Today, consumers like me who purchase products, services, or content online can choose from a range of online payment solutions at the virtual checkout on our favourite sites. However, some are more convenient and user-friendly than others, and some are lower-costing and far more secure than others.
With that said, on this page, I will be taking a closer look at some of the most reliable online payment gateways I have come across in recent years, which I believe offer the best balance of convenience and security for users/consumers like me.
What are the safest and most user-friendly online payment gateways?
From what my basic research has taught me, credit and debit cards offer the least protection. However, that doesn’t mean to say that you should never use your credit or debit card at the checkout.
It just means that some of the other more modern APMs (alternative payment methods) available today use slightly more advanced, end-to-end cryptographic encryption, making payments a bit more secure.
Before I purchase products or services on any new websites that I visit, I will always check to see if they accept at least one of my favourite online payment methods.
My experience of paying for things online has also taught me that it’s best to have several online payment methods topped up and ready to use instead of just relying on one method.
That doesn’t mean you should have several credit or debit cards topped up and ready to use.
It means having a range of online payment methods ready and willing to use, such as one or more digital wallets or mobile wallets, and possibly an instant/direct bank transfer option in case all other methods aren’t accepted or working.
For example, besides my Visa debit card, I also regularly use Apple Pay (mobile wallet), PayPal (eWallet), or the Trustly bank transfer payment method to pay for items at the checkouts on my favourite sites.
Another thing I have found is that most websites will always allow you to use a Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card, so having one of these cards is always handy.
However, more people than ever, myself included, simply don’t like using their credit or debit cards to pay for things on websites and prefer using other, more secure online payment methods.
Is it safe to use an eWallet like PayPal on a real money gambling site?
Yes and no. For example, it’s only safe to deposit on a fully licensed and regulated iGaming website, like those currently featured on the official JohnSlots UK website, such as Matchbook, Win British Casinos and Mr Vegas, to cite just three examples. It’s not safe to use any payment method on unlicensed and unregulated sites.
Whenever I am looking for a new online casino to join where I can play online fruit machines from today’s market-leading providers, I always go to this site to see which new brands the experts have found for me.
I have never encountered any issues on any of their top suggested sites, and I like playing on them because they all accept PayPal for deposits and withdrawals.
However, I also have active Skrill and Neteller accounts, so if PayPal isn’t accepted on any of those sites, one of these two leading eWallets is usually accepted instead, meaning I don’t have to use a payment method that I’m not familiar with.
I’ve found that today’s most popular eWallets like PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller (which can be used on any device) and mobile wallets like Apple Pay (which can only be used on iPhones) are the most convenient online payment methods offering the best security.
Deposits are typically processed in the blink of an eye, and the average withdrawal time I’ve usually encountered when cashing out my winnings on any of these sites using one of these popular wallets is usually processed in under a few hours, which I think is fantastic.
The actual process of depositing and withdrawing is relatively straightforward, and my payments have always been processed without any issues. If you are new to playing on sites like this and don’t know which online payment method to use, I would suggest that you consider using an eWallet/mobile wallet.
The most popular eWallets/mobile wallets commonly accepted by today’s most trusted operators include the following:
- PayPal
- Apple Pay
- Skrill
- Neteller
- Jeton
- MuchBetter
- Payz (formerly ecoPayz)
I understand that not everyone wants to use an eWallet/mobile wallet at the checkout, so don’t feel as though you have to use an eWallet.
Also, depending on which country you live in and which iGaming or eCommerce websites you are trying to deposit, withdraw or purchase items from will determine exactly which payment methods you can use on that site.
Some of the other convenient and secure online payment methods that are commonly accepted on hundreds of thousands of trusted sites are American Express, Diner’s Club, Boku, Flexepin, Payz, Neosurf, CashToCode, AstroPay, Paysafecard, Interac, POLi, and many others.
If you intend to deposit to gamble real money like I do on legally permitted sites, I mustn’t forget to mention quickly about how important it is that you set deposit limits, session time reminders, or any other safer gambling controls you think will help you remain within your budget.
They work for me and millions of other like-minded online fruit machine enthusiasts, and they only take a few seconds to manually set.
Final thoughts
At the end of the day, use a payment method that you feel most comfortable with, and don’t let anyone tell you which one to use, and instead of relying on just one method, have several ‘back-ups’ topped up and ready to use in case your chosen payment method isn’t accepted or isn’t working when you want to use it.
Some website operators have recently incorporated blockchain technology into their businesses to allow people to use cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, Ripple, Ethereum, Litecoin, USD Coin, Tether, Cardano, and DogeCoin, which is even more secure than almost any other online payment method.
I’m not too familiar with cryptos and don’t like using bank transfers or credit/debit cards to pay for things online, so for me, eWallets/mobile wallets will always be my preferred online payment method.
The important thing is that we have the choice these days and don’t have to settle for using credit and debit cards and other traditional payment methods that are less convenient, less secure, higher costing, and much slower at processing transactions.