If you’re new to the online gambling market in New Zealand, you may be a little late to the party.
However, there’s an old adage which reads ‘better late than never’, with the NZ gambling expenditure rising 17% to a five-year high.
The good news is that this market is highly competitive and packed full of established international betting brands, so you can choose an operator that’s sure to deliver an immersive and secure gambling experience online.
But what are the best iGaming payment methods for newbies? Here are some options to keep in mind!
1. E-Wallets Such PayPal and Skrill
Let’s start with the basics; as e-wallets tend to offer the most flexible and secure payment experience for online gamblers.
This is particularly true when using established and globally renowned e-wallets such as PayPal and Skrill, which are 128-bit SSL encrypted sites that are further secured by a unique combination of your email address and password.
PayPal also uses ‘Two-Factor Authentication’ (2FA) when you log in, which means that you have to enter an additional code that’s sent to a separate device registered to your account.
Interestingly, the number of real money online casinos that accept PayPal in NZ has increased markedly of late, as operators look to offer players access to one of the most popular and widely used e-wallets in the world of commerce.
Another key benefit of using PayPal and similar e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller is that they enable you to connect multiple debit and credit cards to your online account.
As a result, these can be used interchangeably to process deposits and accept withdrawals, enabling you to control and access more than one source of fundings through a single interface.
2. Debit and Credit Cards
Debit cards are perhaps the most trusted payment method accepted at online casinos, while virtually every single operator will offer this option to its registered players.
The accessibility and convenience offered by debit cards is renowned, as each of us carry this type of payment card on your person (or at least have its details stored virtually in our Apple or Android wallets) and can use it to process transactions across a huge range of online applications.
Of course, both credit and debit card payments are inherently secure, whether you wager and process transactions online or through a smartphone or tablet device.
In most cases, for example, banks create an additional verification process for online payments. This means that once you’ve stored your debit card details online and these have been used to process an iGaming deposit, you may be directed to a separate scheme where you’ll have to confirm the transactions.
Additionally, mobile banking apps (such as the one operated by the Royal Bank of Scotland) will often require you to approve transactions when they’re made through a mobile browser such as Chrome or Safari.
This creates an additional layer of security, while enabling you to block individual transactions if you change your mind about the amount or your chosen online casino.
3. Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin)
You’ll have to hear us out here, as cryptocurrency doesn’t immediately stand out as the most suitable payment method for those of you who are new to the world of online gambling in New Zealand.
After all, even first-generation and market leading tokens like Bitcoin (BTC) are highly volatile and complex, while despite their 2022 bear run, they remain prohibitively priced.
However, you can buy a fraction of a single BTC token and invest at a relatively low level, while most experts are predicting that the asset will appreciate incrementally in value in 2023 after a torrid 14 months or so.
This optimism is well-founded too, particularly with the rate of inflation expected to fall over the coming months as energy prices start to cool. Remember, BTC enjoys a short-term inverse relationship with inflation, so as this starts to fall, Bitcoin will see its value rise accordingly.
We’re already seeing the beginning of this trend, while BTC could even hit the $25,000 mark by March if its current bull run prevails.
So, now may be the ideal time to buy into crypto and make BTC your chosen payment method at online casinos, especially as a growing number of NZ-licensed operators continue to accept such assets.
This could certainly benefit your bankroll in 2023, while also offering you access to a more transparent and lower cost gambling experience. Certainly, you’ll be able to reduce transaction costs and potentially boost transaction speeds, which represents a win-win no matter where you choose to wager online!