What is Google Pay?
Like the incredibly popular payment method Apple Pay, Google Pay is a digital wallet but for those of you who own Android mobile devices rather than Apple products. Digital wallets can often be confused as e-wallets, but it is easy to see that Google Pay is not an e-wallet since customers do not store any funds on the system. Instead, they simply input their card details to add bank cards to their ‘digital wallet’.
Google Pay is not the first digital wallet to be available to Android users, with it actually being the successor of the Android Pay system. However, Google Pay took the main stage in 2018, replacing Android Pay. Google Pay is not limited to just mobile phone devices, with also being available on tablets and smart watches.
How To Use Google Pay To Bet
From time to time, it can be a confusing task having to figure out how to use a new system to make your online payments. However, this is not the case with Google Pay and below we have put together a step-by-step list of instruction on how to use Google Pay on any gambling site, including; sports bookmakers and online casinos.
- First of all, you will need to select your chosen bookie and/or casino sites.
- Head to the banking page, which can usually be found on the account section.
- Find the deposit tab and from here simply choose the method of payment you wish to use.
- Enter the amount of funds you want to deposit.
- Gamble away!
It is important to remember that Google Pay is not an online payment system that can be used as a method for withdrawals.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Google Pay
I’m sure you are excited to hear all the pros that Google Pay has to offer as a mobile payments system, but it is just as important for you to know the drawbacks that come with this payment option too. Below we have highlighted the advantages and disadvantages associated with using Google Pay to gamble online.
Advantages
Safe and secure
The safety and security that Google Pay offers is certainly a factor that sets it out from the crowd. Google protects personal information with multiple layers of security with customers able to choose from various security features to determine what level of security they want to achieve.
Offers instant deposits
Although the majority of payment methods that can be used to make deposits achieve this instantly, it remains a positive for Google Pay.
Privacy
It can be a worrying time when making deposits at online bookies or even online casinos, as you are usually required to provide your personal details to complete the transactions. This is not the case when using Google Pay. Google Pay acts as the ‘middle man’ when making deposits, making sure to keep all your personal details hidden from the site you are using.
Convenient
Despite being able to make instant deposits, this digital wallet is an all-round convenient platform. Mobile gamers can make the most of their time betting and playing, as they can add funds to their account without having to reach for their wallet or set-up some online payment system.
Disadvantages
No withdrawals
The main problem that comes with using digital wallets, be that Apple Pay or Google Pay, is the fact that they are unable to be used as withdrawal methods.
Not widely accepted
Since Google Pay is one of the newest additions of mobile payment options, there are very few online betting sites that accept it as a payment method at the time of writing.
The Alternatives To Google Pay
For some of you, Google Pay will not be a method of payment you will want to use or can use, so below we have taken the time to highlight some of the alternative payment methods available to you.
Credit Cards & Debit Cards
The first thing you should know when it comes to credit cards is that the United Kingdom has now banned the use of all of them to fund any type of gambling activity. This is a new law to have passed with it being introduced in April 2020, which means no online gambling operators can accept this payment method. The aim of this new law was to help with the Responsible Gambling movement.
Despite this new law, the use of debit cards is still permitted and has become the preferred choice of many punters. The main reason for the popularity of debit cards is the fact that they are widely accepted across the majority of online sports betting sites. Below we take a closer look at some of the most popular types of debit cards that are available to UK customers.
E-wallets & Digital Wallets
E-wallets and digital wallets are quickly becoming punters preferred way of making both deposits and withdrawals on sports betting sites for a number of reasons. Essentially, e-wallets act as a sort of online platform where customers can store their money. Customers fund their e-wallet accounts via their personal bank accounts, but their details are not required to be entered when attempting to make any transactions, adding a layer of security. Rather than entering your personal bank details, customers will simply use a login and password to access their account.
Using e-wallets to make transactions will appear as the e-wallet on bank statements, making them a great option if you are wanting some anonymity when betting. Since they have undergone such rapid growth in popularity, you can find several e-wallets and digital wallets available to you.
Prepaid Cards
Like e-wallets, prepaid cards are becoming an increasingly popular method of making deposits and withdrawals at sports betting sites, and this is for a number of reasons. Some consider prepaid cards the perfect option when it comes to online gambling, as not only do they offer anonymity, speed and security but they only let customers use whatever funds have been loaded into the account. The extra security that comes with using prepaid cards is due to them not be linked to customers bank accounts, so there is no way in which third parties can find out these personal details.
Google Pay Bonuses & Offers
Although there are very few betting platforms that currently accept Google Pay as a viable deposit option, you can certainly count on the improvement of this in the near future. Some online betting sites are tailoring their promotions specifically to Google Pay users, offering them specific Google Pay welcome bonuses. Despite their being tailored made promotions, you can also claim the majority of standard offers too.
How Does Google Pay Work?
First of all, you should know that Google Pay can be used for more than just depositing funds on gambling sites. As in fact, it can also be used to make online purchases, app purchases and even contactless payments. It doesn’t matter which of the above you intend on making the process remains the same and the truth is, it is a simple process.
Like its more popular brother Apple Pay, Google Pay uses two-factor authentication to ensure their customer’s details remain confidential. When attempting to make a purchase, customers will need to verify that it is them making the purchase and this is done in a number of ways. Firstly, customers can set up fingerprint authentication where they use the fingerprint scanner to verify the purchase. Secondly, customers can use facial recognition to verify the payments or thirdly, set up a personal password to complete the process.
Google Pay Betting FAQs
Can I use an a different payment method to withdraw winnings?
If you have set-up Google Pay to be your primary payment method, you will have to pair it with one of the other numerous payment methods that allow withdrawals.
Is Google Pay a viable payment option?
Yes, Google Pay is an excellent payment option despite its inability to make withdrawals. This smart-mobile payment system offers straightforward payments and is widely accepted by all major bookmakers.
Can Google Pay be used to make offline payments?
Yes, although a stable internet connection will be needed to access bookmakers and other gambling sites, Google Pay does not require a connection to make payments.
Is Google Pay a secure deposit method?
Yes, with its two-factor authentication system, Google Pay offers a safe and secure method of depositing. During the deposit process, customers will need to authenticate the deposit by using Touch ID, Face Scan or inputting the passcode adding an extra level of security.
