Casino bonuses are fantastic ways to play more games, but it's essential to choose a casino to use those bonus offers with. So what's better – playing at an instant payout casino or at a standard withdrawal casino? The answer is quite simple, but it's important to fully understand the question before making a choice.
We have tested both versions and recorded all of the differences. Here is the complete comparison of both models.
Instant Payout vs Standard Withdrawal – The Key Differences
| Feature | Instant Payout Casino | Standard Casino |
|---|---|---|
| Casino processing time | 0–5 minutes | 24–72 hours |
| Pending / reversal period | None | 24–48 hours common |
| Total time (crypto) | 3–30 minutes | 24–74 hours |
| Total time (e-wallet) | 0–60 minutes | 24–72 hours |
| Total time (card) | 1–3 days | 3–7 days |
| Withdrawal automation | Fully automated | Manual review |
| Crypto support | Usually 4–12 coins | Often none |
| Withdrawal fees | Free (most methods) | Free or small fee |
The major distinction is the pending period. Regular casinos tend to hold withdrawals for 24 to 48 hours. And in most cases, you are allowed to reverse or cancel the withdrawal request for the entire period of the pending time. This is clearly in favor of the casino, as it can influence the gamer's intentions and possibly prevent them from completing a cash-out, thus giving them more time to gamble their winnings.
The pending period is the major difference between the two. Instant Payout Casinos mean that when you click withdraw, the money is withdrawn, which means no second guessing yourself and thus no temptation to reverse the request.
Speed Comparison – Real Test Results
We withdrew $100 using Skrill at one instant payout casino (Rooster Bet) and one with standard terms. See the results here.
- Rooster Bet (instant) withdraw ? funds in Skrill account in 3 minutes.
- Standard casino: - Clicked withdraw - Withdrawal was entered to pending status - Waited 38 hours for them to process it - 40 hours after processing my balance is in my Skrill account.
How much time does a casino actually spend processing the payment information when we make a deposit? A few minutes? An entire working day? Our latest research attempts to give you an idea. The time difference between "3 minutes" and "40 hours" is primarily determined by the approach the casino uses to verify our payment card.
Do Instant Payout Casinos Cost More?
None. Every instant payout casino that we tested does not charge withdrawal fees for any payment method. This is in line with fees on payment methods at all standard casinos. The instant payout is just a faster method of processing transactions that can be done without additional charge.
The only cost difference is really indirect – instant payout casinos are more likely to accept cryptocurrency payments, and the blockchain transactions that transfer cryptocurrency payments to your wallet come with small network fees (usually $0.50 to $1 or so for stablecoins like USDC, but these fees can vary depending on the cryptocurrency being transferred and other market conditions). However, the casino itself does not charge any fees for these network costs.
Are Instant Payout Casinos Less Safe?
This is by far the most common concern we hear about instant payout casinos. This is largely an unfounded fear, as the payment processors and security systems used by all casinos (including instant payout casinos) protect all financial transactions made through a casino.
- KYC verification before your first withdrawal
- SSL encryption for all data transfers
- Certified RNG (Random Number Generators) for game fairness
- Responsible gambling tools (deposit limits, self-exclusion)
The only real difference is that offshore licensed instant payout casinos tend to have lower-tier licenses (e.g. Curaçao, Comoros) rather than higher-tier licenses (e.g. UKGC, MGA). What this means in practice is that there is less official oversight and less comprehensive, official ways to resolve any complaints. If this is a major concern to you, we also include Fantastic Spins Casino in our casino reviews, which has a UKGC license (one of the better-regarded gambling licenses) – albeit with a slower withdrawal speed.
Casino rating ? Offshore licence ? unsafe. In the event of a conflict, you have fewer opportunities to defend your rights. Remember that a reputable casino is a must! You should only play in properly regulated and reviewed casinos. To be sure, all casinos we recommend have been thoroughly tested with real money.
When a Standard Casino Might Be Better
In a few specific situations, a standard casino could be the better choice:
- You want a UKGC or MGA licence: most tier-one licensed casinos use standard processing. If strong regulation is important to you and you can live with slow withdrawals of 1–3 days, a standard regulated casino is fine.
- Self-exclusion is a mechanism that may help you gain control over your actions. The pending period acts as a cooling-off window in between you making a bet and being able to fund it. If you tend to chase losses, the pending period may help deter you from making impulsive top-ups. If you think this may be a problem for you, visit BeGambleAware for further information.
- You can live with just using fiat currency payment methods: if you only bank transfer and use cards, then the speed at which casino transactions are processed is not really a concern as the bank's transfer times will remain the same whether or not you use a casino.
Instant Payout vs Standard Withdrawal – Our Verdict
Ultimately an instant payout casino should be your first port of call. At an instant payout casino you'll be able to withdraw your winnings on the spot; there will be no long period of time for the withdraw to be processed which could inevitably see you drawn into playing more, as you'd have the winnings at your disposal. With all costs to you as a player being the same and your winnings paid out directly into your preferred account or wallet (whilst still being as safe as can be) we believe this is the way to go if it's available. The only reason not to go with an instant payout casino is that some often seem to be under offshore jurisdiction, and not UKGC or MGA.
If you use crypto or e-wallets and are okay with offshore licensing, there's really no need to endure a 24–72 hour payout period at a normal online casino. With today's technology there's no reason you can't be paid out in minutes – ask for it!
Visit our tested best instant payout casinos page, or compare withdrawal speeds at our fastest withdrawal casinos page.
