Online casinos have become commonplace. In the last decade, they have gone from a niche interest to one of the leading forms of gambling around the entire world. There are now hundreds of sites to choose from that appeal to every taste and style of play.
Some online casinos are aimed at the serious card player and don’t feature many of the bells and whistles that casual players enjoy. There are online casinos that focus solely on slot machine games or on table games and live casino games. Some embrace a hip Vegas aesthetic, while others have playful mascots or a minimalist cool vibe.
One of the biggest questions that new and returning players always have is how to make a deposit. The rise of digital commerce has made it easy to make payments online. It has also led to a lot of variety in how you can pay. Choosing the best online casino payment method can be tricky as it depends on many factors.
Reading a thorough review of online casinos can give you plenty of insight into the pros and cons of every payment method. In this article, we’ll present an overview of the top payment methods for online casinos as well as some of the top tips for staying safe and having fun while you play.
Bank or wire transfer
Bank or wire transfers are one of the original cashless methods of payment. In fact, the name wire transfer comes from the telegraph wires that were originally used to send them in the 19th century. They have lost some popularity in recent years because you generally need to go into a bank branch to schedule a transfer, or use your bank’s website to organise it.
One of the main reasons that wire transfers remain a popular payment method is because of the security and transparency they offer. Since they are made via a person’s bank or financial institution, there are typically safeguards in place. It is also a trusted method because it has been used for so long.
For those unfamiliar with banking terminology, be aware that there are often banking terms used with them that are not commonly used elsewhere. Explanations are easy to find but that step will need to be completed before a successful transfer can be made.
Digital wallet
Digital wallets have become commonplace because they are so convenient. Digital wallets, also known as e-wallets, hold digital versions of a person’s physical bank and/or credit cards on an app. Instead of taking the card out of your wallet, all you need to do is hold your phone over the contactless point on a payment device.
The leading digital wallets are tied to the mobile phone a person has and the operating system that it uses. This means that Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay are the top digital wallets. The feature enabled online casinos to offer pay by mobile options. With the rise of online banks, there are independent digital wallets for each of those banks as well.
Payment apps
Payment apps are a massively popular way to make payments online. Payment apps are apps or websites that allow you to create an account that you deposit money into, that can then be spent online. One of the important selling points of payment apps is that they generally don’t require their users to have a bank account.
The original online payment site is, of course, PayPal. PayPal was initially the payment service for eBay but has grown to become the world’s leading payment app. There are now many competitors and most of them are equally safe, secure and convenient.
It is important to note that many payment apps have a limited region in which they are accepted. Not all online casinos will recognise all of the regional payment apps, especially if the casino brand is based in another country or on another continent.
Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency is the most modern of the digital payment methods. Many people still do not fully understand what cryptocurrencies are or how they work. For those who do, the major positives are that cryptocurrencies are very secure and allow users to make anonymous payments or transactions.
There are dedicated crypto casinos that accept a large number of cryptocurrencies. The most forward-thinking online casinos will also accept the most widely used cryptocurrencies. It is becoming fairly common to see the option to make deposits in Bitcoin or Ethereum.
Tips for keeping it fun at online casinos
One of the most important things to do when you’re starting an online casino account is to set yourself a budget. Having a budget for fun money is obviously a basic step in personal money management. When gambling, it’s smart to take it a step further and have a budget specifically for your online casino expenses. Sticking to a budget reduces your risks and lets you play without worry.
Another smart tip is to only play at fully licensed online casino sites. Playing at a licensed online casino means that you – and your money – are protected if something goes wrong. Unlicensed casinos simply aren’t a safe option for players.
Last but not least, read the fine print before making any deposits. We all know that reading the fine print is important but most of us will also admit that we never actually read it. Many online casinos have very strict rules and conditions for making withdrawals. Reading the fine print is the best way to avoid delays in being able to access your funds.
Last thoughts
Playing at online casinos can be a relaxing hobby that lets you take a break from the real world for a little while. Making deposits and withdrawals at online casinos can be done using a variety of payment methods, and the top online casino sites will always offer their players a good selection of payment methods to choose from. All a player needs to do is find the payment method that they’re the most comfortable and familiar with, and get started.
