Representatives of European gambling industry are successful bitcoin users: such payments take up to 80% of all transactions. It was stated in the interview of a co-founder of Cubits — company focused on bitcoin processing — Maxim Krupyshev to Riga Gaming Congress. We talked to him about advantages of cryptocurrency introduction in gaming business as well as the most suitable jurisdictions for its implementing.
Interviewer: Riga Gaming Congress (RGC)
Speaker: Maxim Krupyshev (M.K.)
RGC: What are the steps of a gambling company that wants to introduce cryptocurrency in payments system?
M.K.: It’s as easy as ABC if desired by business. You need to find a partner to explain all pros and cons. The procedure of company verification and agreement signing is similar to the integration of conventional payments methods. Notwithstanding, you should understand the striking difference between two ways of bitcoin usage: as a means of payment and as a cryptocurrency. The majority of our clients use bitcoin as an intermediary for deposits and money withdrawal for players having no direct contact with cryptocurrency. There exist a lot of variants from a business aspect and a technical aspect of integration — so as to satisfy requirements of each enterprise.
RGC: What legislative difficulties can representatives of European gambling business face if they want to employ cryptocurrencies in a payments system?
M.K.: License requirements should be taken into account. Curaçao, Great Britain, Canada, the Isle of Man and the Philippines aren’t against bitcoin. Malta hasn’t approved it yet but is on the way of making a decision by the end of 2017. From a legal point of view, for an operator, bitcoin is a payments means. Money transactions through this channel are similar to any others.
RGC: Whose jurisdiction is the most loyal to cryptocurrency transactions and why?
М.К.: If we take gambling business, it’s Curaçao. The majority of bitcoin based operators work namely with this license. I think that Maltese authorities' approval will change the situation. We all know that huge gamers of this market take Curaçao license for granted and in the majority of cases have several of them, including Maltese one.
RGC: How will the introduction of cryptocurrency in business benefit payments system?
M.K.: Bitcoin is an international payments method. An operator doesn’t need to worry about payments system introduction in exotic countries. Also, changes in a company strategy cannot decline the operator. In fact, bitcoin is only a technology so even in case of some problems with your provider you can always find a new one. Bitcoin is cheaper and generally less risky in terms of fraud.
RGC: Volatility of many cryptocurrencies is pretty high (to put it mildly). In one day, the price can either increase or drop. How can business based on a cryptocurrency payments system avoid losses in case of adverse circumstances?
M.K.: In fact, business faces no danger. An operator doesn’t experience price ups and downs as bitcoin performs the role of a payments method, not an asset currency. In business, payments appear as a balance currency of players, which is the same in case of payoffs.
RGC: How popular are cryptocurrency payments among representatives of European gambling business?
M.K.: It is widespread although different brands give different pictures of themselves. Some paint themselves as bitcoin casinos, some don’t reveal practicing this payments system. It is notable that in European brands, a bitcoin payments segment varies from 1−2 to 70−80% of all money flow depending on a brand focus. In Europe, everyone knows about bitcoin: ask any Uber driver — they won’t hesitate to tell the difference between bitcoin and litecoin. If a brand offers advantageous conditions of bitcoin payments, there will be no shortage of bitcoin gamers.
RGC: How will the introduction of cryptocurrency in payments system of gambling business benefit average users?
M.K.: Players are attracted by bitcoin for its working principle. You don’t need to store it somewhere, for instance, in a casino or a bank, but on a phone, a laptop, etc. because bitcoin doesn’t require one place. For example, in one day, a gamer can play on different platforms all over the world and process immediate transactions among them. By nature, bitcoin is a toy while the idea of its application is a game. To some extent, it perfectly fitted in the gambling business. So, «Will your brand accept bitcoins?» isn’t a question anymore. The point is «When?»
Maxim Krupyshev will deliver a speech at Riga Gaming Congress on October 12. Don’t hesitate to register for the event in order to broaden your knowledge of cryptocurrency possibilities in the gambling industry.
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