Betting on sports is an extremely fun and often rewarding pastime. Over the years, the way we place bets has changed. Older members of the community will remember lining up in front of a bookmaker with pockets full of cash, ready to pick a winner. On a good day, they’ll go home with even fuller pockets; on a bad one, well, they won’t.
Younger generations may find this concept absurd. They’ve grown up with online transactions, so the thought of walking around with stacks of cash on their person seems ludicrous, if not dangerous.
Digital wallets make betting on sports faster and, because they’re heavily regulated, transactions are safer. Here’s a look at how digital wallets have modernized betting, the most widely used wallets worldwide, and their countries of origin.
How Digital Wallets Modernize Sports Betting and Pools
In the past, sports bets were most commonly placed on site at the venue with a bookmaker or licensed betting agent. Cash was king, and vast amounts of it changed hands. In the early days of technology, paying by bank transfer became commonplace, but the challenge there was the delay in the agent receiving the funds. In some cases, this delay could be as long as five working days.
Digital wallets have become the new standard for making payments, and in most cases, the transaction is instant. Consumers feel confident with digital wallets due to their robust security measures, like two-factor authentication (2FA), biometric identification, firewalls, and encrypted transactions. Many digital wallets now support cryptocurrency, ensuring they’re keeping up with the most modern ways to transact.
Digital wallets now handle about 56% of global financial transactions, indicating that cash is taking a backseat. Wise and PayPal have become household names in the fintech world and collectively processed $1.7 trillion worth of transactions in 2025.
Digital Wallets from Different Countries
PayPal comes from the US, where sports betting is legal on a state-by-state basis. If you’re in Missouri, the 39th state to legalize it, you can confidently bet using these two fintechs; if you’re in California, Hawaii, or Texas, you’ll need to wait it out.
In other countries, betting on sports is covered by national laws. The digital wallets on offer in each of these nations are gaining momentum due to consumer loyalty and trust. Here are the most popular:
Revolut - UK
Revolut is the UK’s answer to PayPal and has become popular globally. This digital wallet can process cross-border transactions in seconds. It’s fast, has a competitive fee structure, and is protected by end-to-end encryption, biometric authentication, and secure vault storage. Bettors can use Revolut via its prepaid Mastercard to wager on sportsbooks in the UK and other countries. Revolut is supervised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of the UK.
Gigadat - Canada
Gigadat is Canada’s leading fintech; it streamlines the payment process for consumers and businesses alike. It links to users’ existing bank accounts, allowing for instant and secure payments. This digital wallet is a popular choice for Canadians. There are even real money Gigadat casinos that accept deposits and withdrawals via this wallet—and these transactions are instant. This technology can also be used on many sportsbook sites and apps in Canada. Security-wise, it’s favored for its advanced encryption protocols, multi-factor authentication, and fraud prevention. Gigadat complies with Canadian financial regulations.
Skrill - Germany
Skrill originated in Germany but can process transactions in 40 currencies and operates in more than 200 countries, including most of Europe and some of Southeast Asia. Users provide funds to the wallet via a linked bank account, credit card, PaysafeCash prepaid card, or cryptocurrency. Skrill is trusted by users and merchants as it provides 128-bit SSL encryption, 2FA, and anti-fraud mechanisms. Even though it’s German-based, Skrill operates under licenses from the UK FCA and the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA).
Trustly - Finland
Trustly originates in Finland but has become the digital wallet of choice in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, too. It transacts immediate payments from its customers’ bank accounts without the need for a debit card. Sportsbooks across the entire Nordic region prefer Trustly’s payments as they’re protected by robust customer authentication, encrypted data, and fraud monitoring. Trustly is regulated under the European Union’s Payment Services Directive (PSD2).
POLi Payments - Australia
POLi Payments works similarly to Gigadat in Canada, where it allows Australians to link their bank accounts and make seamless, secure payments. Most sportsbooks and gambling sites in Australia accept POLi Payments as it uses SSL encryption and multiple layers of firewall and doesn’t store the users’ bank login details. Another attractive benefit for Australians is that it’s fee-free for users and only charges the merchant a minimal amount. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has strict regulations, which POLi Payments complies with.
Alipay - China
China’s most popular digital wallet is Alipay. It’s actually one of the most trusted digital wallets globally. Think of it as a holding account for your funds. You can top it up from a bank account, credit, or debit card. It’s currently used in over 100 countries, predominantly in Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Many global online sportsbooks welcome Alipay due to its commitment to Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance. Alipay complies with the People’s Bank of China’s (PBOC) strict regulations.
Digital Wallets for the Win
Forget lining up to place bets with a physical bookmaker in cash. Betting on sports is as straightforward as opening your favorite digital wallet. If you’re in the US or Canada and hoping your NFL predictions come true, Wise, PayPal, and Gigadat are your go-tos. In the UK and Europe, Revolut, Trustly, and Skrill should be top of your list. Placing bets in Asia is a breeze with Alipay, and Australians have POLi Payments. Whatever of these methods decide to sign up for and use, just remember to bet responsibly. If you're in need of a printable pick sheet, look no further as we provide printable options for NFL pick sheets.
