The Best Paypal Alternatives For Online Gaming Payments
Casino games have a rich history, from the humble beginnings of simple dice and card games to the immersive range of digital options available for players today. As these games have evolved, so too have the platforms that host them, which have seen a transition from formal land-based casinos to their exciting user-friendly online counterparts. Running parallel to these changes, online payment systems have also improved, as technology has continued to push the limits of what is capable and available to users. The driving force behind this has been a desire for secure, efficient, and fast money transactions and, these days, alternative payment methods are taking the world by storm – especially at online casinos.
In this post, we’ll look at the world of online casino payment methods, the rise of PayPal in this industry, and modern alternatives that players are taking advantage of these days, as well as their benefits.
The Original Online Casino Payment Methods
Online casinos have been around for almost as long as the internet. Of course, the platforms players enjoy today are very different from those of the past, and so too are the payment methods available.
Perhaps the most obvious reason for this is that online payment methods were simply extremely limited back then. Online casinos and players needed to rely on the likes of bank transfers, debit cards, and credit cards, which all have their limitations in the scope of what many players are looking for.
Why Alternative Payment Methods Are Popular at Online Casinos
As mentioned above, casino payment methods were limited for many years, so players were stuck with them whether they liked it or not. These days, technological advancements have paved the way for lots of new payment methods and many of them have qualities that players appreciate. For example, modern alternative payment methods are often convenient, secure, fast, and can even provide anonymity to players.
How PayPal Became a Major Player in the Online Casino World
PayPal’s rise to become one of the world’s most popular casino payment methods was impressive. The service was initially designed as a payment method for eBay transactions, and this was important because it helped to establish its reputation as being secure and trustworthy, which is exactly what casino players are looking for.
Furthermore, PayPal’s addition to online casino platforms allowed players to make transactions that were both user-friendly and fast, meaning it was easy to make a payment and get to the fun side of things quickly – playing games. Withdrawals were also quicker than older methods because PayPal’s system didn’t require traditional banking processes to take place before funds were released.
Alternative Online Casino Payment Methods
Of course, although PayPal is still around and is one of the biggest payment methods in the world, the industry has continued to evolve as time goes on. This has paved the way for a growing range of casino banking options for online casino players and they all have their benefits. Some of the most popular current options include the following:
Neteller
Much like PayPal, Neteller is an e-wallet that has been available for use since 1999. These days, it is often used as a payment method at online casinos and there are several benefits to this, including the fact that it offers instant transfers, high security, and user-friendliness. The main difference between Neteller and PayPal is that the former focuses mainly on payment transactions, whereas PayPal offers lots of services these days – credit, merchant processing, cryptocurrency integration, and so on.
Skrill
Skrill is another e-wallet service that players enjoy using at online casinos. Some of the reasons for its popularity include the fact that Skrill offers an easy way to deposit and withdraw money, while the process is user-friendly and fast. The difference between Skrill and PayPal is that the former is available at even more online casinos, whereas PayPal is sometimes restricted in certain locations.
Trustly
Trustly is an online payment processor that has become popular with online casinos in recent years. It works differently from e-wallets, such as PayPal, because it doesn’t work separately from the user’s bank account. Instead, the user must approve a funding method, which can include a bank account, and then Trustly will facilitate transactions when needed. The benefit of this is that when a user makes a withdrawal from an online casino, they will receive their funds quickly because traditional bank procedures don’t need to be undertaken.
Prepaid Cards
Prepaid cards have become increasingly popular with online casino users because they provide an easy way to deposit and withdraw funds. Unlike other methods on this list, they are not connected to a bank account and need to be topped up in advance. The benefit of this is that users don’t need to add personal details when making deposits, they typically don’t have any fees, and they make it easy to stick to a budget.
Astropay
Astropay is a prepaid card that differs from traditional versions because it is only virtual. Like the latter, Astropay users can add funds to their cards in advance without having to link a bank account. The benefit of using this service is that users can control their spending by ensuring that they only top-up what they can afford, can maintain a level of anonymity because they don’t need to add lots of personal details when making a deposit, and can enjoy fast transactions.
Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrencies have become increasingly more mainstream in recent years. However, they have been a popular form of payment method for some online casino users for a lot longer. This is due to several reasons, including the fact that cryptocurrency transactions are rapid, provide a layer of anonymity, often have lower fees than traditional banking methods, and operate globally.
The Future of Casino Payments
There’s no doubt that casino payments will continue to evolve as technology advances. However, there are likely to also be competitors to the current payment methods as the market continues to grow. For example, cryptocurrencies are becoming increasingly popular, and this is likely to lead to many more online casinos accepting this form of payment in the future.