Ukash was an electronic pre-payment system, which enables users to exchange cash for a secure and unique 19 digit code number. They could then use this to make payments for goods and services online. Simply by entering their exclusive number, online traders accepting this method of payment would receive funds without the need for any personal banking information. This made Ukash a very popular means of funding payments at online bingo sites. But it was also frequently used on many other sites, because of its flexibility. Any surplus cash resulting from the need for “change” in any transaction was returned to the customer by the issuing of a new code number. This way, it was easy to ensure that all of the voucher’s value was used, even for very high denominations.
The original Ukash company began in the United Kingdom in 2005, and its service quickly became a popular means of online payment. However, it also faced lots of competition. The prime method of making online payments has always been the American giant PayPal, which was the first to the market. It built a huge advantage through its use as the main way of paying vendors on the new online market place eBay. But not only did Ukash have to attempt to compete with the trans-Atlantic behemoth, it also had to succeed against its British cousins in what became a very crowded market place. At one time, Ukash, Neteller, Skrill and Paysafecard were all providing similar services to the United Kingdom, and with PayPal still retaining the vast majority of electronic online payments, it seems that there wasn’t room for them all.
Recent years have seen a radical rationalisation and consolidation of the United Kingdom’s electronic and pre-payment market. A complicated series of mergers and takeovers have taken place, so that, at the time of writing (2016), all the previously available methods belong to just one holding company, called Paysafe Group. It will therefore come as no surprise to hear that the Paysafecard is now the predominant remaining UK based method of settling online transactions. Ukash’s online voucher system was withdrawn in 2015. Distribution of new vouchers ended in August. Existing vouchers were acceptable for a further few months, while any remaining after that could be exchanged for Paysafecards. It is now unlikely that there are any more around.
There are a few online bingo sites that state that they still accept Ukash payments. However, the most likely explanation for this is that those sites are a little slow in updating their site information. Either that or the belief is that the more payment methods they appear to offer, the more attractive to new players the site looks!
Either way, the only real option for the use of pre-payment cards or vouchers for UK based players is now the Paysafecard. Not that this is in any way an inconvenience, because the Paysafecard is a really easy and efficient way to make your online bingo payments. Cards can be bought from many high street and neighbourhood stores, even in many petrol stations. Anywhere you see the PayPoint symbol should be able to supply you with these handy pre-payment cards, and they do work pretty much the same way as the old Ukash vouchers. And to find the best online bingo sites to spend your cards, look no further than Busy Bee’s comprehensive site review service!
