Unless you’ve landed a no deposit bonus, you’ll have to make a payment to gamble for real money at an online casino. Back in the early days of online gambling, payment options were pretty much limited to bank transfers and credit or debit cards, but things have changed dramatically now, with modern casinos accepting an ever-increasing list of payment methods.
With so many options at your fingertips, you might have a tough time figuring out which one is perfect for you. Let us lend you a helping hand – we have everything you need to know about paying and playing at New Zealand’s top casinos. Once you’ve got the hang of things, you’ll be able to compare using our list of top casinos and play some of your favourite casino games!
What makes a payment method popular?
Delivering a high level of satisfaction for players is essentially what makes a payment method popular at online casinos, but this can be broken down further into speed, fees and ease-of-use.
Moving money around at speed, as conveniently and safely as possible is a prerequisite for New Zealand’s best casino sites, as are fast withdrawals and the ability to make casino payments from any device.
Payment methods like e-wallets allow instant transfers of money which can make a huge difference when you are up against the clock trying to make the most of a time-constrained bonus offer and need to deposit funds immediately. Bank transfers can take the longest – up to five working days in some cases.
Most casinos don’t charge any extra fees on withdrawals, however depending on the payment type the banking agent may do this for both depositing and withdrawing.
One factor to consider, however, is how your choice of payment method affects your eligibility to claim a bonus. Some payment methods, such as Neteller, are supported at most top online casinos, but can sometimes be excluded from bonuses. It’s important to read the small print of any bonus you claim.
Currency support
The majority of online casinos these days support a wide range of currencies which allow players to play in their preferred, local currency. Being able to do so contributes to the overall gambling experience and will reduce any fees that arise from conversion.
It also allows you to easily figure out any winnings and what bonuses are worth. Choosing a payment method that supports your local currency with no, or at least low charges is a no-brainer.
Then picking a casino that also supports your local currency is key. Many global online casinos use EUR or USD as their primary currency. But a large number also accept deposits in other currencies such as NZD, CAD, AUD or GBP.
Naturally, the best New Zealand casinos will permit players to use their local currency the New Zealand Dollar (NZD), which will mean easy transactions for all parties.
Debit and Credit cards
Pretty much anyone with a bank account has a debit card, and access to a credit card. They’ve long been the most popular option amongst online gamblers, even with the rise of newer payment methods because they are easy to use, do not require third party registration forms and provide funds instantly.
Having a payment option players know and trust is invaluable, with popular cards such as Maestro, MasterCard, VISA and American Express all widely accepted at casino sites.
While deposits are instant, withdrawals are not. Depending on the chosen casino, funds withdrawn from your account to debit card bank account take between three to seven working days. Some won’t offer the option to withdraw to your credit card, so this can be frustrating for those users.
Credit cards do allow players to gamble with funds now which can be paid for at a later date which adds to their flexibility, but remember to only ever wager what you can afford.
As you need to input sensitive information relating to the card such as number and expiry details, it is vital that you use licensed casinos. These casinos make sure your personal information and sensitive data is shared securely using industry standard encryption technology. Of course, you can employ your own safety measures, such as antivirus software and firewalls on your computer to further minimise the risks of any security breaches.
E-wallets
E-wallets allow players to move money quickly and easily to their casino chosen site. The main draw of using an e-wallet, for many players, is that it does not require you to share any sensitive data with a third party, such as the online casino. You simply choose your e-wallet provider at the cashier, sign in with your e-wallet login details and you’ll be able to make your payment securely – no need to input your name or card number.
The most popular e-wallet is PayPal, but options like Neteller, Skrill and ecoPayz are also widely used. The list goes on and you’ll need to check at the casino you are using whether the your favourite e-wallet options is accepted.
E-wallets minimise the risk of loss and theft as players can store bank accounts, debit cards and other payment methods all in one digital place, protected with secure encryption technology and password protection.
When it comes to withdrawing any winnings back into your e-wallet, you can then withdraw easily to your bank account or use the money to pay for things with other cards.
Where there can be issues is when it comes to linking a bank account or debit/credit card to an e-wallet account, which can sometimes be a lengthy process with verification taking up to a few working days.
Mobile payments
With the rise of players using casino apps and playing on mobile-optimised sites, mobile payments have become an increasingly important way of depositing and withdrawing at sites.
E-Wallets offer mobile capability through the use of a specific app downloaded from the Apple Store of Google Play Store, such as Neteller, Skrill and PayPal.
Debit and credit cards are also easy to use on mobile through specific apps, but there is one really convenient option for players gambling on their mobile devices.
Pay by Phone Bill allows you to use your phone to make deposits with the cost simply added to your monthly phone bill.
You just need a phone and a casino account with an operator offering the service and you can press the pay-by-phone option at the cashier section of a site.
The amount you wish to deposit will then be charged to your phone bill or taken from your pay-as-you-go credit.
Security
Security is hugely important when you are paying at an online casino. As mentioned above e-wallets are safer than cards as they protect your financial details from the gambling operator, who only sees your digital wallet and not any bank or card details.
But always be sure to play at reputable sites. Any casino we recommend at CasinoSelect.co.nz is sure to be licensed by a gambling authority, while our experts analyse all aspects of a site in our reviews so players know what to expect before parting with their hard-earned cash.
Avoiding blacklisted casinos is a must when it comes to protecting your online payments, but there are other things you can do to keep safe.
Look for the lock on the URL bar as proof that a site is encrypted and safe. Ensure you only use secure WiFi networks for transactions, select strong, unique passwords and keep your device and software up-to-date. Also using fingerprint, PIN or face ID security on your mobile device is a good idea.