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The 10 Best Gaming Merchant Account

With the newest phenomenon known as iGaming making the rounds in the virtual gaming community, online gaming has exploded into a multi-billion-dollar business. The digital gaming industry is booming with an insatiable appetite for online gaming in the world.
The global gaming market size was valued at USD 97.80 billion in 2016 and is expected to experience explosive growth over the next eight years. Driving the market are two key factors: technological proliferation and innovation in both hardware and software.
With the expansion of Internet services around the world, combined with the easy availability and access of a plethora of games on the Internet, it is only to be expected that growth will continue to skyrocket in the coming years.
However, despite the notoriety and obviously lucrative potential, online gaming is rife with risk. The industry’s background and history of high chargeback ratios, potential legal issues, and illegal activity such as money laundering and fraud, has only cemented this industry’s negative reputation. It has also encouraged banks to keep their distance and refuse to provide merchant accounts.
But many online gaming merchant account providers are seeing that the pros outweigh the cons and are more than willing to accommodate online gaming merchants to help them thrive in this booming industry. Take a look at these 10 online gaming merchant providers to help you choose the best for your business.

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Orbit Card Services

Headquartered in Manchester, UK, Orbit Card Services offer online credit card gateways and international merchant accounts worldwide.

The Pros

Supported features include: Server2Server API integration, batch processing, CVV, AVS & 3D Secure, real-time reporting and management, global card processing, recurring billing, virtual terminal, over 150 supported currencies, reports API for data pull to back-end, and dynamic billing descriptor.

The Cons

Orbit Card Services does charge a set-up fee and a fairly high annual fee for high risk merchant accounts. It also lacks customer service and seems to work with independent sales organizations.

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Merchant Stronghold

Founded in 2011and with two head offices in Clearwater, Florida and London, UK, Merchant Stronghold specialises in online gaming merchant accounts and online gaming payment gateways on a global scale.

The Pros

Some of the solutions offered include: offshore and international merchant accounts, payment gateways are PCI compliant, virtual terminals, online fraud prevention and analysis, 100% transparent pricing, 256 bit encrypted website, debit and credit card processing, check processing (ACH), chargeback management services, 98.7% account approval, same day approvals and gateway integration.

The Cons

The way to contact them is by phone, email and contact form. There is no live chat feature which would be a quick and convenient way to get instant answers.

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High Risk Solutions

Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Plantation, Florida, High Risk Solutions specialises in providing payment solutions for a wide range of high risk merchants.

The Pros

They have an extensive network of partners to prescribe the best payment solution to benefit the merchant’s business.

Other benefits include: reliable on-time payouts, processing in multiple currencies, gateways are secure/ PCI compliant, and real-time technical support.

The Cons

The company only offers a contact form in which they say they will get back in touch within 24 hours. A lot can happen during this time frame in a business and therefore, this is not a helpful option. It also provides an email address. When they will respond to that is anyone’s guess.

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Total Processing

Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Manchester, UK, Total Processing offers customised payment solutions for businesses. They specialise in high risk merchant accounts for online gaming merchants.

The Pros

Their expertise lies in the following: high availability account servicing, high availability and redundancy, scalability and change speed reactivity, independent from an acquiring bank, dedicated expert support, robust and simple integrations, cost effective solutions, PCI level 1 compliant, and business critical cash flow delivery timescales.

Additional benefits for their merchants include: a secure payment gateway, hotlists, flexible card verification, security tools, enhanced reporting functions, fixed bonds, deferred payments, online risk analysis, and recurring payments. Accepting all traditional and alternative payments, including ApplePay ( a total of 198 payment methods).

They also provide great customer service and chargeback prevention.

The Cons

Although merchants can call or use their live chat, customer service reps are not available 24/7 to take care of any emergencies that may arise.

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Axcess Merchant Services

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Leeds, England, Axcess Merchant Services offers its customers 51 alternative payment methods, 179 currencies, and fraud experts to tailor a risk screening process. With an expansive network of 390 banks, online gaming merchants are sure to score competitive rates.

The Pros

Their high risk merchant services include: instant approval, dedicated technical support, and Dual PCI Level 1 Payment Gateways. Security is fundamental to their business and Axcess keeps vigilant by conducting continuing chargeback and fraud alert data aggregation as well as analysis.
Additional solutions offered include recurring billing services, telephone billing and virtual terminal services, and mobile payment options.

The Cons

There is very little information available about their standard contract. It does not share information about pricing, contract details, and virtually no merchant complaints about its fees. Due to its work with high risk merchants, it is to be expected for merchants to pay higher-per-transaction fees as well as experiencing more fund holds.

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iPay Total

Founded in 2018 and headquartered in London, iPay Total is an online gaming payment processor that also offers end-to-end high risk merchant solutions to customers around the world.

The Pros

Some features offered on online gambling merchant accounts include: multi-bank processing (including offshore), secure payment gateway, chargeback alerts, chargeback disputes, ACH/Check 21 processing, fraud prevention and protection, and competitive processing rates (below 6%), as well as 24/7 support online or by phone.

The Cons

High risk merchant account contract terms are not disclosed to the public. iPay Total also claims to charge a set up fee of up to £4,500, an incredibly exorbitant and prohibitive amount, especially for small businesses starting out.

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Instabill

Based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and with an EU registered address in Lija, Malta, Instabill has been covering the high-risk merchant space since 2001. With constant change within the high risk merchant space, it has remained current with shifts and regulations within the industry.

The Pros

Online gaming merchant benefits include the following: easy person to person transfers, no debit/credit card or PIN use, a convenient storage solution on your PC or smartphone, traceable transactions to deter fraud. Instabill has unveiled a new payment solution that allows players to purchase a game of their choice: online slots, poker or blackjack, through a gift card.

The Cons

Due to Instabill’s focus on high risk accounts, it may feature tiered pricing, early termination fees, and PCI Compliance fees. Most complaints against Instabill are about the company’s fraud prevention policies. Merchants report cancellation of their merchant accounts or withholding funds.

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Allied Wallet

Founded in 2006, Allied Wallet is one of the leading online payment processing companies in the world. Providing payment solutions in 196 countries all over the world,
the company is headed by CEO Andy Khawaja and is headquartered in London, England.

Allied Wallet provides comprehensive solutions for video games businesses.

The Pros

The features and benefits offered by Allied Wallet include a comprehensive solution for travel merchant businesses, digital eWallet solutions, accepts over 100 currencies in 196 countries, rates starting at just 1%, settle profit directly into merchant’s bank account, secure data transfers with PCI Level 1 compliance, reduced declined payments with Fraud Scrub Technology, and track transaction with robust reporting system.

The Cons

Allied Wallet seems to have a host of fees including: monthly maintenance fees, transaction fees, refund fees, retrieval fees, chargeback fees, wire fees, a rolling reserve, and if that’s not enough, they also are known for fund holding. Merchants really should evaluate what is most important in their business as these fees will inevitably affect the bottom line.

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Web Merchant

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Kingston upon Hull, UK, Web Merchant is platinum accredited partners with major UK, European, and Worldwide banks.

Web Merchant offers comprehensive online gaming payment solutions.

The Pros

Some of their benefits include powerful risk management tools, full reporting interface, adapted payment solutions. Dedicated support for gaming operators, sophisticated anti-fraud systems, multiple payment methods, PCI DSS specialism, transaction optimisation, 24/7 support, comprehensive anti-fraud solutions, multiple acquirers in one solution, payment solutions adapted to your needs.

The Cons

Web Merchant partners with a vast number of acquirers and banks and therefore makes it virtually impossible to know what offerings, fees, and services from the start. It is critical to know this information and not get hit with unexpected fees, courtesy of the acquiring bank.

10

eMerchantBroker

Based in Los Angeles, California, eMerchantBroker offers high risk processing solutions for gaming companies.

EMB offers custom-made paid solutions, excellent customer service, approval rates between 24 and 48 hours, chargeback management tools, PCI-compliant payment gateways, as well as fraud filters.

The Pros

EMB offers custom-made paid solutions, excellent customer service, approval rates between 24 and 48 hours, chargeback management tools, PCI-compliant payment gateways, as well as fraud filters.

The Cons

Very little information available about the standard contract. This could only mean that the contract terms vary widely from merchant to merchant. There are early termination fees that are up to $295 for 1 year contracts and up to $595 for 3 year contracts.

Provider of the Month

With the online gaming industry showing little signs of slowing down, now is the time for online gaming merchants to do their due diligence and research the best merchant providers to secure a merchant account that would set them on the right path to profit.

Once a selection is made, and the application has been submitted, the merchant needs to make sure they take the critical steps of providing the necessary documentation, having a secure and operational website, and making sure that their sector is one that the merchant provider serves.

Having all this in place greatly improves the probability of successfully obtaining an online gaming merchant account.