Before players place their €10 bet on a favorite team or spin the roulette wheel, they face a crucial first step—making their first deposit. Online casino and sportsbook operators need to understand payment systems to offer region-specific options that meet player expectations. Here’s a global overview of the most popular payment methods used in the gambling industry in 2025.
Credit Cards: A Global Standard, But Not Universal
Visa and Mastercard are accepted worldwide and allow users to pay with a card, phone, or even smartwatch. However, they aren’t a universal solution for the iGaming industry. Operators relying solely on major credit card providers risk losing access to markets where cards are not the top choice due to regulation or financial limitations.
Gambling is often classified as high-risk due to associations with money laundering, organized crime, and terrorism financing. Credit card companies use Merchant Category Codes (MCC) to identify transaction types. Gambling is labeled under code 7995, and transactions may be blocked in regions where gambling is illegal.
In addition to regulatory bans, players may be restricted by weak financial infrastructure or the lack of a formal bank account. Fortunately, there are many alternative services available, including:
- Bank transfers
- Instant transfers
- Payment gateways
- E-wallets
- Cryptocurrencies
To optimize payment processing, operators must understand the local payment preferences in their target markets.
Europe
Visa and Mastercard remain dominant across Europe, though regional bans on credit card use for gambling exist.
- Germany: Credit cards are prohibited for gambling. Players use Sofort, a secure and fast payment system also popular in Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
- UK: Since April 2020, credit card gambling has been banned. Players use debit cards, PayPal, or open banking solutions.
- Portugal: Multibanco leads the market with over 12,700 ATMs. MB Net offers virtual credit cards for secure transactions. Other methods include PayPal, open banking, and direct debit.
Two of the continent’s top payment methods are Skrill and Neosurf:
- Skrill operates in 180 countries and supports 40 currencies. It has a VIP program and is accepted on over 150,000 websites.
- Neosurf offers prepaid vouchers widely available across Europe.
Popular methods in Europe:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Skrill
- Neosurf
- Sofort
- PayPal
- Multibanco
- Open Banking
Latin America
Credit cards are not the top choice in Latin America. According to Mastercard data from 2020, only 55% of adults had a bank account, and just 19% had a credit card. Players prefer online payments linked directly to their bank or via local methods.
- Brazil: Boleto Bancário, regulated by the Central Bank, allows cash payments at branches or online via mobile banking.
- Mexico & others: Similar systems are widely used.
Popular methods in Latin America:
- Bank transfers
- Boleto Bancário
India
Online gambling is booming in India. A 2021 YouGov survey showed 73% of respondents prefer gambling online over land-based options.
India’s national financial infrastructure supports this:
- UPI (Unified Payments Interface) integrates multiple bank accounts in one app.
- BHIM app uses UPI for quick transactions.
- PhonePe is the most popular method, supporting BHIM UPI, cards, and e-wallets.
- PayTM has 25M+ users and supports financial transfers and e-commerce.
Popular methods in India:
- PhonePe
- BHIM UPI
- PayTM
Africa
Africa’s iGaming sector is growing rapidly, following its own path. Traditional bank accounts are rare, but mobile banking is booming.
- Kenya & Tanzania: M-Pesa enables money transfers via mobile phones and is widely used for sports betting.
- Nigeria: Several payment gateways are popular:
- Interswitch links Nigerian banks.
- GTPay supports debit card transactions.
- RAVE by Flutterwave offers safe and fast online payments.
Popular methods in Africa:
- M-Pesa
- GTPay
- RAVE
Canada
Interac is the most widely used payment system in Canada, with 40M users. Gigadat, built on Interac, is one of the top choices for online casinos. By comparison, PayPal has only about 6M Canadian users.
Popular methods in Canada:
- Interac
- Gigadat
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is home to some of the world’s most lucrative gambling markets. E-wallets are the most common payment method, followed by cards and bank transfers.
- 2C2P is one of Asia’s biggest providers, serving users without credit cards.
- Thaiepay offers Visa, Mastercard, and AmEx payments in Thailand.
- Paysbuy functions similarly to PayPal and supports local bank transactions.
Cryptocurrency is also growing in popularity across the region.
Popular methods in Southeast Asia:
- 2C2P
- Thaiepay
- Paysbuy
Cryptocurrency
The blockchain revolution is in full swing. Players seeking anonymity and decentralization often prefer crypto payments. Some online casinos operate solely with digital currencies like Bitcoin or Litecoin.
For international platforms, supporting regional payment methods and crypto is critical. Without the right deposit or withdrawal options, players will simply move to a competitor that does.
Read more: Finance affiliate programs UK
