What "Pending" Actually Means at LeoVegas
Pending is the stretch between asking for your money and LeoVegas sending it. Nothing has gone wrong; the request is simply in the queue for approval.
When you submit a withdrawal, the amount leaves your playable balance straight away. It hasn't gone anywhere yet, though. LeoVegas shows it in a banner above your transaction history and on the Payout page, and it stays there until the casino has processed and sent the payment. At that moment the status changes and the money starts its journey through your payment method.
So "pending" answers one question only: has LeoVegas released it yet? It doesn't tell you whether the money has reached your bank. If the banner has gone and your account still shows nothing, you are no longer waiting on the casino but on the payment network, and our withdrawal times guide covers how long each route takes.
How long should pending last? LeoVegas's terms set a target of 24 hours and a hard limit of five working days. A verified account withdrawing a normal amount to a method it has used before usually sits in pending for well under a day. First withdrawals, large ones and anything that triggers a document request take longer, sometimes a lot longer, because the five-day clock doesn't start in earnest until the checks are done.
While it is pending, the money is still yours to cancel
Until LeoVegas processes the payout, you can reverse it: open History, find the pending withdrawal and choose Cancel. The amount goes back into your balance. Once it has been processed that option disappears. More on whether you should use it in the mistakes section below.
Verification: The Most Common Reason a Payout Waits
If one thing explains most long pending withdrawals, it is KYC, short for "know your customer". LeoVegas, like every licensed casino, has to confirm who you are and that the money is yours before it pays out. Its terms say documents can be requested at the deposit or the withdrawal stage, and that funds are held until verification is complete. For most players that request arrives with the first withdrawal, which is exactly when you are keenest to be paid.
Once you upload the files, LeoVegas confirms receipt within about 30 minutes and says the review usually takes up to three business days. Getting the documents right first time is the single biggest thing you can do to shorten a pending payout.
| Document | What LeoVegas needs to see | Common reason it is rejected |
|---|---|---|
| Photo ID | Your photo, full name, date of birth, country of birth and expiry date; all four corners of the document visible | Corners cut off, glare over the photo, expired passport or licence |
| Proof of address | A recent document showing your name and the address on your account | Old document, name or address doesn't match the account |
| Card | Photo showing the first 6 and last 4 digits, your name and the expiry date | Full number visible, or the name cropped off |
| Skrill | Screenshot with your email, account ID and recent transactions | Screenshot without the account ID |
| Bank account | Statement with your name, the last 6 digits of the account and the bank's name | Statement in someone else's name |
From LeoVegas NZ help articles on verification and payment-method documents. Checked 22 Sep 2026.
Two tips from experience. Upload your ID and address documents as soon as you open the account, not when you win, because then the first payout isn't waiting on them. And photograph documents on a flat, dark surface in daylight: glare and cut-off corners cause more rejections than anything else.
For larger withdrawals, LeoVegas can also ask about the source of your funds or wealth, for example a payslip or a bank statement showing where the money came from. This feels intrusive, but it is a legal requirement for the operator rather than a sign of suspicion, and it applies across the industry.
Why a Pending Withdrawal Gets Held
Verification is the usual cause, but not the only one. Reading LeoVegas's terms and help pages side by side, these are the things that keep a payout in pending or stop it altogether:
Documents requested or under review
Funds are held until the checks are complete. Look for a request in your email and on the verification page of your account.
A bonus still being wagered
Money in the Bonus tab can't be withdrawn until its wagering is met. Withdrawing cash while you hold bonus funds forfeits those bonus funds, so decide which you want first.
Payout method not available
Mastercard and BNZ or ANZ cards can't receive withdrawals. The payout waits until you have chosen bank transfer and sent the card photo and statement.
Amount below the method's minimum
Each method has its own minimum, shown in the cashier. Older NZ help pages gave NZ$20.
Deposit withdrawn without being played
Money that wasn't used at least once for play triggers extended due diligence and can attract a 5% charge under the terms.
Play under review
Irregular betting while a bonus was active, such as single bets of 30% or more of your balance, can lead to a review of the winnings before anything is paid.
If none of these fits, ask live chat directly which step your payout is at. Give them the amount and the time you requested it. A clear answer to "what exactly is outstanding?" is worth more than a generic "it is being processed".
Pending by Payment Method
Once the pending stage is over, what happens next depends on how you are being paid. Each route has its own habits, and knowing them helps you tell a normal wait from a real problem.
Debit cards
Visa debit cards can receive payouts, except those issued by BNZ or ANZ. Mastercard can't receive payouts at all. That is the part people miss: a player who deposited with a Mastercard asks for a card payout, the request can't go that way, and the money sits waiting until the route is switched to bank transfer. If you deposited by Mastercard, ANZ or BNZ, send the card photo and a bank statement the day you open your account.
When a Visa refund is sent, it goes back through the card network. It can show on your statement as a credit against the original "LeoVegas" payment rather than as a new transaction, so look carefully before assuming it hasn't arrived.
E-wallets
Skrill is the least dramatic route. Once LeoVegas processes the withdrawal, the money usually appears in the wallet quickly. If a Skrill payout is still pending after a day, the cause is almost certainly on the casino side (verification or a bonus), not on Skrill's.
Bank transfer
Bank transfer is the slowest leg and the most affected by the calendar. New Zealand banks settle on business days, so a payout released on Friday may not land until the following week. It is the route for Mastercard, BNZ and ANZ card players, and in practice for Paysafecard depositors too, since a voucher can't be paid back into. Make sure the name on the bank account matches your LeoVegas account exactly.
Paysafecard
Paysafecard is a deposit method (from NZ$20, up to NZ$500). It isn't listed as a way to receive withdrawals, so expect to be asked for another route, normally your bank account. Ask support before you rely on it for a large deposit.
Status Table: Every Method, Every Limit
The same cashier seen from the payout side: what you can deposit with, the limits, and where a withdrawal will actually go.
| Method | Min / max deposit | Payout goes to | After release | LeoVegas fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa debit | NZ$20 / NZ$5,000 | The same card (BNZ, ANZ: bank account) | A few working days | None |
| Mastercard | NZ$20 / NZ$5,000 | Your bank account | Bank transfer time | None |
| Skrill | NZ$10 / NZ$5,000 | The same wallet | Usually the same day | None |
| Paysafecard | NZ$20 / NZ$500 | Another method (ask support) | Depends on route | None |
| Bank transfer | Payout only | Your bank account | Slowest; allow up to 7 working days | None (your bank may charge) |
LeoVegas NZ help pages and terms v2.6; "after release" times are typical, not LeoVegas commitments. Checked 22 Sep 2026.
Common Mistakes That Keep a Payout Pending
Most long waits we hear about come down to a handful of avoidable slips. None of them is dramatic, and all of them cost days.
- Waiting for the win to verify. Uploading documents only after the first big win means the payout waits for the review. Do it on day one.
- Cancelling and re-requesting. Each new request goes to the back of the queue. If a payout seems slow, ask support rather than cancelling it.
- Reversing the payout to keep playing. The cancel button is there, and it is the most expensive button in the cashier. If you find yourself using it on a losing night, set a deposit limit or a time-out in your account settings.
- Forgetting the bonus. Withdrawing while bonus funds are active forfeits them. Check the Bonus tab before you press withdraw.
- Mismatched names. An account opened under a nickname, a partner's card, or a bank account in someone else's name will all stall at verification.
- Timing it badly. A request made late on a Friday before a public holiday has the calendar against it at every step.
And one that isn't a mistake but feels like one: large withdrawals get more checks. A payout several times bigger than your usual deposits may prompt a source-of-funds question. Answering quickly with a clear document is the fastest way through.
Who LeoVegas Payouts Don't Suit
LeoVegas is a big, licensed operator, and its payout process is predictable once you know it. It still isn't the right fit for everyone, and it is better to know that before you deposit than after.
Mastercard, ANZ and BNZ users who want card payouts
You will be paid by bank transfer, which is the slowest route. If speed matters to you, open a Skrill wallet and deposit with that from the start.
Players who won't share documents
There is no way round verification at a licensed casino. If uploading ID and a bank statement is a deal-breaker, no MGA-licensed site will suit you.
Anyone who needs money back the same hour
Even at its best, a first payout involves checks. Money you need for bills shouldn't be in a casino account in the first place.
Crypto users
There is no direct cryptocurrency in the New Zealand cashier. You can only use crypto indirectly through an e-wallet, which adds a step at each end.
For everyone else, the recipe for a short pending stage is simple: verify early, use a method that can receive payouts, clear or cancel bonuses before withdrawing, and avoid Friday-night requests if you can.
How to See Where Your Payout Is
Before you contact anyone, spend two minutes in your own account. LeoVegas shows more than most people realise, and knowing what you are looking at makes any conversation with support much shorter.
Open History
A pending payout sits in a banner above your transaction history. If the banner is there, LeoVegas hasn't released the money yet; if it has gone, the payment has been sent.
Check the Payout page
This shows the amount and the method. Make sure the method is one that can actually receive the money; a Mastercard payout, for example, will be waiting for you to switch to bank transfer.
Check verification
Look for an outstanding document request in your account and your email, including the spam folder. A rejected upload usually comes with a short reason.
Check the Bonus tab
Anything still being wagered stays there. It is worth knowing before you ask why "all" your balance didn't come out.
If the banner has gone and the money hasn't arrived, the question is no longer about pending at all, but about how long your method takes. Card refunds and bank transfers can take several working days after release, and the withdrawal times guide sets out what is normal for each.
What to Say to Live Chat
LeoVegas's live chat runs around the clock, and it is the only place that can see what is happening with your specific payout. There is no phone line for players. A good first message saves a lot of back and forth. Give them:
- the amount and the method of the withdrawal;
- the date and approximate time you requested it;
- what you have already uploaded for verification, and when;
- one clear question: "What exactly is outstanding on this withdrawal?"
That last question matters. "It is being processed" is a true answer to "where is my money?" but tells you nothing. Asking what is outstanding invites a specific answer: a document, a bonus, a method change, or nothing at all, in which case you can ask when it is expected to be released.
Keep the chat transcript or note the reference. If you ever need to escalate, a record of what you were told and when is the most useful thing you can have.
Pending Over a Weekend or a Public Holiday
LeoVegas's five-day limit is counted in working days, and it is a Malta-based operator, so the processing calendar doesn't always match ours. New Zealand banks, meanwhile, only settle on business days. Put those together and a request made late on a Friday can look stuck until Monday or Tuesday without anything being wrong.
Public holidays make it more pronounced. A payout requested just before Waitangi Day, Easter, ANZAC Day or Christmas can lose several days to closed banks on one side or the other. If you want money before a long weekend, ask for it early in the week.
E-wallets soften this a little: once LeoVegas releases a Skrill payout, the money usually lands the same day, weekend or not. The processing stage still follows the operator's working week, though, so Skrill doesn't make a Friday-night request instant.
Source of Funds Checks, Explained
Now and then a player is asked for more than ID and address: a document showing where the money they deposited came from. LeoVegas's terms allow it to ask for proof of the source of wealth or funds, and to hold a payout while that is reviewed.
It feels personal, but it is routine for licensed operators, and it is triggered by patterns rather than suspicion of you in particular: deposits that are large relative to what the account usually does, a sudden jump in play, or a big withdrawal soon after a big deposit. Anti-money-laundering rules require casinos to ask.
What helps is sending something clear and recent: a payslip, a bank statement showing salary coming in, or a document explaining a one-off sum such as a sale or an inheritance. Blacking out unrelated transactions is usually fine, as long as your name, the dates and the relevant amounts are visible. Answering quickly is the single best way to keep the hold short.
If a Pending Payout Drags On
Most pending withdrawals clear once the paperwork is in. If yours doesn't, and you've been through the checks above, there is a proper route to follow, and it works best in this order:
Raise a formal complaint with LeoVegas
Ask live chat to log it as a complaint, not just a question, and note the reference and the date.
Give it time to answer
Operators get a set period to respond to a complaint. Keep everything in writing.
Go to the dispute service
The approved dispute resolution service on LeoVegas's Malta licence is eCOGRA. It is independent and free for players.
Tell the regulator
The Malta Gaming Authority, which licenses LeoVegas under MGA/CRP/237/2013, accepts player complaints about its licensees.
New Zealand's Department of Internal Affairs doesn't yet regulate LeoVegas, because no online casino licences have been issued here. That changes as the new regime comes in, and from 1 December 2026 operators without an NZ licence or exemption must stop serving New Zealand players. Another good reason not to leave a large balance sitting in any casino account.
A Worked Example: One First Withdrawal
To make the stages concrete, here is how a typical first payout plays out for a new player. The details are illustrative; the timings follow LeoVegas's published targets.
Sam in Hamilton signs up on a Tuesday, deposits NZ$50 with a BNZ Visa debit card without opting in to a bonus, and has a good Thursday night on the pokies. On Friday morning the balance is NZ$420 and Sam asks for a NZ$400 withdrawal to the card.
-
Friday
Request goes to pending
The NZ$400 leaves the playable balance and appears in the banner. Because this is the first withdrawal, a verification request arrives by email.
-
Friday evening
Documents uploaded
Sam uploads a driver licence and a power bill. The card is a BNZ card, which can't receive payouts, so support asks for a photo of the card and a bank statement and switches the route to bank transfer.
-
Monday–Tuesday
Review complete, payout released
Verification is reviewed within LeoVegas's usual three business days and the payout is processed. The banner disappears.
-
Later that week
Money in the bank
The bank transfer arrives a few working days after release. From request to money: roughly a working week, most of it paperwork and the bank route.
Now the same win for a player who verified on day one and deposited with Skrill: the request is processed within the day and the money is in the wallet the same evening. Same casino, same amount, very different experience, and the difference is entirely in the preparation.
Pending Withdrawals and Staying in Control
There is a reason regulators in some countries have banned the cancel button on pending withdrawals: it is where a lot of winnings go back. The money is sitting there, visible, one tap away from being playable again, often late at night after a losing session.
LeoVegas lets you cancel a pending payout in New Zealand, so the discipline is yours. A few things help:
- Decide before you press withdraw that the money is gone from the casino, and treat the banner as already spent.
- Set a deposit limit in your account. It doesn't stop a reversal, but it caps what you can add on top afterwards.
- Use a time-out if you notice you are cancelling payouts. A break of a day or a week removes the temptation completely.
- Log out after requesting a withdrawal. Out of sight genuinely helps.
If gambling has stopped feeling like entertainment, free and confidential help is available in New Zealand from the Problem Gambling Foundation and the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655.
LeoVegas Pending Withdrawals: FAQ
What does "pending" mean on a LeoVegas withdrawal?
It means you have asked for the money and LeoVegas has not finished processing it yet. The amount has left your playable balance and shows in a banner above your transaction history until it is sent. At that point it is no longer pending, even if it hasn't reached your account yet.
How long can a LeoVegas withdrawal stay pending?
LeoVegas aims to process withdrawals within 24 hours and says it will always do so within five working days. The clock only really starts once your account is verified: money is held until the checks are complete, and a document review usually takes up to three business days.
Can I cancel a pending withdrawal?
Yes. Open History, find the pending payout and choose Cancel, and the money goes back to your balance. You can only do this before LeoVegas processes the request.
Should I cancel a pending withdrawal to play the money?
Only if you have decided to. Many players cancel a pending payout on a bad night and lose it, which is exactly why some countries have banned reverse withdrawals. If that sounds like you, ask LeoVegas to set a deposit limit or a cool-off before you next withdraw.
Which documents clear a pending withdrawal?
Usually photo ID showing your photo, name, date of birth and expiry date with all four corners visible, a proof of address, and proof of the payment method (a card photo, a Skrill screenshot or a bank statement). For larger amounts LeoVegas can also ask about the source of your funds.
My withdrawal is no longer pending but the money has not arrived. Why?
Once processed, the payment is travelling through your method, which LeoVegas says can take up to five working days depending on the method. Bank transfers are the slowest, especially over a weekend.
Why was my card withdrawal changed to a bank transfer?
LeoVegas cannot currently pay out to Mastercard or to BNZ and ANZ issued cards, so those withdrawals go to your bank account instead. You will need to send a photo of the card and a bank statement.
Does an active bonus keep a withdrawal pending?
A bonus that is still being wagered stops the bonus money from being withdrawn at all, and withdrawing cash while you hold bonus funds forfeits them. Finish or give up the bonus before you ask for a payout.
More LeoVegas Guides for NZ Players
- Withdrawal TimesHow long Visa, Skrill and bank transfers take to reach a Kiwi account.
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- FAQEvery common question, sorted by topic, with the page that answers it.
- About UsWho writes this guide, how we check facts and how we get paid.