Qiwi is one of those payment methods that you may have seen offered at an online casino but never really looked at. This is a Russian online casino deposit method, and is, therefore, not ideal for all players. Qiwiβs entire process is generally in Russian, players who canβt speak (or at least read) the language are going to have trouble using this option to deposit at online casino sites.
The e-wallet has a decent history, having launched in 2007 and is regarded as the most prominent payment method in the country. Their e-wallet service is partially owned by VISA, so there are no questions about security. However, how does it work?
Depositing with Qiwi
As with any e-wallet, players need to ensure that they have an account with Qiwi before they can use it to deposit into their casino accounts. The sign-up process is in Russian, and you will need to offer them your mobile phone number. A password is then provided to players, provided they live in a handful of countries. Although this is a Russian banking method, they do accept players from outside the country β and quite a few at that.
Players can send a bank transfer to top-up their Qiwi wallet, or they can transfer from other e-wallets, such as Skrill. Terminals across Russia will also allow players to deposit onto their Qiwi account with cash.
Once a Qiwi wallet is funded, players can select it from the options available at their casino, and then follow the instructions which appear on the screen to complete the transaction.
Qiwi Withdrawals
Withdrawals are not made possible with Qiwi. This puts the e-wallet at a distinct disadvantage when compared to rival e-wallets such as PayPal, Neteller and Skrill. While players will appreciate the security features Qiwi offers for deposits; those are somewhat diminished when players must use another method for cashing out their winnings.
The Final Word
Qiwi has its drawbacks. Its Russian language setup is matched by its Russian roubles only currency option. Moreover, players in only a handful of countries can use this option, and withdrawals via Qiwi are off the table. There are better e-wallet options out there which players can use to both deposit and withdraw at online casinos. However, Qiwi does at least offer players the chance to deposit at casinos without handing over their bank details, and it is ideal for Russian players, particularly those who wish to top-up their account with cash. It is also a commonly offered method, found at many casinos, such as those listed on this page.
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