It was not so long ago that if you wanted a product or a service, you had to wait. The wait could be weeks for a physical product, and even for online services, it could mean waiting minutes, hours, or even days while payments clear. In fact, in the earliest days of the World Wide Web, payments were not really even a consideration. Entrepreneurial types had all kinds of ideas for buying and selling goods to a wider (even global) audience, but there was no payment infrastructure in place. While the stock market got excited about the possibilities and created the Dotcom bubble, one reason the bubble burst was a lack of financial infrastructure.
These days, we just accept that currency is both digital and physical. Many of us go out without any cash or plastic cards. We rely on eWallets and fintech apps on our phones to buy groceries, clothes, coffee, or anything else that takes our fancy when we are out and about. In 2024, the Canadian market was worth USD6.66 billion, and it is estimated to grow at over 23% over the next ten years. The largest sector is retail, but the travel and tourism sector is also reflecting a shift in consumer spending habits.
Unsurprisingly, digital payments have changed, and continue to change, online entertainment too. We sat down with Lara Wilson from Casino.ca to get the latest inside information.
Hi Lara, thanks for coming to share your insights with us. Before we dive into the specifics, can you tell us a bit more about Casino.ca and where your expertise lies?
Hi, 604Now readers! I work for the online casino review platform Casino.ca, and we have been finding the best online casinos for Canadians to play at for over a decade. Our mission is simple: to find sites that our readers can trust and bring them the best offers and experiences. An online casino is about the whole entertainment, not just which site or game has the biggest jackpot or most tempting offers. If you are looking to go out and about for entertainment, you can check out what is on in your locality. We take a similar approach to online gambling platforms, taking a 360-degree view of the sites and checking everything.
We have all the bases covered from online slots to roulette, blackjack, video poker and live dealer casinos. We apply the same review process across the board to provide independent, expert advice. We have recently started covering slot tournaments too, which are an exciting development.
I’m based near Vancouver am and part of the resident review team. With more than 15 years of experience in the iGaming industry, I’ve built a strong understanding of online poker, online casinos, and start-up ventures. I write in-depth reviews and gaming guides, and I regularly test, rate, and assess the latest casino sites. I’m especially interested in the finer details of the player experience and in spotting new trends as they emerge.
And what trends are you seeing emerging?
As well as many exciting gaming developments (particularly in the live dealer sector), payment options and fintech options are really changing the online gaming environment. Up until quite recently, players might have expected to be offered a few standard choices or had to link their bank account to their casino wallet. However, that is all changing. There are many popular options, including credit and debit cards, prepaid cards and vouchers, general eWallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal, and specialist gaming payment options like MuchBetter, Skrill, and PayZ.
How does a player choose the best payment method for themselves?
It all obviously comes down to personal choice, and each payment option has its strengths. However, eWallets offer fast withdrawals and convenience, making them a firm favourite among many online players. For example, Apple Pay lets players make tokenized contactless payments from their eWallet. Online casinos that accept Apple Pay support biometric authentication, letting you use Touch ID or Face ID to authorize transactions for added security. It is easy to find an Apple Pay casino by following our recommendations.
Apple Pay lets players make instant payments from their iPhones, iPads and connected devices. It has sped up the whole process for players, and in just two clicks, a player can jump into slots, live dealer tables and find all kinds of exciting entertainment options.
Most Canadians choose Interac for online payments. Why do you think Apple Pay is a gamechanger?
Sure, Interac is great, but Apple Pay offers the same reliability and offers an additional layer of convenience. Transactions are instant, fully encrypted, and verified on the device with a quick click or two using Face ID. No banking portal is required as the setup has already been done in the background. The instant mobile integration makes it a natural choice for iPhone or iPad players.
Do you think digital payments are changing online gaming?
Apple Pay certainly is. One of the biggest shake-ups to the online gaming industry has been accessibility. Over 95% of Canadians aged 18 or older have a cellphone, and the vast majority of those are smartphones. Apple users represent 56% of Canadian mobile phone users, so it is hardly surprising that it is the country’s most widely used digital wallet.
Allowing people to make simple, secure payments has encouraged players to try games they might not have otherwise played. Mobile online gaming and iGaming are surging. I tend to use Apple Pay when it is available because I value the speed and convenience. I find it’s faster than manually entering my card details, and it’s less likely to trigger my bank’s fraud detection system. However, withdrawals can be complicated, and many online casinos only allow them for deposits. As it is the native payment option for iPhones and as iPhones are so popular, we could see that influencing casino policy on withdrawals.
What other changes are you seeing in the gaming industry because of digital payments?
Digital payments have normalized microtransactions, which have become the norm in online gaming. People now expect low-value, high-frequency payments across a wide variety of games, not just iGaming. Payments clear instantly, allowing platforms to support in-game changes such as game skins, episode unlocks, short-term boosts, and live-event interactions without disrupting play. Digital payments have increased interactivity and overall fun.
Thanks for your insights. It is a good reminder that not so long ago, micro payments were very much not the norm!
