Sofort ranks as a highly-rated payment provider and offers an avenue for online gamblers to transfer their funds from their bank accounts directly to their online casino merchants in a fast, secure, and free manner. The highlight is that the payment provider offers its services in 17+ European countries, including the UK, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, France, and Austria. And from the mentioned, It is almost certain that the payment method supports multiple currencies, including Euro, British Pounds, Czech Koruna, Swiss Franc, Swedish Krona, Hungarian Forint, and Polish Zloty. Today, Sofort boasts 85 million users spread across the countries, leading to the provider transacting volumes of 2 million and above monthly.
But, what takes Sofort's stakes high in the payment/banking industry? There are several reasons online shoppers and gamblers prefer the provider’s services. Firstly, they can transact online without card numbers, banking details, or a Sofort account. A successful transaction will only involve the bank supporting the payment method and an online merchant accepting Sofort payments. Read More
In a nutshell, the provider will act as the middleman in the transaction to facilitate e-banking services. Secondly, all transactions are secure and quick, settling well with many online users. Finally, Klarna and Sofort partnership in 2014 led to an expansion of the market reach with more members brought on board. The partnership enabled incorporating the latest technology and innovation to ensure the services were delivered efficiently.
Through the partnership, several online gaming merchants in the range of hundreds accept deposits through Sofort or Klarna. And the popularity increases each day for the easy, instant, secure, and low fees involved in the transactions. Finally, players who wish to gamble online with Bitcoin can fund their wallets from the exchange through Sofort.
About Sofort
Sofort roots can be traced in Germany when the payment provider debuted in 2005 as Sofort Überweinsung, translating to Sofort Banking company. During those years, the company was under the Payment Network name, a stance that would later change in 2012, when it changed to Sofort AG. The company was on an upward trajectory through the years, and today, the company partners with 25,000+ online merchants globally, with its transaction volume above two (2) million monthly.
Sofort-Klarna Partnership
Sofort’s success over the years was evident, and its potential was an aspect that prompted a partnership in 2014 between Klarna and Sofort. Klarna is a Swedish-based company that traces its debut year around the same time as Sofort. The company focused on incorporating technology and innovation to make online payments easy without hassles. The partnership was a huge milestone and points to the main reason for the growth experienced at Sofort. Firstly, the market reach expanded, thanks to the 17+ countries accepting Klarna payments. Secondly, Klarna was named among the top 100 promising tech companies, pointing to its success. It would also become one of Sweden’s ‘five unicorns.’
Together with Klarna, the customer base is at 85+ million, and the list keeps on growing. Besides the customer base, Klarna would start working with big companies, benefiting Sofort in equal measure. Samsung, Halford, H&M, Nike, Lenovo, and Spotify are among the big companies working with Klarna.
When Sofort debuted, the main competitor was Klarna company, which came about in the same year. In addition, there was another competitor, iDeal, a Netherlands-based e-banking payment company, that debuted in the same year. Today, while they partnered, other alternatives have cropped over the years, including Trustly, Interac, and Giropay.
While the provider had a great start since its inception, the partnership with Klarna improved its stakes higher. Today, this is one of the most promising and successful partnerships when factoring in online banking.
Using Sofort to Gamble
Besides online shopping, online gamblers have largely used the method while transacting in their respective online casinos. However, in most cases, the casino places Sofort under Klarna. The highlight is that players can either deposit or withdraw via the payment method, provided they have accounts from banks and online casinos supporting Sofort/Klarna.
Depositing to a Sofort Casino
Deposits at a casino are easy, instant, and secure. Besides that, the process is not complicated and will not include an account from the provider. Instead, the requirements needed are as follows:
- Have a bank account from a bank partnering with Sofort;
- Have an account at a Sofort casino.
The deposit process is straightforward and should take less than five (5) minutes if you meet the above requirements. However, the rule of thumb is to check the limits set by the provider or casino before depositing. As it stands, the provider places no limits on the amount one can send. However, the casinos set their limits, especially on the minimum one can deposit. Most have a range of between €10 and €30.
Step by Step Deposit Process Via Sofort
Below is the process to follow while depositing:
- Set up a bank account and fund it: Identify a bank supporting the payment method and create an account with them. Ensure to fund your account since your bank account will be the source of funds for your casino account.
- Set up a casino account: Identify an online casino from our detailed list above and create an account. All the casinos listed above meet our criteria of being safe, secure, and fair, in addition to supporting Sofort as one of the payment methods. Provide the required details, including accurate personal, account, and contact information.
- Go to Deposit/Cashier/Banking/My Account option: Choose Sofort as the preferred payment method, pick your country of residence, and the bank with which you hold your account. Log into your online bank platform by providing the account number and password/PIN provided by the bank.
- Enter TAN: A Transaction Authorization Number (TAN) that can only be used once will be sent to you either in email, through your phone, or any other avenue you choose. The code is a security aspect that validates that the actual owner is making the payment.
- Confirm the transaction: This is the last step after entering TAN. After confirming, the funds will credit instantly, and the player can start gambling!
Sofort Deposit Fees. The payment method will not charge any fee for any deposit to an online casino. However, players should check with their casinos if there are charges placed. But, going by many reputable casinos, it is unlikely to find a casino charging a deposit fee.
Withdrawing Through Sofort
Players can also withdraw funds from their casino accounts through the payment method. The process is straightforward and secure and will require more measures before players can receive the funds. Firstly, most casinos require that the player verifies their identity and accounts by providing documents as proof of identity, address, and payment method. The next important rule to note is that casinos require players to use the same payment method for depositing and withdrawals.
Like deposits, players should check with the online casinos for the minimum and maximum limits. In most cases, the operators place the minimum withdrawal limit between €10 and €20, with the maximum withdrawal limit between €5,000 and €10,000. Withdrawal fees also depend on the casino and the banks, and thus, players should check this before withdrawing.
Step by Step Withdrawal Process Via Sofort
Below is the process to follow while withdrawing:
- Ensure to meet wagering requirements: Should you plan to withdraw bonus winnings, ensure that you meet the wagering requirements specified on the terms and conditions. After fulfilling the requirements, the funds will be ready for withdrawal.
- Go to Withdrawal/Cashier/Banking/My Account section: Choose Sofort as your preferred payment method, choose your country of residence and bank, log into your online bank account, and enter the amount to withdraw.
- Confirm withdrawal: The last step is confirming the withdrawal, and the casino will then process the withdrawal request before releasing the funds.
Sofort Withdrawal Speed
As stated, players will receive the funds after the casino processes the withdrawal requests. The withdrawal timeframe depends on how long each casino takes to process the request. In most cases, the timeframe is between 24-48 hours. After that, the casino releases the funds to the bank accounts via Sofort. It is worth noting that some banks take more time than others before a player can withdraw funds. After the funds hit the bank account, a player can withdraw within 72 hours, in most cases.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Sofort
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High-level security: The payment provider lays down the latest encryption technology to ensure all transactions are secure. Moreover, players do not provide vital information on the transactions.
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Instant deposits: Every deposit made through the payment method reflects instantly into the casino account.
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Zero fees: Every transaction carried by the provider incurs zero to small charges. However, the online merchants and banks may charge some fees from their end.
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Service is highly accessible: The payment services are accessible across multiple devices, including desktops, tablets, and mobile phones.
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Widely accepted: The payment option works with many banks and operates across many European countries.
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Multiple currencies supported: Gamblers using the payment service can transact in various currencies, including EUR, GBP, HUF, SEK, and CZK.
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Restricted to Europe: Besides having a huge customer base, the payment provider limits its service to European countries. Players across the globe in other continents cannot enjoy the provider’s services.
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Slower withdrawals: Unlike the deposits, Sofort withdrawals are not the quickest, compared to other popular payment options such as PayPal, Neteller, and Skrill.
Sofort Casino Bonuses
While the payment providers are vital in determining the best casino, the bonuses also play an essential role. Our list of the best Sofort casinos includes operators with a good range of bonuses players can enjoy. Some casinos place restrictions by excluding bonus eligibility for players who deposit with specific payment providers such as Neteller and Skrill. However, this is rare with Sofort deposits. On the other hand, it is also rare to find a casino offering special Sofort bonuses, as with providers such as AstroPay and Jeton.
That notwithstanding, gamblers can expect some of these bonuses:
- Welcome Bonus: The most popular bonus available in almost every online casino. Cash bonus, free spins, or both will be at stake once the gambling fan makes a qualifying deposit. The deposit triggers the bonus by matching the sum to a set percentage or activating a fixed amount.
- Reload Bonuses: While casinos tailor welcome bonuses for new players, reload bonuses are available for existing players. Most casinos provide these bonuses to retain and keep players gambling on the platforms. For example, the casino might offer weekly bonuses on Friday if players wager a combined minimum of €300 during the week.
- Loyalty Program: As the name suggests, these are bonuses tailored to award gamblers for their loyalty and consistency. The casino places each player on a tier/level/status, depending on the points they garner from their real-money bets. Each tier has benefits and prizes for the members, with each level having better benefits and prizes than the preceding one.
Other casino bonuses to expect at Sofort casinos include refer-to-friend and cashback bonuses.
While claiming bonuses, the rule of thumb is to check the T&Cs under them. The critical terms include the following:
- Eligibility: Check bonuses eligible for new and existing players before claiming them.
- Bonus codes: Some bonuses require bonus codes to activate them besides the deposits.
- Limits: Check the minimum deposit limits to activate the bonus.
- Wagering requirements: Bonuses have different wagering requirements. Check the requirements set out and ensure to meet them before withdrawing bonus winnings.
- Game weightings: Casino games contribute different percentages while meeting the wagering requirements. In most cases, the slots contribute 100%.
- Validity: Every bonus has a valid period before it expires or is rendered void.
Sofort Casino Games
Casino games are other important aspects when settling for an online casino. The gambling world has a lot to offer and incorporates every player, new or experienced, small-stake or high-stake. With its wide acceptability across many countries and casinos, players will have a vast pool of gaming options availed to them. Thanks to the top-range software providers behind these games, besides having them in quantity, they will also have them in quality.
So, what games can you wager for real money once you deposit? Here are the most popular game types:
- Slots: Casinos powered by the provider will have a decent range of slots, sometimes in the thousands. While having diverse themes, paylines, and bonus features is thrilling, they will also come with favorable RTPs, volatility, and hit frequency to favor all sorts of slot lovers.
- Table Games: A good taste of popular table and card games also await casino lovers gambling at Sofort sites. They will find the different variations of roulette, blackjack, and baccarat games available in different bet sizes for all small-stake and high-stake users.
- Video Poker: This is where slot lovers and poker lovers congregate. This is where skill and luck meet, with players provided with classic and multi-hand versions to gamble. This section will have popular titles such as Aces & Faces, Tens or better, and Deuces Wild.
- Live Casino: Find the live versions of all the popular table and card games with real dealers conducting the sessions. These games boast high-quality visuals and carry top features, including chatting with players and dealers.
Why Choose an Online Casino Offering Sofort
In a nutshell, below are the reasons to choose an online casino offering the provider’s services:
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They offer a range of bonuses.
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They have a decent game selection.
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They charge little to no fees.
FAQ
Which countries accept Sofort?
The payment option is available in 17+ European countries, including the UK, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Austria, France, Switzerland, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary. Those residents outside the mentioned countries cannot transact with the method.
What if I cannot deposit via Sofort in my country?
If your country/casino cannot transact with the method, you can consider other alternatives. They include Giropay, iDeal, Interac, and Trustly, which use the same payment module as Sofort.
Is it safe to pay with the option at online casinos?
It is 100% safe to pay at an online casino with the payment option. The provider encrypts every transaction, thus securing every personal or financial information from unauthorized access.
When depositing with Sofort, do I have to withdraw with the option too?
Most casinos require that players use one payment provider when depositing and withdrawing. Therefore, once you deposit with Sofort at your casino, ensure you withdraw via the same option.
Do I need a bank account to use the payment method?
Sofort facilitates an efficient online transfer of funds from the bank account to a casino account for gamblers. Therefore, a bank account is a requirement since it is the source of funds.