Online casinos have opened up the world of iGaming to a much larger market, including those who live in isolated areas or in regions where gambling hasn’t been regulated yet. There are also 1.5 billion unbanked people in the world who are unable or don’t want to use traditional online casinos because they don’t have basic banking functions. Players in isolated areas do have a lot of options to enable them to enjoy online casino gaming.
Online Casinos
Online casinos were introduced in the mid-1990s, but in the past few years, they have picked up a lot of steam and have enjoyed the introduction of various new technologies. As well as offering deposits and withdrawals using different deposit methods, there are convenient apps like Discord Casino apps.
These work directly within the Discord messaging app and because they don’t have live dealers or other advanced features, they can be a very good choice for players who have limited Internet connection, which is common for players who live in isolated areas. There are also mobile apps, for use on cell phones, as well as desktop-based casinos, so it is possible to play on whichever device has the best connection.
Offshore Casinos
Some players can struggle to access online casinos because they live in remote areas that are not directly served by regulated casinos from their area. Offshore casinos offer a viable option. Offshore casinos are regulated and licensed in countries like the UK, Malta, or Curacao, but offer games to players around the world. Some do require KYC details, however, and this isn’t always an option for players.
No-KYC Casinos
Know Your Customer (KYC) details are personal details like name and address. While some casinos will have access to information from isolated areas, this isn’t true of all websites. And some players prefer not to give their details to online casinos. In these cases, no-KYC casinos offer a good alternative to traditional casinos.
These are still licensed iGaming sites, but they are established in jurisdictions that do not require the collection of KYC details from customers. It is possible to register without giving personal information, and then deposit funds to start playing.
Crypto Casinos
Players who live in very isolated areas can be unbanked, or under-banked, which means they don’t have access to basic banking facilities. They may not even have a bank card or bank account, with lots of smaller communities still dealing primarily in cash.
Approximately 1.5 billion people around the world are unbanked. While traditional online casinos are not an option for these people, because they necessitate the use of traditional financial methods, some modern casinos do present a viable alternative. Digital wallets, like PayPal, Alipay, Apple Pay, or Google Pay, can be used at some casinos.
Cryptocurrency isn’t just designed for trading. One of the major positive contributions that cryptocurrency has made to the financial world is that it can serve the unbanked. It is possible to buy cryptocurrency from some physical vendors, have it allotted to a crypto wallet, and then deposit this at crypto casinos. Any winnings can then be paid back in the same cryptocurrency to the player’s chosen crypto wallet.
Not only are crypto casinos popular with people who don’t have bank accounts or don’t want to submit KYC details, but they are also a popular option because crypto payments are very fast and very cheap, compared to traditional payments. In some cases, it is possible to enjoy instant withdrawals of winnings.
Virtual Private Networks
Some casinos might prevent access to players from certain countries, or may not be permitted to offer advertising or other content to people in restricted areas. Some players in these countries use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). A virtual private network is a network that the user connects to when they go online. Before any information is submitted over the Internet, it is encrypted, preventing even Internet Service Providers from being able to see the information these users submit.
Critically, a VPN service also maintains a large network of servers across the world, and when an individual user connects to the service, they can choose which server they want their data routed through. This gives the appearance that the user is located in the same area as the server, making it possible to access casinos even from restricted areas.
Conclusion
Online casinos are more advanced and feature-packed than ever. As well as advanced features like live dealer games, some modern casinos offer cryptocurrency deposits and no-KYC registrations. This means users can access them without having to submit any personal information or financial information, making offshore casinos viable even for the unbanked population of the world and those who live in areas where iGaming has not yet been regulated.