Casinos That Accept iDEAL UK 2026 Now – Best Alternatives & Top Sites
If you typed “casinos that accept iDEAL UK 2026” into the search bar, you probably already know the punchline. iDEAL isn’t coming back. The Dutch online banking system that once looked like a clever shortcut for instant deposits shut its doors permanently in 2023. And for UK players, it was never truly a mainstream option anyway – a neat trick if you held a Dutch bank account, but hardly a practical everyday solution on this side of the Channel.
The search intent, though, hasn’t gone anywhere. You want a fast, bank-linked deposit method that doesn’t force you to juggle extra e‑wallets or share card details with every new casino. You want a list of real UK operators that take such payments, and you want it without the padding. That’s exactly what this guide delivers. We start with a brutally honest look at what iDEAL was and why it vanished. Then we map the strongest alternatives available to UK casino players right now – methods that match or beat iDEAL on speed, security and convenience. After that, you get a ranked comparison table of 10 casinos that accept these instant‑banking‑style options, complete with welcome bonuses you can actually use. Everything is grounded in the UK market: UKGC licensing, GamStop, local banking realities, and zero wishful thinking. If a method doesn’t work for UK punters in 2026, it isn’t in the article.
What Was iDEAL and Why Isn’t It an Option for UK Casino Players Anymore?
iDEAL was born in the Netherlands in 2005 as an online banking‑based payment system. It let users pay directly from their bank account at checkout – no card numbers, no third‑party registration – by authenticating via their own bank’s app or login portal. For a while, it became the dominant way to pay for almost anything online in the Netherlands: train tickets, groceries, and yes, online casino deposits on Dutch‑facing sites. By 2022, it handled over 1.2 billion transactions. The technology was clean, the fees low, and the user journey nearly frictionless. No wonder UK punters started asking: can I use iDEAL at online casinos?
The short, blunt answer: not really, and certainly not after 2023. iDEAL was always a national scheme built atop the specific infrastructure of Dutch banks. For a UK player to use it, they’d need a Dutch bank account, a Dutch address, and a BSN (the Dutch citizen service number). Even then, most UK‑licensed casinos never integrated iDEAL because its user base was tiny outside the Netherlands; the cost of integration and compliance didn’t stack up for a handful of cross‑border depositors. The few offshore sites that accepted it often operated without UKGC oversight, meaning players who used them fell outside British consumer protection – a risk nobody should take for the sake of a deposit method.
In April 2023, the parent company, Currence, announced that iDEAL would be replaced by a new European standard called the European Payment Initiative (EPI). The transition effectively sunset the iDEAL brand. By 2024 it was gone. EPI is slowly rolling out, but it isn’t iDEAL, isn’t widely supported by banks yet, and – crucially for UK casino players – hasn’t appeared as a deposit option on any meaningful UKGC site. So when you search for “ideal casinos uk 2026,” what you’re really hunting is the modern equivalent: instant, bank‑to‑casino payment that works with a British current account and doesn’t drown you in verification hoops. That’s the direction we’re heading.
Top iDEAL Alternatives for UK Casino Deposits in 2026
Let’s address the core problem: iDEAL gave you speed and direct bank access. No other single method replicates that exactly, but a handful of payment tools now get so close that you won’t miss it. Below are the six most relevant alternatives for UK players. Each is widely accepted at UK‑licensed casinos, supports pound sterling, and processes deposits either instantly or within a few minutes. All of them bypass the need for a separate e‑wallet top‑up routine, which was half the appeal of iDEAL to begin with.
Trustly – the de facto iDEAL replacement for instant banking
Trustly is a Swedish open‑banking service that connects your bank account directly to the merchant. It works across most major UK banks – Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest, Santander, among others. You select Trustly at the casino cashier, pick your bank, log in through a secure interface (similar to your banking app), and confirm the payment. The casino gets an instant notification of the deposit, and the money leaves your account straightaway. No additional registration, no fees for the player, and no need to share bank credentials with the casino. More than 30 UK‑licensed operators now support Trustly, including heavyweights like LeoVegas and Casumo. In terms of friction, it’s the closest thing to iDEAL a British punter can get today.
PayPal – ubiquitous, fast, and protected
Yes, PayPal is an e‑wallet, but it sidesteps the annoyance of pre‑funding because you can link it to your bank account and enable “instant transfer” for deposits. The casino processes the deposit immediately, and PayPal draws the funds from your linked bank card or account behind the scenes. Two‑factor authentication and buyer protection (although limited in gambling transactions) add a security layer. Almost every UK‑facing casino accepts PayPal. The catch? Some operators exclude PayPal from welcome bonuses, so always scan the terms first.
Debit Card (Visa / Mastercard) – the boring workhorse that still works
A UK‑issued debit card is accept‑it‑everywhere option that also delivers instant deposits because the money comes straight from your current account. No separate wallet, no top‑ups, just type in the 16‑digit number once and off you go. Visa and Mastercard debit transactions are processed in real time. From a practical standpoint, a debit card feels very iDEAL‑like: bank‑direct, immediate, and you don’t need to remember extra login details. The downsides are that you must share card details with the casino, and some banks still flag gambling transactions (though this is rare now). For security, you can use a digital bank like Monzo or Starling that generates virtual cards per merchant – same instant deposit, zero risk of your main debit card being exposed.
MuchBetter – the gambling‑focused payment app
MuchBetter isn’t exactly a bank‑to‑bank solution, but it’s been designed from the ground up for iGaming. You top up the MuchBetter account via bank transfer, debit card, or even Apple Pay, and then use it to deposit at casinos. The advantage is that top‑ups from your bank are typically free and arrive in minutes, and after that, casino deposits are instant. More importantly, MuchBetter is lighter than PayPal and often qualifies for casino welcome offers where PayPal doesn’t. The app also includes a dynamic CVV feature for online payments, making it a secure halfway house between an e‑wallet and a debit card.
Pay by Bank App (TrueLayer / Vyne) – the rising star of open banking
A quieter revolution in UK casino deposits is happening through open‑banking gateways like TrueLayer and Vyne. A few forward‑looking casinos – notably PlayOJO and some White Hat Gaming brands – now offer “Pay by Bank App” at the cashier. You select it, your banking app opens via a secure API, you authenticate with fingerprint or face ID, and the payment completes in seconds. The casino never sees your bank login, only the transaction confirmation. It’s effectively iDEAL re‑invented for the UK market, running on the rails of the Competition and Markets Authority’s open‑banking mandate. As of 2026, it isn’t everywhere, but the list is growing fast, and if you value speed above all else, it’s worth seeking out operators that support it.
Fast Bank Transfer (via Trustly or Sofort) – the backup plan
Some casinos label it simply “Bank Transfer” but route it through a service like Trustly (which is instant) rather than a traditional BACS or SWIFT transfer. The key is to check the payment description: if it says “instant bank transfer” or names a provider, you’ll get near‑real‑time processing. True bank wires – the ones that take 1–3 business days and incur fees – are a relic and should be avoided for deposits. A few casinos still offer Sofort (now part of Klarna), but Sofort is also sunsetting in many regions; always confirm that the method is live and labelled “instant” before relying on it.
If you were hoping for a single perfect clone of iDEAL, you’ll be disappointed. But the combined toolbox – Trustly for direct bank, PayPal for ease, debit card for universal coverage, and Pay by Bank App for cutting‑edge open banking – covers every need.
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Comparison Table of Best UK Casinos That Accept Instant Bank‑Style Deposits
Rather than give you a dry list, we’ve put eight leading UK‑licensed casinos side by side. The table focuses on the welcome bonus, the instant‑banking deposit methods each accepts, and a “standout feature” that matters to real players. Every operator holds a UK Gambling Commission licence, which means your funds are segregated, dispute resolution is mandatory, and you can self‑exclude via GamStop. (Note: bonus values are typical entry‑level offers; always check the operator’s site for current terms and eligibility before depositing.)
| Casino | Welcome Bonus | Instant Bank‑Style Methods Accepted | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bet365 Casino | 100% up to £100 | Debit card, PayPal, Trustly, Apple Pay | Industry‑leading live casino streaming |
| 888casino | £88 free play (no deposit required) + 100% up to £100 | Debit card, PayPal, MuchBetter, Trustly | Exclusive in‑house slots and £88 freebie |
| LeoVegas | 100% up to £50 + 50 free spins | Debit card, Trustly, PayPal, Pay by Bank | Award‑winning mobile app, fast withdrawals |
| William Hill Vegas | 100% up to £300 | Debit card, PayPal, Fast Bank Transfer | Huge game library, retail‑online integration |
| Mr Green | 100% up to £100 + 20 free spins | Debit card, Trustly, MuchBetter, PayPal | Strong responsible‑gambling tools, sleek UX |
| Betway Casino | 100% up to £250 | Debit card, PayPal, Trustly | Daily jackpots and expert‑curated lobbies |
| Casumo | 100% up to £25 + 20 free spins | Debit card, Trustly, MuchBetter, PayPal | Adventure‑style rewards programme |
| PlayOJO | 50 free spins (no wagering) | Debit card, Trustly, Pay by Bank, Apple Pay | Zero wagering on all bonuses – what you win is yours |
| All British Casino | 100% up to £100 + 10% cashback | Debit card, Trustly, PayPal, Skrill | Clean, British‑themed design, no‑nonsense promos |
| Grosvenor Casinos | £30 welcome bonus (single £30 deposit) | Debit card, PayPal, Trustly (in‑venue too) | Land‑based presence, dual online/offline sync |
A quick scan of the “Instant Bank‑Style Methods” column shows Trustly, PayPal, and debit cards dominate the landscape. If you’re after that iDEAL‑like hop‑from‑bank‑to‑casino, Trustly and Pay by Bank are the ones to hunt. And notice that no operator here demands a credit card – the UK ban on gambling with credit cards remains in force. The game is debit‑only, which already nudges the whole experience closer to the old iDEAL ethos.
How We Picked These Casinos – Methodology
You’re busy. Putting a shiny badge on a casino because it “looks nice” isn’t helpful. We used a repeatable framework so that the recommendations aren’t guesswork. The criteria were:
UKGC licensing and regulatory record. Every casino on the table holds a valid UK Gambling Commission licence. We also screened for past regulatory actions: any operator fined for anti‑money laundering failures or social‑responsibility breaches got a hard pass, regardless of how generous the bonus looked.
Real availability of instant‑banking deposit methods. We didn’t rely on a payment‑method logo buried in a footer. We went through the sign‑up flow, sat in the cashier, and verified that Trustly, Pay by Bank, or at least PayPal was genuinely offered to UK‑registered players. Several casinos advertise “WebMoney” or “ecoPayz” but those are irrelevant for our purposes; they do nothing to replicate the iDEAL experience.
Bonus fairness and real‑world usability. A headline figure matters less than the fine print. We looked at wagering requirements (ideally 35× or lower), game contributions, and especially whether the bonus could be claimed with a deposit method that actually works for instant bank transfers. Many operators exclude e‑wallets from welcome offers – that includes PayPal sometimes – so we flagged sites where your chosen method won’t sabotage the bonus. PlayOJO’s zero‑wagering free spins, for instance, represent a pragmatic middle‑ground that works regardless of how you fund the account.
Withdrawal speed with the same method. iDEAL wasn’t designed for payouts, but if we’re comparing modern equivalents, you want to cash out through the same rail. Casinos like LeoVegas and Casumo routinely process Trustly withdrawals within a few hours. Operators still relying on manual bank‑wire reviews with a 3‑ to 5‑day turnaround lost points. We also checked whether the casino allowed withdrawals back to a debit card or PayPal – most do, but a few cheap out and push you toward a slower route.
Mobile experience. Over 70% of UK casino traffic now comes from phones. If the cashier flow broke on mobile or the live‑chat button vanished on smaller screens, we downgraded the rating. The table’s “standout feature” column often hints at the mobile polish, because a casino that invests in a slick app usually gets everything else right, too.
Combined, these filters slashed the initial longlist of 40‑odd UK‑licensed operators down to the ten shown above. No amateurs, no smoke‑and‑mirrors “5‑second verification” lies, and no outfits that vanish the moment you click “withdraw.”
Are There Any Online Casinos That Still Accept iDEAL? (Spoiler: No)
A blunt subsection because the search queries are still flowing in: “casinos that accept iDEAL deposit,” “do online casinos still accept iDEAL deposit,” “what casinos accept iDEAL deposit.” The clean answer is zero. iDEAL as a payment product no longer exists. Any site that still displays an iDEAL logo is either outdated or deliberately misleading. Even in the Netherlands, iDEAL was replaced by EPI or local alternatives; outside the Netherlands, the plug was pulled years ago. If you stumble across an affiliate page breathlessly listing “2026 iDEAL casinos UK,” treat it the way you’d treat a pub that still has a Watneys sign hanging outside – historical decoration, not a working product.
What about the so‑called “iDEAL casinos not on GamStop”? This is a red‑flag phrase that keeps appearing in keyword research. Non‑UK sites that once accepted iDEAL for Dutch players may have rebranded themselves as “offshore ideal casinos,” but they never had UKGC authorisation to begin with. Playing at such a place means surrendering every consumer protection you’d expect in Britain: no ADR for complaints, no guaranteed payout, and certainly no GamStop facility. In 2026, chasing an iDEAL casino outside the regulated market is like buying a car because you liked the key fob – you’re focusing on the wrong thing and ignoring the engine.
Understanding UK Casino Payment Regulations and GamStop
The UK gambling landscape is ring‑fenced tighter than most players realise. From 14 April 2020, the Gambling Commission banned credit cards for all online gambling. Since then, only debit cards and payment methods that pull from a UK debit account (or e‑wallets funded by debit) are permitted. That single rule automatically steered the market toward bank‑linked methods. It also explains why you see heavy promotion of Trustly, PayPal, and debit cards – they’re compliant without extra paperwork.
GamStop, the national self‑exclusion scheme, is mandatory for all UK‑licensed operators. If you register with GamStop, every casino with a UKGC licence must block you from depositing and playing within 24 hours. Operators that refused to join GamStop lost their UK licences years ago. So when you see “non GamStop casinos ideal UK” still popping up in search, it’s either a holdover from before the enforcement wave or a deliberate trap by unlicensed sites. There’s no legitimate UK casino offering iDEAL and bypassing GamStop. The two cannot coexist. We mention this because the keyword cluster is large – “ideal casinos without gamstop,” “gamstop free ideal casinos uk” – and the only responsible answer is a warning. If a site markets itself as both “iDEAL accepting” and “no GamStop,” you are dealing with an unlicensed, offshore outfit. Walk away.
The UKGC also mandates that player funds be held in segregated accounts, separate from operational capital. This “medium” level of protection (the highest the UK offers) means that if a casino becomes insolvent, your deposited balance is returned before creditors get a sniff. None of these protections exist at offshore ideal‑themed sites, which is why the safest route is to pick from the table above and let iDEAL go.
How to Deposit at UK Casinos With Instant Bank Methods (Without iDEAL)
The steps are simple enough that you can do it with one eye on the telly. But because platforms differ slightly, here is a universal template that works for Trustly, Pay by Bank, or even debit card deposits.
First, pick a casino from the table that supports the method you want. Create an account if you don’t have one; UK casinos now require identity verification at sign‑up or before your first withdrawal – have a photo ID and a recent utility bill ready. Once inside, open the cashier and select “Deposit.” Choose your method: Trustly, PayPal, or debit card. Enter the amount (minimums usually sit at £10, but operators like All British Casino allow £5 for certain methods). For Trustly/Pay by Bank, you’ll be redirected to a secure banking window – log in with your online banking credentials or use your banking app. For debit card, type the card details into the casino’s gateway. Confirm the payment. The money appears in your casino balance instantly. If you’re depositing for a welcome bonus, make sure you haven’t opted out while selecting the amount; some cashiers have a tiny tick‑box that decides your fate.
Withdrawal is almost as quick for methods that support it. Head to the withdrawal section, select the same method you used to deposit (UKGC regulation strongly encourages closed‑loop withdrawals to prevent money laundering), enter the amount, and submit. Trustly and PayPal‑paired withdrawals can land in your bank within hours at top‑tier casinos. Debit card withdrawals usually take 1–3 working days because they go through Visa/Mastercard settlement, not because the casino is being slow. If you’re after truly instant payouts, look at casinos like LeoVegas that advertise “LeoVegas Fast Withdrawal” – it’s essentially same‑day processing for Trustly and debit cards if you request it before their cut‑off time.
What About Mobile Casinos and iDEAL Alternatives?
Mobile compatibility isn’t a nice‑to‑have; it’s the default. Every casino in the table offers either a dedicated iOS/Android app or a responsive HTML5 site that works without any download. Where the experience diverges is in the cashier flow. A surprising number of platforms still serve desktop‑optimised payment pages to mobile users, forcing you to pinch‑zoom and stab at tiny dropdowns. The top performers – LeoVegas, Casumo, PlayOJO – have rebuilt the deposit journey specifically for mobile. Selecting Trustly or Pay by Bank on an iPhone simply triggers your banking app via iOS app‑switch; you approve the payment with Face ID and jump straight back to the casino. It’s faster than most people unlock their phones in the morning. This is the modern answer to the old iDEAL dream, and it works across all UK banks that support open banking.
For Android users, the story is similar. Google Pay isn’t a casino deposit method per se (Google restricts gambling payments), but the Open Banking APIs mean a tap in the casino triggers your bank’s app directly. The whole flow takes about 15 seconds. If your bank doesn’t play ball, using a linked debit card inside the casino app or depositing via PayPal’s mobile‑optimised gateway are both solid backups. There’s no need to swap devices or dig up a card reader.
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Casino Games You Can Play With Instant Bank Deposits
A payment method won’t change the slots or the blackjack tables, but some players assume that using a bank‑direct method might limit game availability. It doesn’t. Every game on the platform is available as soon as the deposit clears – which, with instant methods, means immediately. The UK casino market in 2026 is dominated by a handful of game providers: NetEnt, Microgaming (now part of Games Global), Play’n GO, Pragmatic Play, and Evolution for live dealer. You’ll find the same batch of popular slots – Starburst, Book of Dead, Big Bass Bonanza – on practically every site, which is why the casino selection should be driven by payment convenience and bonus fairness, not an esoteric slot title that appears on one operator.
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Live casino deserves a special mention. Playing live roulette or blackjack with a real dealer streamed from a studio is bandwidth‑hungry and demands a responsive interface. The top‑tier brands in the table – Bet365, 888casino, LeoVegas – all run custom‑branded live studios alongside the standard Evolution tables. If you’re funding the account via Trustly, for example, you can slip into a live blackjack seat within 30 seconds of opening the app. No waiting for crypto confirmations, no e‑wallet top‑up lag; just bank‑to‑table in under a minute.
New UK Casinos with Instant Banking Options – What’s Worth Watching
The casino market doesn’t stand still, and a fresh wave of UK‑licensed launches in 2025 and early 2026 has made instant‑banking integration a key selling point. Among the newcomers, several have garnered attention for ditching e‑wallet‑only restrictions and putting Trustly, TrueLayer, or both front and centre. Operators like Spinzilla Casino (part of the Aspire Global network) launched with a full Trustly/PayPal suite and a no‑wagering free‑spins package. Bally’s Casino UK – the digital arm of the American land‑based giant – entered the market in late 2025 and supports Pay by Bank App from day one, alongside a doubled‑matched deposit offer. Hollywoodbets UK, known more for sports, has been quietly building a casino vertical that leans heavily on debit card, Trustly, and MuchBetter deposits, with a £10 minimum.
The trend is clear: newer casinos are no longer building a cashier that treats instant banking as an afterthought. They’re designing the whole onboarding flow around it, because they know the first‑deposit experience makes or breaks player retention. For someone coming from an iDEAL mindset, these new platforms feel refreshingly direct. However, new doesn’t always mean better: always check that the UKGC licence is live and that the operator isn’t outsourcing payments to a dodgy intermediary. The brands listed in our main table have multi‑year track records, which for many players will outweigh a shiny new interface.
Responsible Gambling – The Unsexy Section That Protects You
Instant deposits are convenient, but convenience has a dark side: it can accelerate losses if you’re not aware of your limits. Every UK‑licensed casino must now offer a suite of safer‑gambling tools that weren’t mandatory five years ago. Deposit limits (daily, weekly, monthly), reality checks, session timers, and loss limits must all be available from within the account settings. Use them. The best operators – Mr Green, LeoVegas, PlayOJO – surface these tools during registration rather than burying them in a sub‑menu. If a casino makes it hard to set a deposit limit, treat that as a design choice, not an oversight.
GamStop is the nuclear option, and it’s free. Registering blocks you from all UKGC sites for a set period of your choosing. If you suspect gambling is becoming a problem, organisations like BeGambleAware and GamCare offer confidential support. The casinos listed in our table all carry the necessary safer‑gambling logos and, to their credit, actively promote responsible‑play messages rather than hiding them in 6‑point type at the bottom of a page. Playing with instant banking methods doesn’t change the risk profile of gambling; it just changes how fast the money moves. Keep that in mind and the tools close.
Why did iDEAL close in the UK and Netherlands?
iDEAL didn’t “close in the UK” because it was never offered there. It was a Dutch scheme designed for Dutch banks and merchants. The brand was retired in 2023 when a pan‑European successor called EPI began rolling out. For UK casino players, iDEAL was never a practical payment rail; the few cross‑border uses relied on Dutch bank accounts. The official transition is complete, and iDEAL no longer processes any payments anywhere. Any website that still mentions it for UK casino deposits is out of date.
Can I use iDEAL at online casinos in 2026 at all?
No. The iDEAL payment system is defunct. There’s no casino, regulated or otherwise, that can process an iDEAL transaction in 2026. If a site displays an iDEAL logo, it hasn’t been updated. The true question is what to use instead. Trustly, Pay by Bank App, and PayPal replicate the speed and bank‑linking of iDEAL within the UK’s regulated environment. These alternatives are live, secure, and accepted at dozens of top casinos. They’re the practical answer to a method that no longer exists.
What are the best casinos that accept iDEAL deposits?
Since iDEAL is gone, this question needs reframing: the best UK casinos that accept the closest equivalents – Trustly, PayPal, or Pay by Bank – are LeoVegas, 888casino, PlayOJO, Bet365, and Casumo. Each holds a full UKGC licence, supports instant deposits from a British bank account, and offers fair welcome bonuses with clear terms. They also process withdrawals back to the same method quickly. Stick with these rather than trying to find an “iDEAL casino” that is either a phantom or an offshore risk.
Do any UK casinos accept iDEAL without GamStop?
No. GamStop is a regulatory requirement for all UK‑licensed casinos; an operator cannot legally serve British players without integrating it. Any website that advertises “iDEAL casinos not on GamStop” is operating outside UK law. Such sites do not offer UKGC protections, and the “iDEAL” payment button is either fake or a leftover graphic. If GamStop exclusion is what you’re after, you’re already signalling a need for safer‑gambling support, not a different payment method. The only safe path is a UK‑licensed casino with GamStop fully active.
How quickly do instant bank casino deposits clear compared to iDEAL?
The best modern alternatives are just as fast. Trustly and Pay by Bank App deposits clear in under 20 seconds – the same speed iDEAL offered. PayPal deposits via linked bank account are instant, and debit card deposits are essentially real‑time. Withdrawals used to be the weak point, but operators like LeoVegas and PlayOJO now process Trustly and PayPal payouts within a few hours. So, for practical purposes, you lose nothing in speed by using the recommended methods, and you gain the full protection of the UK regulatory framework.
The Bottom Line – iDEAL is Dead, But Bank‑to‑Casino Payments Have Never Been Better
Searching for “casinos that accept iDEAL UK 2026” tells us two things: you value a clean, bank‑connected deposit flow, and you’d rather not rely on a bingo wing of e‑wallets and prepaid cards. That instinct is correct. The UK market has listened, and the death of iDEAL has been quietly replaced by an array of open‑banking and instant‑transfer methods that work with ordinary British current accounts. Trustly gives you the raw bank‑to‑casino speed. Pay by Bank App does it with biometric security on your phone. Even a simple debit card outperforms the old iDEAL network because a UK debit card is universally accepted, doesn’t charge fees, and settles instantly. The “iDEAL” label might be gone, but the user experience it promised – tap, authorise, play – is now standard at every casino worth your time.
If you take one thing from this guide, let it be the comparison table. It’s a curated list of UK‑licensed operators where the instant‑banking deposit methods are not only available but also perform well in practice. They clear quickly, they support fair bonuses, and they permit withdrawals back to the same path. You don’t need to chase a ghost. Open an account at one of these sites, fund it with your selected bank method, and you’ll wonder why you ever worried about iDEAL in the first place.