Isn’t It Risky?
That shorthand description of the Pay N Play concept can sound quite risky to some. Doesn’t the lack of player registration mean that literally, anyone can play casino games? Even those who are under the legal age to do so? Or those who live outside the casino’s lawful area of operation? And how can the casino pay you your winnings if they don’t know who you are or where you live?
Fortunately, Pay N Play isn’t risky in any of these ways. That’s because, as the name suggests, you have to pay before you can play. When you come to do that, you will need to choose which bank you are with. You’ll then need to log into your bank and make your deposit in much the same way as you would authorize a bank payment to an online store.
All banking information is processed via Trustly, which is a world-leading facilitator of digital account-to-account payments. Because your bank knows your name, address, and date of birth, so does Trustly. And the essential information that the casino needs to be compliant with the law is passed on behind the scenes on your behalf.
In other words, while you don’t have the hassle of completing a registration form for yourself, the casino still knows your location and whether or not you’re old enough to gamble. As for receiving your winnings, when you come to make a withdrawal, your cash will be transferred back to the same bank account that was used to make your initial deposit.
What About Responsible Gaming?
Because there is no need to register with a Pay N Play casino, many people worry about how this sits with the concept of responsible gaming. If a casino doesn’t know who you are, they wonder, how can it monitor the activity of players or uphold important tools such as limits and self-exclusion?
Of course, as we have just seen, the casino actually does know who you are because Trustly has passed that information on behind the scenes. Just because there is no need to register with a Pay N Play casino doesn’t mean that you’re completely anonymous. Pay N Play is about convenience, not anonymity, so most venues still give players the ability to set limits on deposits, losses, session times, and more, as well as request self-exclusion when that is also deemed necessary.
The Advantages of Pay N Play Casinos
The main advantage of Pay N Play casinos is that they really are a lot quicker and easier to play at because you only have to make a deposit to get started. This means that you could if you wanted to, try out several Pay N Play casinos to find your new favourite, and you won’t have to complete a registration form for any one of them.
Another advantage is that Pay N Play casinos tend to be even more mobile-friendly than their traditional cousins. While most online casinos allow you to play their games on your mobile, the majority of Pay N Play casinos are created with mobile gaming in mind from the outset. If that’s how you intend to play, they make a lot of sense.
A third advantage is relative privacy. A Pay N Play casino only gets as much information about you as it really needs to comply with legal regulations and do its job effectively. It’s not anonymous gaming, by any means, but it helps you to severely limit how much of your information the casino has on its servers.
The Disadvantages of Pay N Play Casinos
Of course, there are a couple of disadvantages to Pay N Play casinos, too. The first is that they are really designed for casual gaming fans who only want to play a session or two as and when the urge strikes them. That means you won’t usually find as many ongoing promotions as you might at traditional venues. Even the bonuses that are offered may be smaller than you’re used to elsewhere.
The second main disadvantage of Pay N Play casinos is that they can feel a bit too casual. A regular casino can, with repeated visits and interaction, begin to feel like an old friend. However, the less personal nature of Pay N Play casinos means that they seldom become more than familiar acquaintances.