Paddy Power Play Card and CashCard+: How Does It Work, Is It Any Good?

Of all the cards we tested, Paddy Power’s were hands down the best utilised.

That’s not to say they were the winner in all categories, but in terms of how much the company incorporate them into their everyday business there was no competition.

In shop offers came through, were advertised in store, the staff felt knowledgeable, and the card even came in a cool little pack – which is irrelevant really but it just felt like more effort was being put in. The help/FAQ sections covering the cards are brilliant too.

Some people might get confused here because Paddy Power have now got 3 different cards in circulation. The first is the old Cash Card, which just allowed customers to deposit and withdraw cash to and from their online accounts.

The company then improved this service (without cancelling old cards), so now there is also a Play Card and a CashCard+.

The Play Card is essentially an updated and improved version of the old Cash Card which can be used for betting in store and getting extra bonuses and promotions, as well as for depositing and withdrawing cash to and from your online account. The CashCard+ is like a debit card linked to your betting account which can be used at ATM’s and in shops and cafe’s etc., so both give you access to online funds in cash despite having different purposes.

This is because not everyone wants both cards, so the most important function, money management, is available on both.

You cannot have both the old Cash Card and a Play Card because the Play Card is the bigger better version of the Cash Card, but you can have a CashCard+ and a Play Card because, despite the name being almost identical, the CashCard+ is entirely different to the Cash Card and the Play Card.

Confused? Good.

How Does Paddy Powers Play Card Work?

If you want to get hold of the Play Card, which is the card used for gambling instore and linking your online funds so you can use them in the shop, then do the following:

1. Ask at the counter of your local Paddy Power and they will hand you a natty little pull out pack with the card and instructions inside.
2. Link the card to your online account using the number on the back. Go to My Account, then choose the My Cards option, then Cash Card and Play Card.
3. Activate the card at the counter – you’ll need some ID for this.

That’s it.

It’s really easy so you can do it all in one go if you are prepared with a driver’s license or passport, and once activated you can use the card immediately.

On paper, the card sounds great, but in practice we weren’t able to use it with the gaming machines – a problem we had at every other bookie too.

However, at least at Paddy Power they knew why; apparently the machines were due a system update that wasn’t scheduled to happen until our testing period was over. So we will take them at their word that using the gaming machines with your Play Card is as easy as inserting the card and spinning away.

Using the card for making bets was much more successful, although logging in on the betting terminals is a bit long winded.

You have to select the Play Card option, then either scan your cards barcode or type in the number. Then you have to put in your pin number to prove it’s you, before you can finally place bets. It logs you out pretty fast too if you aren’t constantly touching the screen.

It’s a shame that bets placed in this way don’t show up in ‘My Bets’ on the website though, because if you also bet online this splits your bets up so you can’t track them all in the same place – an issue every bookie seems to have.

You can pay with your card at the counter to get around this issue, but it means you have to write out your bets the old fashioned way then pay for them with your snazzy Play Card, so you’ve got one foot in the old world and one foot in the new with this method. Still, at least it makes tracking on and offline bets easier.

How Does Paddy Powers CashCard+ Work?

This is the card that allows you to spend the money in your Paddy Power account as though it was in your bank account.

It’s actually a MasterCard, so it works in exactly the same way as a debit card would, by taking the money from your gambling account when you pay for something with it.

However, you will first need to withdraw money from your regular betting account in the normal way, but instead of sending it to your bank, you send it to your CashCard+ and it will be instantly available via an ATM or to spend in a shop or online store.

In all honesty it takes longer to explain than it does to use, it’s very simple.

To get one you will need to wait for it to be delivered, which is fair enough since it’s a MasterCard and not just a store card.

1. Request the card from your online account, using the My Account and then My Cards options.
2. Wait about a week for the card to show up in the post.
3. Sign the card and activate it using the 6 digit pin on the back.
4. Register for the online portal.
5. Set up and memorise your pin.

The CashCard+ has its own online portal where you can see your transactions and activity, as well as cancel the card if it gets lost and be reminded of your pin.

It takes a bit longer to set up than other bookie cards but it has a different purpose, and a much more useful one too, so it’s definitely worth the extra faff.

It’s very safe and secure with 2 factor identification enabled, so when you want to log in from a new device or browser you will be sent a code to input just like with online banking.

You can buy anything from a few coffees to an Xbox if you have enough cash, as long as the place you’re at accepts MasterCard you’re golden.

What are the Benefits of Paddy Powers Store Cards?

If I could only carry the store card of one bookie, it would be Paddy Power, because they have simply invested more time and effort into ensuring that they work as well as possible.

They were also the best for sending out offers and promotions to Play Card holders, with regular but not annoying contact informing us of instore offers.

We will cover both cards in the same table here and put a + next to anything that is only applicable to the CashCard+ and a (P) next to anything applicable to the Play card.

Here is what Paddy Power claim the cards are good for and our experience of them:

These two cards offer much more flexibility and interest to your betting than at other bookmakers, really boosting the engagement and actually giving you a reason to visit a bookie shop once in a while rather than doing everything online.

We wouldn’t say Paddy Power have completely cracked it, but they have gone some way to successfully merging the online and offline worlds of betting, and their shops are livelier because of it if our experience is anything to go by.

Their Play Card doesn’t have an app or specific area of the website like other bookies cards seem to do, so there is no easy way to track your bets – unless you are betting on football that is, when you can use their PP Onside app, but that’s just another step in the process and an extra app on your phone.

They could try to make the Play Card more all encompassing, and actually, this is probably the only bookie card scheme that we feel could do with its own app, simply because there is so much on offer with it as well as the potential to add more.

However, the ability to spend winnings without even having to move the money to your bank account or turn it into cash can be really useful, especially if you are a bit short one week and forget about the other half’s birthday present or something like that.

Not that we would ever forget her birthday, obviously…