Payment trends in emerging gaming markets
In markets that are only now introducing licensing, players pay differently from those in Western Europe. Several developments an operator should factor into its entry plan.
Regulation redraws the payments map
When a country moves from an unregulated market to a licensing regime, it is not only the list of legal operators that changes, but also the availability of payments. Banks and providers that previously declined gaming transactions begin to serve locally licensed entities, while the regulator often requires deposits and withdrawals to pass only through accounts and institutions supervised in that country. For the operator, this means building local payment infrastructure before launching its first campaign.
Instant payments instead of cards
In many developing countries payment cards are not the dominant instrument. Their place is taken by national instant payment systems, in which a transfer arrives within seconds and is initiated by a QR code, phone number or alias. These methods usually have high success rates and low costs, and their absence from the cashier is one of the most common reasons for weak conversion among new operators. In Poland BLIK plays a similar role.
Mobile wallets and the phone as the main device
In markets where most traffic comes from phones, what decides the outcome is how smoothly payment works on a mobile device: the redirect to the bank or wallet app, the return to the site and confirmation of the transaction. Cashier design should start with the phone and only then take the desktop into account.
Open banking and verification at the point of payment
Where open banking is available, a payment from a bank account can at the same time confirm the account holder's identity and that it matches the player's details. For the operator this is an opportunity to simplify verification and reduce the risk of withdrawals to third-party accounts, provided the market's regulations allow this data to be used in the KYC process.
Stablecoins: interest and caution
Stablecoins pegged to the dollar or the euro are popular in countries with unstable currencies. However, most regulated markets do not accept them as a means of payment for gambling at all, and where it is possible they require working with a licensed crypto-asset service provider, full player verification and instant conversion into local currency. Before making any plans, it is worth checking the position of the regulator and the settlement bank.
Rising compliance requirements
New markets learn from the experience of older ones. Increasingly, they require from the outset deposit limits, central self-exclusion registers, near real-time transaction reporting and source-of-funds checks for larger amounts. Payment infrastructure has to support these requirements, because adding them after launch is considerably more expensive.
What this means for the entry plan
- Prepare the payment methods map before choosing the platform and providers, not after.
- Check which methods require a local entity or account.
- Design the cashier with the phone and instant methods in mind.
- Plan for at least two providers for key methods.
- Build reporting requirements and limits into the integration from day one.
Planning to enter a new market? See how we approach market analysis and entry strategy, or tell us about your project.