Weekend withdrawal

A weekend withdrawal is a withdrawal you request on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday. The term matters because it is on days off that the differences between casinos and payment methods show most clearly. At one casino the money arrives within minutes even on a Sunday evening, at another the request stays pending until Monday morning, when the payments department returns to work.

Why the weekend affects a withdrawal

A withdrawal's journey consists of two main parts: the casino's approval and the money transfer. Both can slow down at the weekend.

• Casino working hours. If the casino checks withdrawals manually and the payments department works on business days, the casino processing time grows noticeably at the weekend. In casinos with automatic approval the difference is smaller.
• Bank settlement. A standard SEPA transfer is settled on banking days. If the casino sends money as a standard transfer on Friday evening, it may reach your account only on the next banking day.
• Instant payments. A SEPA instant payment works around the clock on all days. If the casino, the payment provider and your bank all support it, the money can arrive even on a Sunday within seconds of the casino's approval.
• Card payments. A refund to a card often takes longer, and the weekend can extend it further.

The European Central Bank's SEPA page and the European Payments Council describe how standard and instant payments work in the euro area.

Which payment methods also work on days off

The best options for the weekend are solutions that use instant payments or an open banking interface. Examples are Trustly and other Pay N Play type services that connect directly to Estonian banks. E-wallets can also work around the clock, but moving money from the e-wallet on to a bank account is a separate step.

It is important to remember that a fast payment method does not help if the casino itself does not approve withdrawals at the weekend. That is why it is worth checking both: whether the casino approves withdrawals on days off too, and whether the payment method delivers the money even when banks do not run standard settlement. You can compare by bank, for example on the pages casinos with Swedbank withdrawals and casinos with SEB withdrawals.

How to speed up a weekend withdrawal

1. Complete verification on a business day. If the document check has not been done, nobody may review it at the weekend.
2. Submit the request earlier. If you know you want the money at the weekend, submit the request on Friday during office hours.
3. Check the casino's working hours. The casino's terms or FAQ often state when the payments department works.
4. Use a payment method that supports instant payments. A bank link or open banking solution is usually faster than a card.
5. Measure it yourself. Make a small test withdrawal on a Saturday and note when the money arrived.

The difference between a business day and the weekend is described with examples in the post weekend vs business day: withdrawals.

Frequently asked questions

Does a public holiday affect a withdrawal the same way as a weekend?

Often, yes. If the casino or the bank treats a public holiday as a day off, the withdrawal behaves as it would at the weekend. This is especially worth keeping in mind during long holidays, such as around Christmas and New Year, when several days off follow one another.

What should I do if a withdrawal did not arrive over the weekend?

First check the casino's transaction history. If the status is still “pending”, the request is probably waiting for the casino's approval. If the status is “paid” but the money is not in your account, it is probably on its way at the bank or payment provider and will arrive on the next banking day.

Even on days off it is worth playing in moderation and not using the time spent waiting for a withdrawal for new bets. You will find help and advice on the responsible gambling page and by phone and online at 15410.ee.