Quick and easy payouts trump all other factors for North American and U.K. online sports bettors when selecting a sportsbook, according to the latest All the ways players pay research from leading payments platform Paysafe. The report also reveals the crucial role of the payments experience in player retention as well as sports bettors’ rising interest in digital wallets and eCash.

Surveying more than 2000 online sports bettors in six U.S. states (Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania), the Canadian province of Ontario, and the UK, in November 2022, the research found that quick and easy payouts were prioritised by 36% of players when choosing a sportsbook. They considered payouts more important than brand trust (34%), odds, and promotions (28% for both). Availability of preferred payment methods was a factor for 27% of bettors and prioritised over a sportsbook’s sports markets and team sponsorships (11% for both).

Frictionless payouts are even more of a factor in sportsbook selection for players in Michigan (43%), whose market launched in January 2021, and the UK (39%), with its iGaming industry dating back 20+ years. By contrast, in Ontario, whose expanded market launched in April, players consider brand trust paramount (prioritised by 39%), though payouts were the second most important factor (35%).

The payment experience is just as vital for player retention, with 75% of sports bettors citing this as an important factor for why they remain with a brand. Payments appear particularly crucial for customer stickiness in New York, with 85% of players in the year-old iGaming market giving this consideration.

Players’ payment preferences continue to diversify, though the traditional payment method of debit cards dominates wagering (preferred by 49% of bettors). The U.K. and Iowa gambling regulators’ bans on credit cards for iGaming have likely contributed to this trend, with debit card preferences rising to 59% in both markets. Despite these two markets’ restrictions, credit cards were a payment preference of 25% of all players and are the go-to payment method for New Yorkers (44%).

Overall, the alternative payment method (APM) of digital wallets is now more popular than credit cards, with 28% of all players preferring a wallet. This trends as high as 45% in Iowa, where credit cards are not permitted. Digital wallets’ popularity is strongest with more frequent or VIP bettors, with a wallet the top payment method for players wagering 5-7 times a week alongside debit cards (both 41%). For bettors wagering 7+ times weekly, 34% prefer a wallet, exceeding mobile wallets (33%) and credit cards (24%).

Adoption of other APMs like eCash is also growing, with 16% of players preferring this payment method, trending higher in the U.S. (18%), where cash usage is still relatively robust, and in New York in particular (28%). Future demand also appears strong, with 53% of players saying they would bet online more frequently if they were able to use eCash products.

Operators appear to be largely addressing players’ concerns about payment security, with 59% more confident transacting than they were in 2021. Nonetheless, with 30% of players undecided and 11% less confident, there appears to be no room for complacency for the iGaming industry.

“Our latest research report emphasizes how critical it is for operators to develop a customer-friendly payments strategy as part of their model in order to both convert and retain new and existing players. In a highly competitive market, operators stand to gain a competitive edge if their cashiers feature a comprehensive suite of payment methods, including digital wallets, which support the conversion of VIP players, and eCash, which resonates with cash-focused consumers who are perhaps prioritizing sticking to a budget in their betting,” Zak Cutler, President of Global Gaming at Paysafe, said.

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

Fanatics Betting and Gaming has become the first legal sports betting operator, in partnership with the Washington Commanders, to open a retail sportsbook inside an NFL Stadium.

Leadstar Media has acquired both Sports Betting and Internet Gaming Supplier licenses in the state of Michigan. This move expands Leadstar Media’s reach in the US and solidifies its position as a major player in the rapidly growing online gambling market.

AstroPay has announced the launch of a Visa prepaid card in Peru issued by Tebca Perú, that will allow users to make purchases at any e-commerce store that accepts Visa.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board has launched a campaign urging Michigan residents to develop personal guidelines for whether, when and how much to gamble on the Super Bowl next month. The campaign uses the tagline: “Play like a pro and have a game plan for betting responsibly on this year’s Super Bowl.”

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board unanimously approved a license for the proposed mini-casino at the Nittany Mall, but a potential appeal and a parallel lawsuit by a competing company mean the facility is unlikely to move forward any time soon.

PTW announced that they have added a second Esports team to their growing roster of winning teams. Their new team, formerly known as Stealing Lunch Money, will now be known as OR Esports and consists of Jonard Penaflor, Dayton Akau, Vincent Nguyen, Chase Linder and Elijah Hawkins.

Holland America Line is expanding the casino space aboard its Pinnacle and Signature Class ships to include more than 140 of the newest and most popular slot and video poker machines in the gaming industry.

Partnerships

Scientific Games and Oklahoma Lottery launched a new category of game entertainment for players in the south-central state, becoming the eighth U.S. lottery to create strong, incremental revenue with the company’s PlayNow Games.

TSN and Genius Sports struck a new agreement to deliver cutting-edge broadcasts of NFL games on the newly launched TSN+ streaming product. As the official data partner of the NFL, Genius Sports will power ground-breaking, augmented broadcasts throughout the upcoming NFL Playoffs and Super Bowl LVII, delivering a revolutionary experience for NFL fans on TSN+.

UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organisation, and U.S. Integrity announced an agreement in which U.S. Integrity will become the official integrity service for UFC, capable of identifying and analysing unusual wagering activity as indicative of possible integrity concerns.

Rivalry has announced a multifaceted partnership with RED Canids. The agreement will see the pair collaborate on a myriad of physical and digital campaigns centered around RED Canids’ Counter-Strike: Global Offensive roster and fanbase to reach and engage gaming consumers.

Scientific Games won a competitive public tender to serve as the exclusive instant game provider to Lotería Nacional de Beneficencia de El Salvador, the National Lottery of El Salvador.

DraftKings Inc. and Gamres, a leading responsible gaming consulting and research practice based in Ontario, announced a new collaboration to introduce the Positive Play Scale to DraftKings through an online survey to select U.S. DraftKings customers.

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

Betr has officially launched its real money gaming product in Ohio. After a successful soft launch in the state beginning January 1 – Ohio’s first legal day of sports betting – Betr has activated account deposits and withdrawals statewide. The company set a U.S. online sports betting record for fastest launch from company founding to a fully licensed & regulated real money betting product.

Great Canadian Entertainment, Canada’s leader in gaming and hospitality, announced that the brand new 275-room Pickering Casino Resort Hotel is now open and accepting reservations.

Century Casinos Inc. announced that it will attend the Jefferies 12th Annual Winter Restaurant, Foodservice, Gaming, Lodging & Leisure Summit in Bachelor Gulch in Avon, Colorado, USA, on January 23, 2023. Peter Hoetzinger, President & Co CEO, will present the Company and hold one-on-one meetings with selected institutional investors.

Mohegan Sun FanDuel Sportsbook is set to host “The Big Game” viewing party on Sunday February 12 for this year’s Super Bowl. Football fans can catch all the action on the 140-foot wide video wall at the premier sportsbook in the Northeast, while also enjoying a Big Game Buffet, a fantastic drink menu and various betting options for both pre-game and live betting.

PointsBet USA and PointsBet Canada announced they have been approved for accreditation under the RG Check programme, provided by the Responsible Gambling Council.

Partnerships

Gaming Society, the new betting education platform, and the International Gaming Institute (IGI), a nonprofit academic centre at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) that offers research and educational programmes for the global gaming industry, have joined forces to help shape the future of sports betting and gamification through industry data and insights.

Homestand Sports has announced a strategic content alliance with SportsGrid to produce and distribute exclusive original programming across the network’s streaming connected TV platforms in Canada.

Pragmatic Play has expanded its reach within Latin America after going live with Nekobet. The operator will now gain access to the provider’s prominent slots vertical including recent hit tiles like Starlight Christmas and Sweet Powernudge.

Tipico, a leading global sportsbook operator, and Rhinegeist Brewery debuted the Tipico Sports Deck in the Rhinegeist Taproom as part of their new, exclusive brand partnership. Located in the city’s historic Over-the-Rhine district, the Cincinnati brewery will join forces with Tipico to enhance the Cincinnati fan experience with watch parties and events throughout the year.

New Appointments

The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) has announced that its Board of Directors has elected a new slate of officers effective February 1, 2023, including a new President, Robert “Bob” Parente, EVP and Chief Business Development Officer for Light & Wonder.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has appointed Bruce Band as Director of its newly established Sports Wagering Division. Band, a longtime gaming industry professional, has served the MGC as Assistant Director of Investigations & Enforcement Bureau and Gaming Agents Division Chief since 2014.

Bally’s Corporation announced the appointment of Tracy Harris as an independent member of its Board of Directors. Tracy’s term is effective upon receipt of regulatory approvals.