Verdict
Verdict at a glance
- A withdrawal has 3 stages: pending, approval and settlement. A single headline time hides them.
- A bare 24-hour claim is operator marketing unless the terms state which stage it covers.
- Verification is the largest documented cause of delay (per indexed reviews, April 2026).
- Single pick: upload identity, address and payment proof before the first deposit.
Three stages
- Pending, Set by: Operator. What causes delay: A holding period before approval, stated in the terms
- Approval, Set by: Operator. What causes delay: Verification status of the account
- Settlement, Set by: Payment provider. What causes delay: Method-specific transfer time
Pending is the period before the operator reviews the request. Approval is the operator's internal check, including identity and source-of-funds review. Settlement is the transfer by the payment provider after approval. Different parties control each stage, so a delay at 1 stage says nothing about the others.
Published and observed times
A published time is the operator's stated range. The operator behind Magic Red states 0 to 2 working days for processing (operator terms, verify against live terms). That figure covers processing and not the transfer, and a method-dependent transfer time follows.
An observed time comes from player reports. Trustpilot shows 1.8 from 128 reviews for the brand (April 2026). Complaints centre on document checks requested at withdrawal and not at registration. In February 2025 the operator settled with the Gambling Commission for £1,407,834 over anti-money-laundering and safer-gambling failings (Gambling Commission register).
The 2 figures measure different things, so both are reported with their sources. Not surfaced from the operator: a measured payout time for the brand.
Verification and delay
Operators request documents at withdrawal. Each request restarts the pending stage, so a withdrawal that looked finished returns to the start. Operators ask for 3 document types:
Uploading all 3 before the first deposit removes the most-cited cause (per indexed reviews). Complete identity checks on day one and run a small test withdrawal before committing larger sums. The step moves the check to the point where it delays nothing.
Weekends and sister brands
Weekend and bank holiday handling varies by operator, so the request day matters (verify against live terms). Sister brands on 1 licence share the approval stage by inference, because 1 compliance team reviews the requests. Settlement differs where brands use different payment providers.
Not surfaced from published network data: payout times by brand. A comparison across sisters needs each brand's terms, and each figure carries its check date. See How to compare related casinos for the template.
A delay isn't a reason to deposit more
A pending withdrawal doesn't need a new deposit to release it. Not surfaced from published approval steps: any requirement to deposit more before a payout. If you're asked to, stop and contact the operator's support in writing.
If the withdrawal stalls
- Confirm on live chat that the account shows as fully verified.
- Save the chat transcript.
- Allow the stated processing days plus transfer time.
- If 5 working days pass with no contact, raise a formal complaint with the operator.5 working days
- Keep the complaint reference number.
- If the complaint is unresolved after 8 weeks, escalate to the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS), an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider.8 weeks
- Attach the saved evidence.
Evidence to keep
- screenshots of the balance
- the withdrawal request
- the terms in force on the registration date.
- Dated copies of emails and chat transcripts.
- Proof of document uploads, with dates.
Unconfirmed facts read: unconfirmed, verify on site.
Final verdict
The 3 stages explain where a delay sits. Verification explains most of the documented ones. The single action with the best evidence behind it is uploading all 3 documents before the first deposit.
The SkillOnNet operator profile records a regulatory settlement for anti-money-laundering failings, which shows why verification checks exist. To confirm the operator behind a brand before a complaint, follow How to find a casino's operator. The Responsible gambling page lists support services.