UnionPay Casinos
Debit cards have become a way of life throughout most of the world, as they offer a combination of easy access to cash and a simple way to make payments straight from your bank account, without dealing with the prospect of piling up debt while making purchases. If you’ve used a card issued by your bank in most of the world, it will be associated with one of two massive payment processing organizations: either Visa or MasterCard.
But there is a third major player in this industry, albeit one that is confined to a single very large market. We’re talking about UnionPay, the Chinese financial corporation that is responsible for the bank cards that are issued from most major banks and credit cooperatives in mainland China. If you want to get money from an ATM in China, there’s no better option, and there are now more than 140 countries that have at least some support for this card.
But this product isn’t just for land-based users. A number of online casinos now accept cards in this network as a payment method for users who are trying to make deposits into their accounts. It may be one of the easiest ways to make Internet gambling deposits in China, and even has applications in other nations for those who have access to such cards.
How to Use This Method
Using a UnionPay card to make online deposits is as simple as using any other type of debit or bank card at an online casino. First, of course, you’ll have to make sure you are at a site that allows for this banking method as a deposit option; thankfully, there are a number of great UnionPay casinos that we’re happy to recommend.
If you are using your card to make a deposit, you’ll want to choose UnionPay as your payment method in your casino’s cashier area. Then, it’s just a matter of putting in your card number and other verification information, as well as specifying how much you would like to deposit. Submit your request, and within moments, you should get a response letting you know that your transaction has been approved.
It’s worth noting that prepaid cards are also an option. These cards are designed for travelers heading into China, while other versions exist in nations like the United States through the Global UnionPay Card system. Once purchased, these cards can be used like any other at participating online gaming sites.
Advantages and Drawbacks
If you live in China and want to play at an online casino, this may easily be the best deposit method available to you, bar none. UnionPay deposits are fast, reliable, and secure, which is basically everything you could want in a transaction system. It’s also very easy and convenient to use. There are no special accounts you’ll need to sign up for; just pull out your card, type in the information, and you’re good to go.
The prepaid versions of the card may also be advantageous, even for international users. It is well-known that both Visa and MasterCard-branded credit and debit cards have varying acceptance rates that can change based on the site you are trying to deposit at and the particular bank that issued each product. If your card doesn’t seem to be working at the sites you want to play on, you might find better luck with prepaid options.
That said, there are a couple drawbacks to this option. First, the number of casinos accepting this particular card brand is still rather low. This isn’t all that surprising, as the brand isn’t known well at all outside of its Chinese customer base (which, admittedly, is quite a large one). This is less of a drawback there, since sites that promote themselves to this market are certainly among those most likely to take payments this way.
Another issue is a relatively low maximum deposit at many sites. We’re not entirely sure why the maximums are fairly low from many operators, but we suspect it may be meant to keep transactions under the radar a bit. UnionPay has been cited as a major factor in currency leaving mainland China, particularly through the gaming industry (though this is mostly land-based, with hundreds of millions of dollars worth of yuan reportedly illegally being taken off of cards in Macau alone). That means that high rollers may have to look for other methods to use should they want to play for bigger stakes. In addition, this is only a deposit method – you’ll need another option for cash outs.
FAQ
What Are Some Similar Payment Methods?
In practice, UnionPay works like any other debit or credit card you might use at an online casino. That means that if you don’t have access to this method, or if it isn’t available at the site of your choice, you can alternately use Visa or MasterCard for a similar experience. Be aware, however, that not all banks that issue these cards have authorized them for use at Internet gaming sites, so your transactions may not always be processed successfully.
Is This A Safe Way to Make Deposits?
Yes! In fact, this is one of the safest ways to make a deposit. Payments are processed via the same encryption and security standards used at major financial institutions and e-commerce sites around the world, ensuring that your information is safe and providing the highest possible level of protection against identity theft and other concerns.
Can I Use This Option Outside of China?
UnionPay is part of a network that can be used in well over 100 different countries around the world. In addition, some cards are additionally branded with Visa or MasterCard logos, further extending their reach. When it comes to online play, some users may be able to make deposits with prepaid cards; while these are primarily designed with travelers to China in mind, they can also be a simple way for international users to work their way around local banking restrictions that make it hard to deposit at online casinos.
How Can I Purchase a Prepaid Card?
In general, international users can purchase these cards through UnionPay International. However, some cashiers at Internet gambling sites may also make it easy to buy a card through them, instantly allowing you to purchase whatever denomination matches the amount you wanted to put into your account.
