Apple Pay in Canada: Payment service overview and usage

Apple Pay is a mobile payment system developed by Apple Inc. It has become a household name in Canada as it lets you make one-tap purchases within apps that use the Apple Pay API. The service boosts security by replacing card data with unique tokens. This guarantees your financial information remains private and safe from hackers when you use online casinos. Keep reading this article to learn all the details about Apple Pay and what sets it apart from any other for online betting.

Apple Pay in Canada: Brief Overview

Before you start using Apple Pay for gambling or other purposes, the payment processor requires you to upload your data to Apple Wallet. This is followed by verification with the card issuer and linking with the app. Once completed, you don't need to physically handle a card when purchasing.

The payment system is compatible with any contactless financial service. It happens thanks to its near-field communication antenna embedded in Apple devices. This allows them to communicate with the chosen point-of-sale (POS) system.

Apple Pay was introduced in Canada in 2015 by partnering with American Express and later with MasterCard and Visa. However, it’s taken things further with widespread use in major banks and credit unions nationwide. And now Canadians can also complete payments with in-store credit cards like Kohl’s Charge Cards. 

The service's popularity is linked to two key factors: simplicity and security. It smoothly integrates with the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac. This lets you pay easily while your transaction information stays safe and secure. For ease of use, double-click, look at your phone, and hold it near the payment terminal. Security is topnotch as your card number isn't stored on your phone or shared during payment. Instead, the service gives you a unique code to secure your transaction. 

Apple Pay Usage in Online Casinos

Apple Pay payments on Canadian online casinos are completely fee-free for users. However, you should verify with the operator of the specific platform you're using if there are fees for particular payments. For withdrawals, none of the legal online casinos support the service. You'll have to find alternative payment methods from your chosen platform.

The payment system also offers numerous benefits  for Canadian gamblers who play at online casinos that accept Apple Pay, including: 

• Easy and fast deposits with a few taps; no manual card entry is needed.

• Canadian Apple Pay works worldwide.

• This method uses advanced encryption to protect details.

• Many online casinos accept Apple Pay.

• The payment includes Touch ID and Face ID for security.

• Apple Pay is a top choice for safe and quick payments.

Casino Payments via Apple Pay

To start using Apple Pay for casino deposits, set up your Apple Pay in the Wallet App. Tap the “+” icon in the Wallet to add a credit or debit card. Then, select a card already saved on iTunes or scan a new one with your camera. 

Alternatively, the service might be set up with prompts when setting up a new iPhone or Mac. Your credit and debit cards will be verified in seconds. However, some cards might require a phone call or app download before verification. Once the card is verified, use it for in-store and online purchases. You can register up to eight cards simultaneously on the payment service. 

Concerning withdrawals, for now, Apple Pay cannot be used to cash out the winnings. Canadian casino players need to choose an alternate method to withdraw. The most popular options include Interac, Visa or MasterCard, and eCheck. 

Apple Pay Casinos’ Promotions and Offers

Apple Pay casinos provide multiple promotions and offers along with quick transactions. These include:

• No Deposit Bonuses: Enjoy no deposit bonuses that give you free bets and spins without depositing. 

• Welcome Package: The welcome package matches your first deposit. For instance, a 100% match means depositing $30 gives you another $30. This means you have $60 to enjoy your favorite games.

• Apple Pay Bonus: This bonus is available to iOS users and could be extra free spins or bets.

• Deposit Bonus: You get this bonus on your second or third deposit. It helps you keep playing by giving you extra money. However, the match percentage could be lower than your initial deposit.

• Weekly Promotions: These are regular weekly offers like free bets on table games or free spins on new slot games.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Apple Pay for Gambling 

Online gamblers have much to gain by using Apple Pay as their preferred payment service. These benefits include:

1. High Transaction Speed: Casino deposits with this payment service are sent straight to your playing account. You may use this to start making instant wagers.

2. Simplicity and Convenience: The payment processor removes the need to carry a card. Hold your iPhone or Apple Watch to the contactless reader to make your payment.

3. Zero Commission Fees: The payment service doesn’t attach commissions for using it. This guarantees you keep more of your winnings.

4. Proper Security and Safety: Your personal and financial information remains secure thanks to the latest data privacy technology. 

5. Transfers are globally accepted: Use your Canadian Apple Pay account from anywhere in the world. This means you travel and still fund your favorite gambling sites.

However, Apple Pay still has some drawbacks worth mentioning: 

1. Zero withdrawal options: It doesn’t provide payment options, so you’ll need to use another banking method to access your winnings.

2. A small selection of casinos using the service: It hasn’t been integrated by all sites, so your choices are limited.

Apple Pay Compatibility with Interac

Interac is another popular payment method at Canadian online casinos. Good news for gamblers who are keen on security – now Apple Pay is compatible with Interac, and casino admirers may get double protection by sending payment through both processors. Customer information is secure as transactions are done with the Interac Token Service Provider (TSP) service. This validates all transactions with a one-time token that can’t be hacked. 

This payment method is available for all active Interac debit cards from the RBC and CIBC. This means your debit card doesn’t have to be Interac Flash enabled. It works on devices like the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and iPhone SE. However, you must add your debit card to the Apple wallet to make mobile transactions. 

Interac is also used with the platform to purchase goods and services in Canadian stores that accept contactless payments. You must find the contactless symbol on the payment terminal at checkout. 

Apple Pay Privacy and Security

Apple has put measures in place to make sure your financial details stay safe and secure which is especially important for casino admirers. First, the platform uses tokenization to replace your credit or debit card with a unique token. The latter is used for all transactions while keeping your sensitive details private. 

The token is useless to a hacker even if it gets intercepted. It can’t work without the associated device and authentication methods. Tokenization reduces the possibility of your sensitive information getting compromised during transactions. And that’s the reason why the leading casino providers have Apple Pay on the list of their payment methods.

Another key security measure is biometric authentication. This process uses your fingerprint or facial recognition technology to verify your identity before purchasing. It makes it difficult for a stranger to replicate your unique fingerprint or facial features.

The payment service uses dynamic security codes for all its transactions. It is different from traditional credit cards with static security codes. In this case, the portal creates a unique code for each casino transaction. This dynamic changes after every payment so that hackers might steal or reuse your payment details. The code adds extra fraud protection and reduces the possibility of unauthorized use of your financial details.

Conclusion

Apple Pay has improved Canadian casino payment options by creating a channel of smooth and quick transactions. The data is secure with the best privacy technology. It also shows no signs of slowing down, as major banks have already accepted it. These include RBC, Scotiabank, BMO, and TD. As such, most Canadians have access to this convenient payment channel to top up their gambling accounts.