Understanding Blockchain Technology in Online Casino Transactions
Technology is perhaps one of the principal growth drivers in the online casino industry. Gamification, Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR) are critical catalysts for this development. However, these components are fun-driven and affect how players feel when they play games. Blockchain technology, on the other hand, focuses more on the business side of online casinos. It is arguably one of the most transformative tools that has clearly influenced the online gambling landscape, particularly casino transactions.
Orthodox payment systems have many shortcomings that are more obvious in today’s digitalized world. These options have many limitations regarding security, transaction speed, and limits. They are typically specific to certain locations and users, which is not great for online casinos. Blockchain offers an all-in-one solution to these failings. This article shares valuable perceptions of the concept and how it continues to impact online casino payment systems.
What is Blockchain Technology?
Blockchain technology is the bedrock of cryptocurrency, and it has redefined online payment. It is a decentralized database or ledger where records are stored across different computer networks. The decentralized nature of this technology is the basis of its functionality. The data is circulated across the network in such a way that it is unalterable, secure, and resistant to unapproved access.
Virtually everything can be stored on a blockchain network. It ranges from tangible assets like land, houses, and cars to non-tangible assets like copyrights, cryptocurrencies, and patents. The application of this technology became prevalent after the launch of Bitcoin in 2009. Today, dozens of cryptocurrencies function via smart contracts, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. All of these helps uphold fairness and transparency, which are fundamental in online gambling, as will be discussed in the ensuing sections.
Faster and More Efficient Transactions
Slow transactions and limited payment options often marked the early days of online casinos. For instance, making deposits or withdrawals via orthodox banks sometimes takes days for approvals. However, all of that changed with the introduction of cryptocurrencies, heralding the birth of crypto online casinos.
Today, the best payout casino in Australia integrates various cryptocurrencies for fast and more efficient transactions. Deposits on these platforms are almost instant, especially on selected networks like TRC-20 and ERC-20. The ability to process payments in a timely fashion is crucial for online gambling. These benefits become more pronounced for withdrawals. Traditional payment methods, such as banks and credit cards, take days to process withdrawals. This delay can sometimes be annoying for players who are always keen to receive their winnings. These have changed as blockchain-based online casinos process payments faster, making them even more alluring to players.
Privacy and Anonymity
Most payment systems require players to provide specific details to fulfill their KYC requirements. Especially for local banks and credit card companies, these details may include evidence of a residential address, a valid government-issued ID, and other means of verification. When such accounts are used to fund online casinos, the banks can see and keep track of such transactions. This may also affect credit score, which could massively impact the player’s financial outcomes. Hence, blockchain-based transactions eliminate all of these by keeping the transactions completely untraceable.
Cryptocurrencies allow players to make deposits and withdrawals without providing any personal information. You only need an account in any crypto exchange platform like Coinbase and Binance. Follow the steps, and the payment will be sent accordingly.
Borderless Transactions
PayPal is synonymous with the United States as Stripe, Afterpay, and POLi are to Australia. Likewise, besides conventional banks that are location-specific, many payment methods also do not support users from all locations. This has severely limited the online gambling industry until the launch of crypto online casinos. Players worldwide can access any of such platforms and make payments using the supported crypto options.
Reduced Transaction Fees
PayPal charges between 4% and 5.4% on international transactions. The same applies to electronic wallets like Payoneer, Neteller, and Skrill. These platforms have varying transaction fees, and currency conversion charges that hinder participants from other countries.
Meanwhile, blockchain supports cross-border payments from anywhere in the world. Players can easily make deposits and withdraw their winnings without concern about whether or not the platform has supported banking options. Even more, there are zero concerns about currency conversion fees and the relatively high charges on international payments.
Trust and Fairness Through Smart Contracts
A smart contract is like a vending machine or buying gas in a gas station. You enter the amount you want, and the machine dispenses the allotted quantity based on the amount. Smart contracts are self-executing, automated programs that implement transaction agreements between two anonymous parties. The execution occurs without interference or permission from any external enforcement or central authority, distinguishing it from other payment methods.
Integrating smart contracts in online casino payment systems ensures players get their payouts for winning automatically. Specifically, online casinos integrate blockchain technology in games like poker and roulette to govern the outcomes. The results are documented in the blockchain ledger, so outcomes cannot be manipulated. This level of transparency, both in the games and payment options, nurtures trust, thereby addressing one of the biggest fears most players have when playing online.
Improved Security
One of the many fears of players in online gambling is security. There are concerns regarding divulging too much personal information to online platforms. For instance, making deposits or receiving funds via credit cards or bank transfers requires players to provide their names, account numbers, and other information. Players could be at risk if it is exposed to the wrong hands. For crypto online casinos, this is not the case. The system is fully decentralized, and players do not need to provide personal information. Even more, the records cannot be altered, and the cryptographic security ensures minimal to zero risk of fraud.