The online sports betting and gaming markets continue to change and evolve, but both are poised to continue an upward trajectory. In fact, the global online sports betting market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.23% between 2022 and 20271. Similarly, the global online gaming market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.2% between 2022 and 20302.
As gaming and sports betting continues to rise in popularity, embedded finance solutions have the potential to make a major impact on casinos and sportsbooks.
Embedded finance solutions, like the ones that Netspend offer, can optimize your gaming and sports betting payment strategy, and delight your customers. The ability for industry leaders to streamline and take control over the payments and cash out process of the gaming business will be a key growth opportunity in the coming years.
The right embedded finance solutions can enable you to create tailored experiences for your players that help drive growth and deeper customer relationships. And, if you don’t make money movement and payouts easy and convenient for your customers, be prepared to be left behind. In fact, many sportsbooks have already integrated some form of seamless and real-time funding, an enormous value add for customers.
A comprehensive embedded finance solution will successfully embed digital banking or payment accounts into your gaming or sports betting ecosystem. Here’s what casinos and sportsbooks should be looking for in a payments partner:
Payments Expertise – Your job is to attract customers and players. The right payments partner will make that easier. Engage your players more deeply with a comprehensive and tailored digital funding and cash-out experience. Ideally, you’ll want to partner with a company that has gaming and online sports betting experience paired with deep payments expertise. The right partner will help you craft a customized solution to support your success using smart customer insights. At Netspend, we combine analytics, marketing, and technology to drive ongoing improvements, and optimize customer experiences.
Modern Technology and Proprietary Processing – An embedded finance solution should provide you with control over the roadmap, features, access to process flows and real-time data. This includes integrations into payments networks, issuing banks, ATM and debit POS networks, real-time funding and card controls, real-time event notifications, secure authorization, accurate settlement, and easier reconciliations. The best partner will continuously invest in speed to market, flexibility, and control with integrated solutions that meet your needs. That might include instantly issued digital cards and physical card options, real-time money movement, developer tools for your team, or a mobile cloud platform with hybrid and native support.
Exclusive Features – Offering new and different features can increase player engagement. The option to build in easy-to-use loyalty and rewards benefits is critical. Other unique features might include a personal financial management or savings tools. Let your players share and spend funds in new ways. Sophisticated payment accounts enable improved cash management, fraud, and risk controls. Netspend’s Playcard3 is a good example of the benefits that customers can experience when payments are built into the gaming experience. With Playcard, gamers can4:
Load, play5, and spend at most casinos, online betting, or fantasy sports sites6
Move money in minutes by linking personal accounts to Playcard7
Cash out winnings to a debit card8 and use them anywhere that Debit Mastercard is accepted
Access account balance and up-to-date transaction information all from a mobile app9
Sign up for direct deposit so that you can always have money to play
Stop by one of over 130,000+ convenient Reload Locations10 nationwide to add cash or checks in person
One complete solution. One true partner.
The right partner will save you time, money, and resources by bringing together all the trusted relationships and services you need in one place. To learn more about Netspend’s embedded finance solutions and to see if they might be a fit for your caisson or sportsbook, visit https://www.netspend.com/business/embedded-finance.
About the Author: Walt Granville serves as Netspend’s Senior Vice President, Business Development. Walt leads a team of experts that are responsible for working with partners to unlock growth through payments and digital banking innovation. His Netspend partnership team has developed card programs, employer payment solutions and embedded finance offerings across multiple industries including; Technology, Gaming, Ecommerce, Lending, Fintech, Healthcare, Retail and Alternative Financial Services. An industry veteran with over 20 years of experience in the US and European financial services and payment industry, Walt has held roles managing strategic partnerships and product innovation teams for payment networks, processors, issuers and technology innovators. Prior to joining Netspend, Walt held various roles with Visa, First Data, Affinion Loyalty Group, and Monitise.
PlayCard is issued by Pathward, National Association. Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Netspend is a registered agent of Pathward, N.A. Certain products and services may be licensed under U.S. Patent Nos. 6,000,608 and 6,189,787. Use of the Card Account is subject to activation, ID verification, and funds availability. Transaction fees, terms, and conditions apply to the use and reloading of the Card Account. See the Cardholder Agreement for details.
Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.
Card may be used everywhere Debit Mastercard is accepted.
© <2022> Netspend Corporation. All rights reserved worldwide. Netspend is the federally registered U.S. service mark of Netspend Corporation. All other trademarks and service marks belong to their owners.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
1 Mordor Intelligence. “Online Sports Betting Market - Growth, Trends, Covid-19 Impact, And Forecasts (2022 - 2027).” https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/online-sports-betting-market
2 Acumen Research and Consulting. “Online Gaming Market Size to Achieve USD 132 Billion by 2030 Growing at 10.2% CAGR Fueled by Massive Investments in the Gaming Industry - Exclusive Report by Acumen Research and Consulting.” July 6, 2022. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/07/06/2475487/0/en/Online-Gaming-Market-Size-to-Achieve-USD-132-Billion-by-2030-Growing-at-10-2-CAGR-Fueled-by-Massive-Investments-in-the-Gaming-Industry-Exclusive-Report-by-Acumen-Research-and-Consu.html#:~:text=TOKYO%2C%20July%2006%2C%202022%20(,the%20online%20gaming%20market%20revenue.
3 IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR OPENING A CARD ACCOUNT: To help the federal government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, the USA PATRIOT Act requires us to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens a Card Account. WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: When you open a Card Account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and your government ID number. We may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying information. Card activation and identity verification required before you can use the Card Account. If your identity is partially verified, full use of the Card Account will be restricted, but you may be able to use the Card for in-store purchase transactions. Restrictions include: no ATM withdrawals, international transactions, account-to-account transfers and additional loads. Use of Card Account also subject to fraud prevention restrictions at any time, with or without notice. Residents of Vermont are ineligible to open a Card Account.
4 www.playcard.com
5 We do not offer gaming services and you may not gamble directly with this card. Check local laws for gaming restrictions in your area before purchase.
6 Gaming services may be limited in your area. MetaBank and Netspend do not guarantee availability of or endorse any third party gaming services. It is your responsibility to check local laws for gaming restrictions in your area.
7 Fees and limits apply. Fund transfer typically within minutes, but may take up to two business days in certain circumstances.
8 Fund transfers from gaming are provided by unaffiliated third parties. Fees, limits, and other restrictions may be imposed by other third parties in connection with use of their services.
9 Netspend does not charge for this service, but your wireless carrier may charge for messages or data.
10 The Netspend Network is provided by Netspend Corporation and its authorized agents. Netspend is a licensed provider of money transfer services (NMLS ID: 932678). Netspend’s licenses and related information may be found at www.netspend.com/licenses. Fees, limits, and other restrictions may be imposed by Netspend and other third parties in connection with use of the Netspend Network.
