EPS (Electronic Payment Standard) was launched in 2001 and it is designed exclusively for the Austrian market. It is an online banking payment method resulting from the cooperation of some Austrian banks and the STUZZA (Study Society for Cooperation in Payment Transactions). EPS betting sites offer instant deposits and eligibility to claim any promotion. Most Austrian bookies accept deposits through EPS since it is probably the most used online payment method in the country.
There’s no need to create an account since the payment has a direct connection to your bank account. Plus, zero fees on deposits are another significant benefit. In the upcoming sections, you can take a closer look into every aspect of gambling with EPS, such as:
- An up-to-date (2024) list of EPS betting sites
- A detailed guide about how to use EPS-Überweisung
- All the pros and cons
Best EPS Bookmakers (2024)
Among the numerous EPS bookmakers, we have chosen the top-rated ones. The following bookies offer bettors fast deposits and high odds. Go ahead and try them out to find one that suits your needs.
Why should you bet on an EPS bookmaker
Betting sites that accept EPS have many benefits that players would consider notable. The most significant edges are the following:
✔ Widely accepted by betting sites: EPS is a popular online payment method in Austria. Over 80% of online shops in the country accept payments through it. So, for local bettors, it is not hard to find available EPS betting sites.
✔ Safe and secure: Every transaction is encrypted and the fact that the system is connected with the online banking system ensures that your transfers are safe. Also, EPS doesn’t share any information with any third party.
✔ Instant deposits: Every deposit takes place immediately and the amount is available on the user’s betting account. It is crucial for players who prefer betting on live events to proceed effortlessly with a deposit.
✔ No need to create an account: It is an advantage that bettors don’t need to create an account or follow any registration procedure. When a betting site accepts deposits through EPS, players have to choose it as a payment method and be redirected to their online banking account. It is necessary to have a bank account in a bank that collaborates with the payment.
✔ Zero to low fees: EPS will not charge you any amount when depositing on your bookies. It is rare, but some sportsbooks may charge you a fee on the deposit amount, which will not be more than 1.3%.
✔ Eligibility to claim a Welcome Bonus: EPS bookmakers allow players to claim a welcome offer most of the time. At the same time, when gambling with EPS, bettors are eligible to participate in any promotion.
Drawbacks of betting with EPS
Like other payment methods, EPS also comes with some shortcomings. The payment doesn’t allow withdrawals and the fact that not all Austrian banks support it are its main issues.
❌ Available only for the Austrian market: We are talking about an online payment system exclusively designed for Austrian players. There is a connection to the local banking system and bettors can fund it only through their bank account.
❌ Withdrawal restrictions: It is a major drawback that players who bet with EPS can not withdraw an amount. In this case, they need to find an alternative to withdraw any amount from their accounts.
❌ A limited number of banks support it: Even though it is a payment designed for the Austrian market, not every local bank supports it. By this time Austria operates almost 700 banks and less than 30 collaborate with the payment.
❌ Not accepting cryptocurrencies: There is no possibility to use your crypto wallet to fund EPS bookies. You can only use the EPS service online through your bank account if you are dealing with the payment.
❌ Lack of plastic/virtual cards: Many bettors would consider it a shortcoming not to use their funds through a plastic card. EPS allows only online payments.
❌ Lack of live chat support: The support department operates through email and phone; on business days 9:00-17:00 and 10:00-16:00 on weekends. Despite this fact, it is a drawback for the modern era of gambling that there is no live chat and 24/7 customer support.
Is betting with EPS legal and safe?
EPS has been launched by the Study Society for Cooperation in Payment Transactions (STUZZA) and many Austrian banks. The Austrian Ministry of Finance and the Austrian Government’s Chief Information Office authorize the payment.
This ensures that betting with EPS is totally legal. Regarding safety, EPS uses SSL encryption and MD5 fingerprinting. Moreover, the payment doesn’t share your bank details with any third party. The payment platform has a connection with the online banking system of Austria and this way your transfers are always secure.
How to deposit on EPS bookmakers
Adding funds to your desirable EPS bookmakers is a rapid and easy procedure. It will not take long if you follow the steps below:
- 1 Visit your bookie page
- 2 Click on the Deposit button
- 3 Select EPS as your payment method
- 4 Choose your bank for the drop-down menu
- 5 You will be transferred to your online banking
- 6 Enter the amount you want to deposit
Since you have entered the desired deposit amount, you need to confirm the transaction. You will receive a TAN (transfer authentication number) through a SMS to your mobile phone number that you have registered on your online banking. After entering the code, the amount is available to your EPS sportsbook.
Also Read: How to deposit on bank transfer bookies
Can I withdraw from EPS betting sites
Undoubtedly, it is a serious issue that players cannot proceed with a withdrawal when gambling with EPS. Bettors need to find an alternative method to withdraw their winnings when they have deposited through EPS.
Bank wire transfer directly to their bank account, wallets like Neteller, or even cryptocurrencies if they are available, are some of the options that gamblers have.
Most of the time, the bookmaker will proceed with the withdrawal only if players have made a deposit at least once in the same way; which happens for security reasons. The lack of withdrawals is crucial and many users may reconsider depositing via EPS, especially if we are talking about professional gamblers.
Fees and limits
EPS will not charge you any fees when you use the service to deposit to your favorite bookmaker. However, you can not withdraw an amount and have to find an alternative and you may have to pay some extra fees when you proceed with another method.
At the same time, some EPS bookmakers may charge a small fee on your transactions. The amount could be up to 1.3% per transaction and to learn more about it, you need to contact the customer service of your bookie to be informed if there is any charge.
Regarding limits, the minimum amount that you can deposit is €10, while the maximum amount depends on the bookie and the same applies to withdrawal limits.
Austrian banks accepting EPS online betting transactions
Most banks in Austria are compatible with EPS. To be sure, if your bank has a collaboration with the payment, you can always contact them directly. Below you can find a list of banks that are currently offering EPS:
Bank Austria (UniCredit), BAWAG P.S.K., Erste Bank und Sparkassen, Raiffeisen, Bankengruppe, Volksbanken, Oberbank, BTV Vier Länderbank, BKS Bank 3 Banken Gruppe, Hypo Alpe Adria, Hypo Noe, Hypotheken Banken, Bank Burgenland, Österreichische Arzte & Apotheker Bank, Bankhaus Spängler & Co., Bankhaus Schelhammer & Schattera, Schoellerbank, VR-Bank Braunau, Volkskreditbank, Austrian Anadi Bank, easybank, Capital Bank, Brüll Kallmus Bank, Dolomiten Bank, Marchfelder Bank, Immo-Bank, Sparda Bank and VKB Bank.
Alternative betting payments for EPS
Since EPS is only available for Austrian bettors, it is optimal to check other digital banking methods with wider acceptance worldwide. Below you can find details on two of them, which are also accessible in Austria:
Final word on EPS by Book Spy
EPS is an online banking payment method designed exclusively for the Austrian market. EPS betting sites offer players easy and quick deposits, eligibility to claim any promo, including a welcome offer, and great security features.
On the other hand, the fact that plastic or virtual cards don’t exist and players can not use cryptocurrencies are notable drawbacks. To sum up, EPS is a considerable option for online bettors in top Austria betting sites.
The payment allows betting with almost zero fees and without registration. On the contrary, withdrawal restrictions and the fact that not every local bank accepts it, may make some bettors reconsider using it.
I would recommend EPS for recreational bettors; but for professional gamblers and high rollers, other payments like Neteller or Paysafe are more suitable options.
Complete list of EPS betting sites
EPS bookies offer instant transactions and high odds on multiple markets. Pick your desirable bookmaker from the list below and make the most of your EPS deposits.
Considering one of the leading edges of EPS, the deposits are almost instant. When you complete the procedure and enter the TAN, the desirable amount will be available on your betting account instantly.
EPS is an online payment method designed for Austrian bettors. For this reason, it accepts deposits only in Euro and doesn't accept any other currency, including cryptocurrencies.
EPS will not charge you any fees when you fund your bookie account. Moreover, your preferred bookmaker will not charge fees on your transactions either.
Probably this is the biggest drawback of the payment. Bettors are not able to withdraw their winnings and it is necessary to find an alternative method. Bank wire, wallets and crypto are some good alternatives depending on the EPS sportsbook you are dealing with.
Having a license by the Austrian Ministry of Finance and connecting with the Austrian banking system any transaction that is being made through it; it comes as no surprise that EPS is considered secure and safe.