UnionPay International Casino Payment Solutions

UnionPay International is a card system that belongs to China UnionPay, a state-owned financial corporation with headquarters in Shanghai, China. It has ensured the acceptance of its cards in 181 countries worldwide, plus their issuance in 79 countries and regions. The system boasts partnerships with more than 2,500 institutions on a global scale, making it one of the largest cross-border payment systems on the market.
UnionPay logo

History

A consortium of banking institutions in China created UnionPay in 2002 to propel domestic payment settlements and inter-banking transactions on all kinds of platforms. The chief backers of UnionPay are the Chinese government and its largest commercial lenders.

The major shareholders of the company include the People’s Bank of China, the Commercial Bank of China, and other behemoths of the financial sector in Asia.

In 2012, UnionPay established UnionPay International, a subsidiary in charge of the expansion into foreign markets. So far, the company has inked deals with more than 2,500 institutions across the world, securing the acceptance of its debit, credit, and prepaid cards in 181 countries.

In fact, UnionPay is the number one card issuer in the world, with 9.4 billion cards in circulation, according to data released by researcher Nilson. More than 30% of all card transactions are completed using UnionPay cards, a result topped only by Visa, with its 40% market share.

UnionPay Updates

  • 2021 — UnionPay launches its Mobile Phone as a POS (MPP) product.
  • 2022 — UnionPay creates national payment cards in Serbia, called UnionPay-DinaCard cards, with the support of the National Bank of Serbia (NBS).
  • 2023 — UnionPay marks greater coverage of European markets, with more than 90%countries and regions on the continent now accepting UnionPay cards.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Increased market presence
  • Mobile payment services
  • Good track record
  • Top-level safety
  • Withdrawals possible via UnionPay MoneyExpress service

Cons

  • Withdrawals incur fees

How to Use UnionPay in Online Casinos

Before users can make a successful UnionPay deposit, they must have an open account with the given online casino and a UnionPay card. With that out of the way, customers may proceed to the actual transaction.
  1. Upon logging in to your casino account, head to the Banking/Cashier section.
  2. Select UnionPay under the list of available options.
  3. Enter the amount you wish to deposit.
  4. Enter UnionPay card number and other verification details.
  5. Input the SMS code to verify the transaction.
  6. Confirm the payment.
As for withdrawals, the situation is a bit different. Namely, cashouts are only possible through the UnionPay​ MoneyExpress​ remittance service available in 57 countries worldwide and through 20 mainstream remittance service providers, such as MoneyGram.

In case an online casino offers such an option, they will only have to use the UnionPay banking system and enter​ the​ receiver’s​ 16-digit​ card​ number,​ name,​ amount, and the purpose of the payment. All withdrawals incur a fee that is normally charged to the customer.

Regions

UnionPay’s network of regions and countries has been growing steadily over the past couple of years. It is supported by 181 countries and regions, including the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, and many more.

Payment Methods

UnionPay International issues debit, credit, and prepaid cards, much like Visa and Mastercard. The cards contain 16 numbers, an expiration date, and a matching PIN code, all of which are necessary for customers to make a successful casino transaction. UnionPay operates the world’s largest PIN-based network in the world, thus making each debit card transaction completely secure at all times.

Currencies

UnionPay operates in local currencies in those countries where it is registered as a financial service. Therefore, the base currency can be USD, EUR, RMB, HUF, NZD, and many others. However, thanks to its global coverage, players can exchange the currency they hold on the UnionPay card for any other using the UnionPay Card Exchange system.

Main Benefits

Union Pay offers several benefits for online casinos and their players, making it a preferred payment method in the gaming industry:

Widespread method

— UnionPay card is accepted in 181 countries globally, making it ideal for international players.

High-security standards

— UnionPay employs advanced security measures, including encrypted transactions and fraud prevention protocols, ensuring safe and secure transactions.

Lower transaction fees

— Compared to many other payment methods, Union Pay typically charges lower transaction fees. Namely, in the EEA markets, the fees go from 0.2% to 1.5%.

Multi-currency support

— The ability to handle transactions in multiple currencies is a significant advantage for players engaging in international gambling sites.

Player Experience

Using a UnionPay card is the same as using Visa or Mastercard. In the Cashier section of their chosen online casinos, players need to choose UnionPay. Then, two ways to complete the payment will pop up: using the card or scanning a QR code.

When using a card, players need to insert its number, the card holder’s name, expiry date, and a CVV code alongside the amount of the transaction. Entering the OTP they receive via SMS concludes the transaction.

Customer Support

UnionPay runs a customer support service in all regions where it does business, including Asia, Europe, America, Oceania, and Africa. There’s an overseas service hotline for pressing matters, such as reports of stolen or lost cards, as well as dedicated email addresses for all the regions and countries where it’s available.

Minimum Deposit and Withdrawals

UnionPay allows you to send up to 10,000 USD per recipient, or equivalent in CNY, per day. The yearly limit per recipient is 50,000 USD.

Security

UnionPay takes security as seriously as possible. Apart from using the latest encryption technology to safeguard all sensitive information, UnionPay has employed machine-learning algorithms powered by Inter’s technology to identify risks and mitigate them.

Licenses

UnionPay’s international product is licensed in all jurisdictions in which it operates. This company has even brought some of the first cross-border QR code payment solutions in South-East Asia — for instance, in Nepal.

FAQ

Can players use UnionPay in online casinos?

Yes, they can. UnionPay is an effective payment method that can support deposits as well as withdrawals.

Is UnionPay free to use in online casinos?

Most online casinos do not charge any fees for using UnionPay. However, there will be a fee associated with withdrawals, and it’s charged by the UnionPay MoneyExpress service.

How many countries accept UnionPay?

UnionPay is available in 181 countries and regions worldwide.

Is UnionPay safe to use?

Yes, UnionPay is completely safe to use. It employs SSL encryption systems, together with fraud and identity theft systems powered by machine learning.