Introduced in 2005, iDEAL is an online payment method that has become the standard for borderless money transfers in the Netherlands. The launch of iDEAL was driven by the need to introduce a universally accepted online banking solution that reduced transaction costs.

| iDEAL Summary | |
|---|---|
| Available in | The Netherlands |
| Website | www.ideal.nl |
| Connecting a bank account to iDEAL | Free |
| Withdrawing funds from iDEAL to your bank account | Free |
| Payments to online merchants | Free |
| Available for deposit | Yes |
| Available for withdrawal | Yes |
| Usual deposit time at online casinos | Up to 10 business days, as iDEAL is a bank-dependent method |
| Live chat | No |
| Telephone support | No |
| E-mail support | Yes, an online form |
Before the arrival of iDEAL, Dutch residents could choose from a variety of online payment platforms, such as KPN’s Switchpoint and the Amro e-wallet provided by the Dutch bank ABN. However, this wide range of non-standardized banking systems only confused consumers. As a result, several banking institutions in the Netherlands (ABN, Postbank, Rabobank, and ING Bank) teamed up in 2004 to announce the launch of iDEAL, a payment platform integrated into the systems of major Dutch banks that support online banking.
In 2006, iDEAL became part of Currence, an association whose purpose is to coordinate all payment systems across the Netherlands. Today, iDEAL is easily the most popular online payment solution in the country and one that boasts the figures necessary to back its solid position on the local market. By 2017, the platform had processed over 378 million borderless transactions.
The method is widely used by online casino players from the Netherlands. It is preferred by many because of its simplicity, low costs, and optimal safety of use. You will see it in the cashier systems of most Dutch-friendly gambling sites, but how does it work? Read on to find out.
iDEAL Registration Process
iDEAL is considered to be one of the most convenient payment solutions in the Netherlands, and a major factor that ensures its ease of use is the fact that it is not necessary for you to create a separate iDEAL account. If you wish to utilize this payment service for online gaming, the only requirement you need to meet is to have an account at a Dutch banking institution. To start using iDEAL, follow the steps below.
- Visit the official website of iDEAL.

- You will see a set of menus at the top of the page. Navigate to the banking institutions page by clicking “Partners” and then selecting “Issuers”.

- You will then be presented with a list of banks that can offer iDEAL services to their customers.

- Find your bank and click the link provided by iDEAL. You will be taken to your bank’s webpage.

- Finally, you must log in to your online banking and follow your bank’s instructions on how you can use iDEAL.

All in all, it is not difficult to start using iDEAL, but if you find something confusing or you run into any issues, you can always contact your bank’s staff. They will assist you and resolve problems swiftly.
We also need to reiterate that iDEAL is a banking solution that is only available to Dutch individuals. If you do not have a bank account at a participating bank in the Netherlands, you will have to look for a different deposit method for online gaming. Depending on where you reside, you might be able to find a service that offers similar functionality. Alternatively, you could go for other deposit solutions, such as digital wallets, prepaid cards, or bank cards.
How iDEAL Works
Using iDEAL for Gambling Transactions
This payment solution allows for risk-free online money transfers in real time and eliminates the need to use a credit or debit card or an e-wallet. In fact, iDEAL is not an online banking service itself, as it merely provides the protocols needed to conduct payments at no cost via your existing online banking account.
In essence, the platform acts as a middleman between the player and their bank. This makes it possible for the player to transfer money from their personal account to that of any iDEAL-friendly casino on the web without compromising sensitive banking information.
The method works similarly to payment solutions like Giropay and Sofort, which are quite popular among casino players from Germany. To use iDEAL, you must hold a bank account with a participating financial institution in the Netherlands.
The Dutch banks that currently support it include:
- bunq
- Moneyou
- ING
- ABN AMRO
- RegioBank
- ASN Bank
- Triodos Bank
- Handelsbanken
- Knab
- Rabobank
- Van Lanschot
- SNS Bank
Dutch residents interested in using iDEAL for online gambling purposes should open an account with one of the above-listed financial institutions and subscribe to its online banking service if they have not already done so.
All you have to do afterward is find an online casino that supports the payment platform. Such gambling sites are easy to spot, since they typically display the company’s logo with a capital pink D in their cashiers. Here is a step-by-step explanation on how to make a casino deposit with iDEAL if this is your first time using the method:
Once you log into your casino account, open the cashier and select iDEAL as your preferred payment method.
You enter the desired deposit amount in the designated field and click the Deposit button.
A new window linked to the iDEAL system will pop up, and you need to select your bank from the drop-down menu.
The system will then prompt you to choose between online and mobile banking. After you pick an option, you will be redirected to the log-in page of your bank, where you must input your banking details. Some banks also require two-factor authentication codes. These codes are single-use and greatly enhance payment security.
All that remains is for you to follow the system prompts to complete the transfer successfully. Make sure your transaction details are entered correctly. These normally include the deposit amount, your name, your bank-account number, the transaction’s date and time, and the transfer’s reference number. Once you hit the Confirm button, you will be taken back to your online casino of choice.
The money you have deposited will be credited to your casino balance as soon as the casino receives confirmation of the transaction from your bank, which usually happens immediately. The deposited amount will appear at the top of the page, next to your casino username, within a couple of seconds.
Note that it is also possible to carry out an iDEAL payment on your mobile device, but we shall talk about this later in the Mobile Payments section.
In most cases, the player receives an email from the recipient, i.e. the online casino, confirming the successful deposit. Minimum deposit amounts for iDEAL vary by casino but usually range between €5 and €20.
One downside is that withdrawing your winnings with iDEAL is largely impossible. You will need to choose an alternative method to cash out your winnings. Keep in mind that many online casinos process withdrawals for iDEAL depositors via standard bank transfers, so it may take several days to receive the money.
| iDEAL Gambling Transactions | |
|---|---|
| Supported transactions | Deposits and withdrawals |
| Deposit pending time | Instant |
| Withdrawal pending time | Up to 72 hours depending on the casino |
| Additional security | Users receive an iDEAL payment link |
Advantages & Disadvantages
Using iDEAL for gambling transactions comes with many advantages. First and foremost, iDEAL boasts high levels of safety because the only parties involved in the transfer are your bank and the bank of your online casino.
In practice, you are not sharing sensitive information with any third parties (the casino included), because you are redirected to the online banking page of your own bank. This also enables you to make fully anonymous deposits.
Your transactions are protected against hacker attacks with robust SSL encryption. Payments with iDEAL meet the same security standards as regular bank transfers.
Deposits with iDEAL are conducted in real time and are completed seconds after you confirm the payment. After confirmation, the funds are immediately added to your online casino balance and you can start placing bets right away.
What is more, iDEAL is also a very affordable banking solution. Consumers are not charged extra by most casino operators when depositing through this payment platform. It is also unlikely for the affiliated banking institutions to charge service fees for processing iDEAL payments, but even if they do, the cost is usually nominal.
The only fees that may result from using the service are those for payment requests with QR codes from one iDEAL consumer to another, in which case you will have to pay the nominal amount of €0.30 per request.
Many of the largest gambling sites in the industry have already picked up on iDEAL’s growing popularity and have added the method to their cashier systems, so you will not have to look around for long before you find a reputable online casino that supports iDEAL payments.
There is no need to register an account in order to use the service. Having a credit or debit card is also unnecessary with iDEAL, although you can top up your card with this method if you do have one. The same goes for e-wallets like Neteller, which can also be funded via this third-party banking platform. Purchasing Paysafecard through the iDEAL system is also an option.
Another important benefit that comes with using iDEAL is that it allows for greater flexibility with your payments. Deposits with iDEAL can be made effectively on mobile devices as well as on desktop computers and laptops. This gives you round-the-clock access to your funds and enables you to top up your casino balance from any location you like.
There are only a few negatives that result from using iDEAL as a casino deposit method. As cost-effective and user-friendly as this banking solution is, it processes money transfers in one currency only, the euro. This may cause you to pay extra for currency conversion, which is always a nuisance.
Another disadvantage results from the necessity of having a bank account at a bank that also provides online banking services. Not all casino players have such an account, and even if they do, some people may be reluctant to use it for gambling purposes.
That brings us to the biggest issue with iDEAL. You must have an account at one of the Dutch banks affiliated with this payment processor, so only players from the Netherlands can use iDEAL, which is a major downside.
The fact that iDEAL is unsupported for withdrawals only adds insult to injury. This puts you at a major inconvenience, because you will either have your returns credited back via a bank transfer or will have to look for an alternative method to cash them out.
Last but not least, let us not forget iDEAL payments are practically irreversible. The money you deposit is deducted straight from your bank account. Once the payment goes through (and this happens within seconds), you cannot cancel it or receive reimbursement.
| iDEAL Pros | iDEAL Cons |
|---|---|
| The fees associated with this payment method are budget-friendly | iDEAL does not collaborate with all Dutch banks |
| Deposits are processed within a few seconds | It is available only to Dutch residents |
| iDEAL offers a dedicated mobile app | Its customer support department is available only through a single avenue of contact |
| All financial operations are processed safely | It can be connected only to a bank account |
iDEAL Fees for Gambling Transactions
As we mentioned above, affordability is one of the biggest positives that result from using iDEAL. Consumers are not charged service fees when paying through the iDEAL system. However, the party on the receiving end of the money transfer may charge extra for payments with this method.
That being said, all trusted online merchants will announce any service fees attached to iDEAL payments before the transfer is completed. The same applies to online casinos, as most gambling operators are more than happy to absorb any additional charges resulting from deposits made with iDEAL.
The only time you may be required to pay extra is when you request QR codes for payment requests between consumers. These charges are, however, minimal at only €0.30. It is up to the parties involved in the transaction to decide who pays this small fee.
| iDEAL Fees | |
|---|---|
| Gambling deposit fee | Free, but the recipient might impose a service fee |
| Gambling withdrawal fee | Free |
| Bank account deposit fee | Free |
| Bank account withdrawal fee | Free |
| Credit/debit card deposit fee | N/A |
| Credit/debit card withdrawal fee | N/A |
| Maintenance fee | Free |
Processing Times with iDEAL
As you have probably noticed already, the funds are instantly deducted from your personal bank account when you use iDEAL for online casino deposits. There are no waiting times whatsoever. The desired deposit amount is added to your available balance in the casino within a few seconds, which is great if you are itching to place a few bets.
Time efficiency is further improved by the fact that there is no need to waste time signing up for an account when using iDEAL. You can start depositing immediately as long as you have subscribed to the online banking services of one of the participating banks.
The absence of a registration process naturally eliminates the necessity of undergoing identity verification with iDEAL. This spares you a good deal of time, not to mention you will not have to bother with scanning and sending any documentation.
Since withdrawals are not an option with iDEAL, there is a good chance your preferred online casino will issue your winnings via a bank transfer. In that case, you may be prompted to provide some documentation for identification. Of course, this all depends on the policies of the gambling operator. You can check with the support staff to ask whether this will be necessary.
Keep in mind that bank transfers are a relatively slow method to cash out from your online casino account. The completion of the transaction may require between 3 and 10 business days, depending on the gaming operator.
| iDEAL Processing times | |
|---|---|
| Gambling deposit time | Instant |
| Gambling withdrawal time | Up to 10 business days |
| Bank account deposit time | Instant |
| Bank account withdrawal time | From a couple of hours to 2 business days |
| Credit/debit card deposit time | N/A |
| Credit/debit card withdrawal time | N/A |
Mobile Payments with iDEAL
Mobile payments are made possible with iDEAL via two dedicated apps for iOS and Android. The apps allow consumers to pay for online purchases by scanning the QR codes of the products they wish to buy. You can also generate your own QR codes via the app and send them as payment requests to other iDEAL users. You are required to sign up within the app and provide your email address. Then you need to make a small payment of €0.01 to register your bank-account number.
Mobile casino players can also initiate deposits on the go with iDEAL. The procedure is roughly the same as when depositing on desktop. The payment method works on all smartphones and tablets connected to the internet.
You can deposit directly in your mobile browser by clicking the iDEAL logo in the casino’s cashier, specifying the deposit amount, and choosing your bank from the drop-down menu. Many of the banks associated with iDEAL offer their own mobile banking apps. If your bank does not provide a native mobile app, you can proceed to pay in your browser.
The cashier will redirect you to the mobile banking page of your bank, where you need to log in with your username and password. Then you select the account you want to deposit from. What follows depends on which financial institution you are banking with.
Some affiliated banks will send you a special code via text message. You need to enter it in the specified field to authorize the payment. This is frequently referred to as a TAN code. Click “Finish Order” to confirm the transfer and have the funds added to your casino account immediately. It really doesn’t get any simpler than this.
| iDEAL Mobile Payments | |
|---|---|
| Apple Pay | Yes, users receive a QR code. A charge of €0.30 will apply. |
| Google Pay | No |
Security at iDEAL Online Casinos
Since this payment method relies on internet and mobile banking, depositing with it at online casinos is just as safe as paying for online purchases through your bank’s online banking platform. In essence, you are doing just that, since iDEAL is nothing but a middleman that connects you with your bank.
No information regarding your account number is revealed to the casino in the process, which is better for players who prefer higher levels of anonymity. The payment details remain safe between you and your bank. Additionally, iDEAL uses advanced SSL encryption to scramble your information, making it undecipherable to hackers and fraudsters.
The same goes for iDEAL-friendly online casinos, where SSL encryption is also in place to protect players’ information from being compromised. Neither iDEAL nor the online casinos supporting it will reveal your personal information to third parties without your permission.
| iDEAL Security | |
|---|---|
| Passcode | No |
| Fingerprint | No |
| Face ID | No |
| Two-factor authentication | Yes |
| Trusted devices | No |
| IP Restrictions | No |









