Apple Pay

Apple Pay is a mobile payment service that allows users to make payments in person and online using various Apple devices. The payment method has steadily been gaining ground in online casinos, though that growth has almost exclusively been in the UK. Due to regulation, Apple Pay casino transactions are not approved in other countries. However, that may change with time.

You can use the service to make payments at stores, apps, and websites. Apple Pay is available in over 70 countries and in various currencies. Apple Pay is pre-installed on every Apple device and designed to be as easy as possible. As its user base grows, so does the number of online casinos that support it. On this page, we compile a detailed guide on how Apple Pay works on gambling sites.

What is Apple Pay?

Apple Pay launched in October 2014 and was built to take advantage of Apple’s devices. Its service digitizes credit or debit card chips, allowing it to replace them on contactless POS terminals. Apple Pay does not require specific POS terminals either: it works with any merchant that accepts contactless payments.

Because Apple Pay is specific to Apple devices, it is not available to Android. However, online casino providers can count on it being available to anyone with a modern iPhone, Mac, or iPad. Operators are well aware of this, which is why many UK gaming venues are taking their time to make it available. However, many gambling sites only support Apple Pay deposits.

When looking at the Wallet app on your iPhone, you can track all added cards in real time. Apple Pay does not directly link your card to the vendor, adding an extra layer of security and privacy. The service also does not keep transaction information that can be tied back to you.

Apple Pay does not require you to add funds to use its service. Instead, it draws funds directly from your linked bank card. Best of all, Apple Pay does not charge any fees for users and merchants. Instead, all the costs are shouldered by participating card issuers.

Apple Pay Account

You do not need to make a dedicated account to use Apple Pay. However, you need the Wallet app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac device. The app is installed by default. Tap the Wallet app, then press either the Plus symbol or the add button. Select Debit or Credit Card, and choose your bank from the list of available options. You will then be given a choice to take a picture of your card or manually enter relevant card information. Once your card is connected, you can use Apple Pay.

Add Money

As we previously mentioned, the service does not require you to add funds separately. By connecting your bank card to Apple Pay, the payment method will be able to act in place of your bank card. Because of that, you can enjoy the convenience of paying by card with extra security.

Company

Apple is a company that needs no introduction. It was established in 1976 and got initial success with personal computers. However, it was the launch of the iPhone that put Apple on the map and kickstarted the smartphone revolution. The success of its phones, tablets, and services has made Apple one of the US’ top five information technology companies. It is also the first American company to be valued at over $3 trillion.

By contrast, the story of Apple Pay is much shorter. The company has made many acquisitions and filed payment-related patents for years before the service announcement. Apple also worked with Visa, MasterCard, and American Express to create the digital token system Apple Pay uses. Apple Pay was announced in 2014 alongside the iPhone 6 in 2014.

The service was initially only available in the United States. The first country to receive Apple Pay support outside of the US was the United Kingdom in 2015. After that, Apple would continue launching the service in more countries. At the time of this article, Apple Pay is available in over 70 countries.

Apple Pay was remarkably successful, registering a million credit cards within the first three days of launching. As the service matured, so did the number of interested people. In 2016, ApplePay was seeing five times as many transactions as it did a year ago. In 2020, the service accounted for an impressive 5% of all global card transactions.