What are the most popular currencies in online casinos worldwide?
Gambling has grown over recent years to now include online wagering. When gambling at online casinos, players can choose a site that aligns with the currency they wish to use.
Some sites accept one fiat currency, like USD, for example. Other sites accept multiple fiat currencies and allow players to choose which currency they want to wager in. Crypto casinos have also become popular recently. These sites allow players to wager using digital currencies, with some accepting only crypto and some accepting both fiat and digital coins.
There are now a multitude of options for players to choose from when it comes to wagering online, and one of those choices is which currency to use while placing bets. Let’s explore the most popular currencies in online casinos worldwide.
US Dollar (USD)
Dominance and Accessibility
Many will argue that the US Dollar (USD) is the most dominant and popular currency used in the online casino industry. The US Dollar has been widely accepted all around the world, including on many online casino sites, which makes it easy to use and extremely convenient for many players. In addition, the USD is a relatively stable currency. This means that players' funds should not fluctuate too much, providing security and assurance to both players and operators alike.
Popularity in North America
Because the US Dollar is the main currency in the United States, wagering with USD online is especially popular in North America. In the United States, players typically look for sites that allow gameplay in USD and offer a wide variety of games and large bonuses. Additionally, high-payout casinos are sought after. This list of the best-paying online casinos in the USA by Techopedia author and gambling expert Vlad Grindu lists options where players may see a 99% payout percentage in USD. USD is most commonly used in North America, but players all around the world can use the currency to place their wagers online.
Euro (EUR)
Widespread Acceptance in Europe
While the US Dollar is most commonly used in North America, the Euro (EU) is the most popular way to fund online game time across Europe. Many players in European countries opt to use this currency when buying in and wagering online. The Euro is known to be a stable currency, and similar to the USD, this means that it provides some stability and assurance to both players and operators.
Interestingly, online casinos occasionally work with affiliates who review their platforms in order to share valuable insights with potential customers. These reviews often include the usual feedback on game selection and safety but are also increasingly including what payment types and currency, like Euros, sites accept as well.
Ease of Transactions
In Europe, using the Euro to transact online is easy and straightforward. Players don’t need to hassle with tricky currency conversions and can simply play using Euros. Because so many online casinos all across Europe accept the Euro as a payment method, players in the region have their pick of where to wager. In addition, this widespread adoption has contributed to the popularity of using Euros when wagering online.
British Pound (GBP)
Preference in the UK
Casino players located in the United Kingdom enjoy wagering using the British Pound (GBP). Because the GBP is the accepted fiat currency in the UK, it makes sense that online casinos would also adopt the same payment type. This makes buying in and wagering online easy for players since they can use the same currency that they use for other expenses in daily life. In the UK, players will find many online casinos that operate solely in GBP and cater to the local domestic market. By sticking with one currency, players can avoid currency conversion fees and associated costs.
Strong Economic Backing
The GBP is attractive to local players and some international players because it has a strong economic background. This currency is known to be extremely stable. This ensures that players can buy in and withdraw winnings from online casinos without worrying that there will be huge changes in the value of their currency. In the UK, players often seek out sites that offer GBP as a payment option and offer unique games and immersive experiences. Additionally, UK players enjoy lucrative bonuses and promotions. Online casinos that accept GBP and offer unique bonuses are often very popular in this market.
Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Popularity in Canada
Online gambling is growing in popularity in Canada. For players located domestically in Canada, the Canadian Dollar is the most popular currency to use while wagering online. Across Canada there are several territories and provinces, however, each territory and province uses Canadian Dollars. This means that players located in any part of Canada can easily log on to the internet and enjoy a game of blackjack, poker, or slots and use CAD to fund their game time.
It’s worth noting that Canadian dollars are mostly popular only in Canada. While some currencies, like the USD, Euro, and GBP are popular worldwide, typically the Canadian dollar is used more domestically than internationally.
The Canadian Dollar is used a lot within Ontario, the province with the largest regulated iGaming market. Last year, Ontario’s online bets were worth $17.8 billion.
Avoiding Conversion Fees
Canadian players enjoy using their own currency when wagering online. One of the main reasons behind this is that it avoids currency transaction hassles and fees. As mentioned above, players located anywhere in the country can wager using CAD, making it a simple, easy, and accessible choice for Canadian players.
Cryptocurrencies
The Rise of Digital Currencies
In recent years, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum have become extremely popular in online casino gaming. Now, players can buy in, wager, and withdraw their winnings using digital currencies. Some sites, called crypto casinos, cater specifically to this. These sites sometimes accept only crypto and in other cases, they accept both fiat and cryptocurrencies.
Cryptocurrencies are not specific to one region. They are popular all around the world and can be used globally, from anywhere.
Benefits of Cryptocurrencies
- Enhanced Anonymity: When wagering online, security and privacy are key. Cryptocurrency offers players enhanced anonymity, which is one of its many benefits. Because of this, some players specifically seek out anonymous casinos that accept crypto.
- Fast Transactions: Crypto transactions are often faster than fiat currency, making them popular with players who want to fund accounts or withdraw winnings swiftly.
Conclusion
When gambling online, players have a plethora of choices to make. They get to choose what site to play on, which games to play, which bonuses to take advantage of, and which currency to wager in. As we learned in this article, some currencies are more popular than others, especially in certain areas of the world.