy Sports Sites
PayPal is an effective daily fantasy deposit method for many of the same reasons BettingUSA recommends it for sportsbooks.
Depositing with Paypal at daily fantasy sports apps is fast, secure, and available in most US states.
Daily fantasy sports sites that accept PayPal include:
Withdrawing from Paypal DFS Sites
PayPal also works as a convenient method for withdrawals. Some fantasy sites encourage players to use PayPal to withdraw, especially when attempting to withdraw more than the initial deposit.
For instance, DraftKings Fantasy attempts to refund all deposits made in the last 90 days back to the original funding source. For any excess funds, DraftKings asks players to withdraw via PayPal or check by mail.
For example, if a player deposits $100 via debit card, wins money, and initiates a $1,000 withdrawal, DraftKings will issue the withdrawal as follows:
- $100 refunded to the credit card used to withdraw
- $900 paid via PayPal or check
Most players report receiving funds in their PayPal accounts within 24 to 48 hours, but it can take a few business days in some cases. Overall, PayPal is a quick and efficient withdrawal method for online fantasy.
PayPal Horse Racing Betting Sites
Advance deposit wagering sites (ADWs) are subject to different regulations than sports betting and online gambling. Only some horse racing betting sites support PayPal, and all charge a nominal fee for using it to deposit.
Below is an overview of how the country’s most popular ADWs and their PayPal policies.
Horse racing betting sites that accept PayPal:
- TwinSpires: $5 service fee for PayPal deposits; $1 service fee for PayPal withdrawals
- TVG: $5 service fee for deposits
PayPal Betting FAQ
PayPal’s History with Online Betting
PayPal is the world’s most popular e-wallet that facilitates making payments and getting paid without revealing users’ banking details to one another. With a single PayPal account, customers can use it to make purchases online, send money to friends, receive payments for services rendered, and much more.
Today, PayPal boasts more than 392 million user accounts worldwide and processes more than 31,000 transactions per minute. To call PayPal a popular payment method would be an understatement; PayPal is a behemoth in online payments and is by far the largest e-wallet in the US.
PayPal has a long and interesting history with online sports betting and gambling. When PayPal launched in 1998, online sports betting and gambling were unregulated in the United States. PayPal happily served customers in those early years, but eventually, its willingness to court gamblers led to legal trouble.
New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer launched an investigation into PayPal’s gambling links in 2002. The investigation eventually led to a settlement in which PayPal agreed to stop processing gambling payments for New York and pay a $200,000 fine. PayPal admitted to no wrongdoing, but the settlement set the stage for the company’s eventual exit of the online betting business.
Later that year, eBay completed acquired PayPal in a $1.5 billion deal. One of the first things the new owners did was reach another settlement with Spitzer and the Department of Justice, which included paying a $10 million fine and a promise to exit the unregulated online gambling business in the US.
PayPal stayed out of the gambling business during its time with eBay but changed its stance following its successful spin-off as an independent company in 2015. Several months later, PayPal made its return to the US market – this time working exclusively with 100% legal and licensed betting operators.
Mike Murphy is the founder of BettingUSA.com and has over 20 years of experience in the legal gambling industry. A regular attendee of industry trade shows and conferences, Mike is a strong proponent in the idea of a well regulated online betting industry.