PaysafeCard Casinos
As you can see in our online payments section, players now have at their disposal a raft of options when it comes to making a deposit. These include debit cards, credit cards (for countries outside of Canada), e-wallets, direct deposits and the prepaid card. This latter category is populated by an assortment of companies of varying repute. Perhaps the most trusted and well-known is Paysafecard.
Paysafe & PaysafeCard Company History
The Paysafe Group has a rather eventful, not to mention baffling history dominated by mergers, acquisitions, take-overs and rebranding. The company was founded in Vienna in 2000 as Paysafecard.com. With expertise and hardware provided by IBM Austria, the company quickly began to flourish and it launched in Germany the following year. After receiving EU funding, Paysafe expanded its operations further by launching in Slovenia, Greece, Slovakia, Spain and eventually the UK. Then in 2008, Paysafe’s British subsidiary Prepaid Services Company Ltd received a licence from the Financial Services Authority to issue e-money throughout the European Union.
Three years later and Paysafecard had incorporated Dutch rival, Wallie – a payment processing service that specialised in online games. The move provided Paysafecard with access to 11 countries in the UK that used the Wallie-branded prepaid service. Then in 2013, Paysafecard was itself acquired by digital wallet provider Skrill. The blockbuster deal caused ripples throughout the financial services industry and enabled Skrill to utilise Paysafecard’s extensive offline distribution network.
The following year Skrill purchased UK payment specialists UKASH which it then merged with Paysafecard. And to confuse matters yet further, in 2015 Skrill was acquired by the Optimal Payments Group which it rebranded as Paysafe Group.
And that brings us pretty much to the present day. Paysafecard is now available at over 500,000 sales outlets around the world. It’s also available at a large number of online casinos. So how does one use the service?
How does Paysafecard Work with Casinos?
Paysafecard is basically an online, prepaid payment method. Like other digital prepaid payment methods such as Entropay or e-wallets like PayPal or Neteller, you do not need to offer personal financial information like card or bank account numbers when depositing or withdrawing from an online casino.
Customers can buy a 16-digit Paysafecard PIN at any one of these outlets for the following amounts: $10, $25, $50, $75 or $100 (or at a PayPoint, you can acquire even higher sums of $125, $150 or $175). Then, with this 16-digit code, you can make a purchase at one of thousands of online stores, or make a deposit at an online casino.
Once you have your 16-digit Paysafecard PIN, you can create an online account called my Paysafecard. This will allow you to store your purchased PINs and keep all the information centralised and secure.
What’s more, once you’ve opened a free Paysafecard account, you can make payments to online casinos with just your username and password. If you add multiple Paysafecard PINs to your online account, the total amount will aggregate, and all your funds will be available with just your log-in information.
Once you’ve found a suitable online casino, it’s merely a case of heading over to the cashier section. You should then be clearly presented with a Paysafecard option. Once you’ve selected it has your preferred method of deposit, you’ll be able to make a deposit into your player account.
Can I use Paysafecard in a CA online casino?
Yes, Paysafecard can be used in Canada. Like VISA, Skrill or Neteller, the company must operate according to the same regulations as other online transaction/payment services. It is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – the regulatory body that oversees all electronic payments.
Is Paysafecard Safe to Use?
Well, the clue isn’t always in the name. Nonetheless, Paysafecard is actually very safe for the simple fact that you don’t have to provide any personal details such as bank account information. So there’s no chance of any sensitive data being intercepted during online transfer. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind when using Paysafecard.
Do not Share your Pin by Telephone of Email
Kind of a no-brainer this one – don’t share your Paysafecard pin by email or telephone. Although there’s very little chance of somebody monitoring your email or listening on your phone calls, you never know.
Lock Your Account if You Notice Strange Activities
Unfortunately, security breaches are more common these days, especially now that many people use multiple devices for browsing. This means that passwords can occasionally fall into the hands of bad actors. So if you notice unusual activity on your Paysafecard account, you should immediately ask for it to be locked.
Only Use Paysafecard at a Secure Online Casino
This goes for any payment option – never try to make a transaction at a CA online casino that is not encrypted with SSL technology. Should you come across a website that doesn’t feature the all important browser padlock, you should hit the back button straightaway and find another operator. These days, a fair number of online casinos use 256-bit encryption. Nevertheless, 128-bit encryption remains in use by the majority of operators and is still perfectly secure.
Paysafecard On Mobile
There is also a Paysafecard app which is available on iOS and Android platforms. Once downloaded, you can log into your account on the go. You can find your nearest Paysafecard PIN dispenser, check your balance and top up your account with new PINs.
Like other prepaid services or e-wallets, there is never any need to enter your credit card or bank account information at an online casino. In the case of Paysafecard, you’ll never have to enter this information online because the PINs are purchased physically in partner stores. This makes it unique from other similar services. The downside of using Paysafecard is you have to leave your house in order to credit funds, which is potentially inconvenient.
Paysafecard and Online Casinos
The fees associated with Paysafe tend to be low or non-existent on deposits and the timeframes tend to be fairly efficient. Generally speaking, an online casino will not charge you for making a deposit. But you will have to pay a maintenance fee of $3 to Paysafecard if you used an online account and store your pin. This will be deducted every month. If you chose to play an overseas online casino overseas (we obviously don’t recommend this), your Paysafe deposit may incur a currency conversion fee.
Do All Online Casinos Accept Paysafecard?
The majority of online casinos available to CA customers will accept Paysafecard as a payment method. Although not as widespread as online transaction services such as Neteller or PayPal, the company enjoys excellent coverage online as it does offline. There are a few things worth keeping in mind about the service though.
Is it Possible to Withdraw?
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to make a withdrawal using Paysafecard. The service was set up to make payments easier, not withdrawals. So if you’re lucky enough to actually win money at an online casino, you’ll have to find an alternative method. In fairness, this shouldn’t be too difficult considering the raft of options now available to players. If you’re not sure which one to use, visit our casino payment methods section, where you’ll find an extensive range of transaction specialists in multiple categories.
So How Does Paysafecard Stack up?
Paysafecard stacks up very well in comparison to other deposit/withdrawal services. As mentioned, there are no major fees attached and the transfer of funds is instant. It’s also very easy to use which means it works very well with gamers on the go who want to make deposits on their mobile phones. However, it’s worth keeping in mind that for CA customers, it’s no longer possible to top up a Paysafecard using a credit card. This is because new regulations in April 2023 that prohibited the use of credit cards to deposit and withdraw at any online casino with a license. However, the use of debit cards is still permitted.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Anonymous payments
No Need to Share Account Details
Fast processing times
Fully-Regulated
Authorised by FCA
Licensed by the UKGC
Safe and Secure
Easy to Use
Cons
Not Free
Online Support
Low Maximum Deposits
Not Universally Accepted
Can No longer Top up Prepaid Cards with a Credit Card
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