Aussies have many options these days on how they pay for goods and services, from debit and credit cards to PayID and eWallets. Dare to mention a check and you’ll be met with a blank stare by anyone under the age of 40! So how do Australians like to put down money at online casinos? We’ll take you through everyone’s preferred payment methods.
We also recommend you read this informative article by AussieCodes, where they go into further detail about banking methods at Australian casinos.
#1. Debit Cards
Debit cards still rule the roost as Australia’s favourite way to play at online casinos. Since the introduction of Visa and Mastercard debit cards many years ago, Aussies have come to use these cards as their default payments for everyday purchases - including casino play.
Branded debit cards give users the benefit of using Visa and Mastercard facilities worldwide with their own funds, unlike branded credit cards which operate as a line of credit. Debit cards allow users to control their spending, as it is typically not possible to have a negative balance on a debit card.
#2. Mobile Payments
Mobile payments have become a defacto payment at store checkouts, as people open their phones and wave over the terminal, activating either their Google Pay or Apple Pay wallet. These mobile payment wallets can store multiple debit and credit cards, loyalty cards, gift cards, and more. This gives people an easy way to manage their money on the go, without having to carry around a stack of cards.
These mobile payment systems are also available on many online stores for purchases, including as a method at plenty of online casinos. Choosing a mobile payment to stock up on casino chips means customers can choose between multiple cards at once.
#3. Crypto
Crypto has been bubbling up as one of the most exciting ways to pay for goods and services on the web. Online casinos have been quick to embrace the alternate payment systems that operate outside of the bounds of traditional fiat currencies.
Digital currencies were invented as a way for people all around the world to transact in the same currency, instantly, with minimal fees, that go towards everyday people who own the infrastructure the payment network operates on. Some of the more popular cryptocurrencies include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, and Ripple. Some casinos may offer one sole crypto payment method, maybe even alongside traditional payment methods, while others can have a long list of accepted cryptos.
#4. EWallets
eWallets are another modern form of digital payment. Examples of eWallets that are common all over the world include PayPal and Skrill, although there are many thousands more in operation, especially regionally. Aussies are most familiar with PayPal as their main eWallet, as eBay remains a popular secondhand marketplace within the country. Customers can load funds onto their eWallet or have the eWallet link directly to a bank account, debit, or credit to extract funds.
#5. PayID
PayID is an Australian payment method that is unique to Aussie banks. PayID, in essence, links your email address or phone number to a bank account. This means that when PayID is used, there is no need to expose the BSB and Account number, which is still required for older bank direct deposit methods. Online casinos with direct deposit to Australian bank account methods will usually have a PayID attached to the company as well. The PayID method acts the same as the direct deposit but without the difficulties of typing in a bunch of random numbers into a field - which can be fraught with mistakes.
#6. Credit Cards
While many online casinos restrict the use of credit cards for payment, so they don’t step on any regulators' toes, some operators do offer this method for deposits. Using a credit card means that you have access to as much credit as your bank has given you, which can be a dangerous proposition when gambling!
Aussies who use credit cards to play online casinos are often more strict about setting limits on the amount they will spend in a session, week, or month. These opt-in limits, available on many gambling websites, allow customers to keep track of how much money they’re spending online - without hitting a credit card limit.
#7. Prepaid Cards
Prepaid cards in Australia typically fall under either a Visa or Mastercard banner, such as the Mastercard Prepaid, which can be picked up at retail counters from 7-Eleven to Coles Supermarket. These cards are common for Aussies to give as gifts to give to family and friends for any occasion.
These prepaid Visa and Mastercard cards are available to use in the same way as you would a personal debit card. Sometimes casinos may also accept other prepaid cards, although these aren’t exactly a popular way to do business in Australia.