Is Apple Pay the Future for Online Casinos?

Apple Pay is becoming more and more popular as individuals discover the convenience of using it as a payment method. This technology allows individuals to make quick and payments both online and in person. There are many benefits to using it as a payment method, but is payment method a strong contender for the casino industry or just a passing trend?  

Apple Pay is essentially a digital wallet where you can store all of your payment cards (this also includes gift cards). This digital wallet can be stored on most of your apple devices, meaning you can carry around your digital wallet on your smartphone and even make payments from your Apple Watch. The technology works in the exact same way your contactless card works. This article is going to take a look at just how compatible Apple Pay is with the modern world, the pros and cons of using it in online casinos and what the future may look like for the technology. 

Where can you use Apple Pay? 

Everywhere. 

While that statement might not be 100% true, you will find that most industries accept Apple Pay as a payment method. Whether you use it to pay for a coffee or even to settle your household bills online. It's a very common and popular payment method that is still expanding all over the world. While there may be some exceptions, you will find that the majority of businesses will accept Apple Pay, whether you're online gaming, shopping or donating to charity. For example, as you will be able to see, there are a wide range of options when it comes to finding online casinos that accept Apple Pay (https://time2play.com/nz/casinos/payments/apple-pay/) as a payment method. This means that players are able to experience the many benefits that come with using it when they play in online casino. It's the perfect payment method when it comes to casual gaming. 

The Pros 

One of the reason it's a payment method that has become so popular is because it comes with many benefits. For online casinos in particular, these include: 

• Encrypted Transactions - This means your payment information isn't vulnerable if there are any cyber threats. 
• Authentication - In order to make a payment you must either complete facial recognition or finger print (depending on what model you have), this means that only you can make payment with it. This also means that if your phone is lost or stolen, you are still protected and can even lock your phone from another device. 
• Data protection - Your card number is never stored on your device or servers, Apple uses a device-specific number and unique transaction code. This means your numbers aren't shared with merchants either, individuals also have the option to hide their email address when making online payments. This means your personal data isn't even at risk. 
• More secure - If your transaction is unsecure when using a credit/debit card, your information is right there to be used. Whereas with Apple Pay, your details aren't provided which means they're at risk at all.
• Quick and easy payments - Online payments can be made in just a few seconds, without the need to fill in long card details.
• It's free - there are no sign up or transaction fees or payment limits. However, it's important to note that there will still be fees that are associated with your bank, such as interest or conversion rates. 
• Transaction history - You can take a look at your transaction history in your digital wallet. This can help you to keep track of your payments and ensure you're staying in your budget. This is essential when it comes to ensuring that you're gambling responsibly. 

The Cons 

While there are many advantages to using Apple Pay in online casinos, it's important to also consider the disadvantages too. These include: 

• Apple Pay is limited to Apple devices - Only users with Apple products can use it. 
• The potential of software crashes - Just like any other piece of software, there may be times when the payment method crashes. 
• Data breaches are still possible - Yes, Apple Pay is extremely secure. There is still a possibility of cyber threats, which means individuals should still have measures in place to protect themselves. 
• Battery life - It's a payment method that is limited to the battery life of your devices. You don't have to charge your physical payment cards, but you do have to charge your digital wallets. 
• Easy to lose track - When payment methods are quick and easy, some individuals may lose track of their payments and spend more than they want to or can afford to in online casinos. 

Looking to the Future 

It's clear that the benefits outweigh the weaknesses of Apple Pay. Many casino enthusiasts are discovering just how easy and convenient Apple Pay is making their experience. However, what does this mean for the future? As Apple Pay is helping to improve the casino experience, it's clear that it's a method that online casinos will continue to offer. However, as only Apple users can experience this method, Apple will have to make some room at the top for its competitors who offer digital wallets too, such as Google and Android Pay. 

However, it's also important to consider if regulatory changes may affect the rise of Apple Pay. As it's such a quick payment method, there may be some governments that decide to restrict it in the gambling industry in order to push responsible gambling. This is not uncommon as in some regions, credit cards are illegal to use in online casinos. It's also important to consider how the rise of cryptocurrency will play into this too. Many online casinos are now accepting it as a payment method and there are many advantages to using it as a payment method too.