- Privacy
- Safety
- Security
- Banking Methods
- Transaction Time
To build a good reputation and rapport with their customers, a casino must ensure that all financial and personal data is kept secure. The only way that you can be truly sure of this is by only playing at online casinos that hold licenses from reputable authorities, such as the UKGC or the MGA. If a casino holds such a license, then it is a sign that they have the following safeguards in place:
- Secure Socket Layer (SSL): Secure Socket Layer is a protocol that online casinos employ which ensure an encrypted connection between the user and server. Thus, after entering personal information and banking details, that data will be transmitted in such a way that it is safe from prying eyes.
- Firewalls: A Firewall is a system employed by an online casino that can check and control any traffic to its server. This way, a casino can protect itself from hackers.
- Deposit and Withdrawal Methods: It is important to check that casinos only work with reputable payment providers that are known for being safe and reliable.
A Look at Online Casino Payments Methods
Aside from safety, security, trustworthiness and fairness, players tend look for online casinos that have banking methods which are easy for them to use. Not all casinos have the same deposit and withdrawal methods, but generally they will accept a mixture of bankcards, ewallets, prepaid cards, and bank transfer systems.
Credit and Debit Cards
Universally, the most popular form of banking online is with standard credit and debit cards. In terms of brands, these include Visa, MasterCard and Maestro. It is the most popular banking method at European online casinos. In fact, credit cards are used for 52% of online casino payments in France, 49% of all online casino payments in the UK, 47% of payments in Belgium and 36% of all payments in Spain.
The primary reason why credit and debit cards are the most popular is because of their accessibility. Most adults have a credit or debit card. However, there are some issues to be aware of. In some jurisdictions it is not permissible to use credit cards at online casinos (only debit cards). Furthermore, occasionally a bank may not be willing to process an online gambling transaction.
eWallets
Arguably the best way of gaming online is to use e-wallets. They are easy to use at online casinos and typically see transactions complete within a matter of seconds. Usually, withdrawing your winnings into an e-wallet takes less than 24 hours.
However, e-wallets do have their own limitations as well. Firstly, there are some restrictions on them depending on what jurisdiction you are in. Secondly, while the casinos do not charge fees, there are usually fees charged by eWallets for transfers (although they are very small). Here are a few popular e-wallets that are accepted at most casinos:
- Skrill: This e-wallet is one of the most popular. It is available at most casinos for both deposits and withdrawals. Typically, these transactions are instant and are always done in a secure way.
- Neteller: Another popular e-wallet is Neteller, as it is just as available as Skrill and very similar in efficiency. Deposits and withdrawals tend to be instant whilst you can also withdraw with ease onto your Net+ card or into your bank account. I
- EcoPayz: Similar to the former two, EcoPayz is an e-wallet that is accepted at numerous online casinos. All online casino transactions can be made with a player’s ecoAccount.
- Paysafecard: Paysafecard is a prepaid card that is popular with those concerned about privacy. Players can purchase a card for cash in one of thousands of locations and then simply enter the PIN found on the card at the casino to transfer funds to their account. However, it cannot be used for withdrawals.
Bank Transfer
A traditional bank wire is probably the securest way of funding a casino account. However, it typically takes a very long time due to the extensive security checks involved. Furthermore, the fees can be quite high. However, there are a number of third party services that greatly speed up the process and reduce the costs:
- Trustly: Trustly is a hugely popular and user-friendly service. It allows players to transfer funds directly from their bank account to an online casino account. It can also be used for rapid and secure withdrawals. All of this is achieved without players having to provide banking details to the online casino site.
- iDEAL: iDEAL is a popular bank wire transfer method but it is sadly not available in every country. Rather, it is offered in most Nordic counties and several European territories. iDEAL does not charge any transfer fees for players and is used for 54% of all online casino payments in the Netherlands.
- Giropay: Similarly, Giropay is another payment method that is simple to use and does not charge any additional fees. It is the most used payment method for depositing in Germany, with more than 75% of German citizens owning a Giropay card.
Using Cryptocurrencies
A number of online casinos are beginning to accept cryptocurrency. The attraction that comes with using cryptocurrency is that it is highly secure, very cheap, and very fast. While it is not yet standard to see cryptocurrency accepted at online casinos, things are certainly moving in that direction. The majority of casinos that offer cryptocurrency options will include Bitcoin, Litecoin, Monero and Bitcoin Cash as methods. Typically, these do not tend to have any transaction fees, and even if they do, they are minimal.
Closing Remarks
Before playing at a casino it is always worth taking the time to look at the payment methods that are on offer. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, and it is important to be aware of these before starting to play. Many players will use one method for deposits and another for withdrawals. There is nothing wrong with this and you may well find yourself doing the same. The good news is that with such a variety of payment methods available, you can be sure of finding some that you are comfortable using, that are fast, easy, and absolutely secure.