The re-entry of PayPal into the American online gaming sphere has caused quite a stir, and David Cook is here to explain why.
Numerous specialists, including industry expert Steve Ruddock, were taken aback by the initial absence of buzz surrounding PayPal’s comeback. This is a significant event, arguably the most noteworthy since New Jersey gave the green light to online gaming in 2013. When word spread that WSOP.com, a Caesar’s Interactive Entertainment platform operating in Nevada, was processing deposits through PayPal, it seemed to slip through the cracks. Now that the payment platform is accessible on several US gaming websites, it’s worth exploring why this is such a momentous occasion.
In a nutshell: Confidence. PayPal boasts more than 50 million American subscribers, as per a 2013 Forbes report. Their involvement brings an aura of trustworthiness and protection to any provider they collaborate with, alleviating any customer worries about the security of online financial dealings. This also provides regulated operators with a considerable advantage over their unregulated rivals.
Fundamentally, Ruddock’s fascination originates from PayPal’s substantial scale. Established in 1998 and purchased by eBay for a hefty $1.5 billion in 2002, the two parted ways last year, a decision that considerably affected eBay’s market capitalization. PayPal boasts a worldwide user network surpassing 173 million, and their previous complete fiscal year (2014) witnessed them amass $1.27 billion in GAAP operating earnings.
This collaboration with CIE is not novel. It’s already operational across all of CIE’s internet brands in New Jersey, encompassing prominent names like CaesarsCasino.com, HarrahsCasino.com, and WSOP.com. Furthermore, 888, collaborating with CIE in New Jersey, prominently displays PayPal as a funding choice on its US online casino and poker sites.
Envision PayPal’s arrival akin to a pupil slipping into class tardy, desiring to go unnoticed. There’s been no fanfare, no public festivity, but one envisions a breath of relief following such an extended delay. Accounts from back in 2014 hinted PayPal was preparing to test the regulated online wagering payment waters, and it appears they’re finally taking the leap.
Theres a stir surrounding PayPal’s venture into the New Jersey internet gaming sector. Although some, such as industry expert Steve Ruddock, view this as a transformative event, others, like Bill Rini, remain cautiously hopeful, implying it won’t be as groundbreaking as some anticipate.
Intriguingly, neither PayPal nor Caesars Interactive Entertainment (CIE), a prominent figure in the New Jersey online gaming landscape, have formally declared this collaboration. Ruddock, in conversation with Gambling Insider, perceives this quietude as noteworthy, suggesting a potential policy shift is underway. He references whispers circulating since eBay and PayPal split, indicating this could have cleared the path for PayPal to enter the online wagering realm, a move inconceivable under eBay’s control.
Nevertheless, it’s crucial to recall that PayPal isn’t the first major entity in the payment processing sphere to test the waters of New Jersey’s internet gambling domain. Visa and Mastercard are already embraced at all thirteen real-money gaming sites within the state. These corporations are industry titans, with Mastercard posting a net income of $9.47 billion in 2014 and Visa reporting a staggering $90.6 billion in adjusted operating revenue in 2015.
CIE has verified to us that they are indeed presenting PayPal as a payment choice on their platforms, but they have opted not to publicize it extensively. This appears to be their customary approach when incorporating new payment providers, as they informed us last September that they wouldn’t be disseminating a press release.
William Rini, the top dog of online poker at the World Series of Poker (WSOP), didn’t share the same enthusiasm as Steve Ruddock (the fellow mentioned previously) regarding PayPal’s venture into the market. Rini, countering Ruddock’s positive viewpoint, expressed something like, “Listen, we hold Steve in high regard, we follow his work, we believe he’s intelligent, but perhaps he’s getting a tad carried away. We’re pleased to witness PayPal testing the waters, don’t misunderstand, it’s significant in the payment processing realm, but it’s not quite the upheaval Steve’s portraying it to be.”
We contacted PayPal for their input, but they remained tight-lipped, providing only pre-written statements from their press announcement. What we did gather from their carefully chosen words was that two other online horse racing platforms, TwinSpires and Derby Jackpot, were also participating in this trial run. As for their future intentions within the real-money interactive gaming sphere? Let’s just say they’re holding their cards close for now.
Here’s the crux: with PokerStars poised to enter the New Jersey market, PayPal’s influence might not be the industry-altering event everyone anticipates. To illustrate, Amaya, the corporation owning PokerStars, asserts they commanded a massive 68% share of the online poker market in the initial half of 2015. And their New Jersey launch is slated for sometime this year. Therefore, in a year’s time, the entire scene could be drastically different. It’s akin to predicting the Main Event champion on the first day. Far too premature to determine.
Even with PokerStars absent, PayPal’s arrival has profoundly influenced the American online gaming landscape. Consider New Jersey, the largest of the three states where real-money online wagering is permitted. In 2014, they generated $122.9 million from internet gaming, and remarkably, they haven’t experienced a single month in 2015 where earnings decreased compared to the corresponding month the previous year. Their profits are soaring! By late October 2015, they had already reached $121.6 million. Since regulated internet gambling commenced in the US in 2013, the consensus has been that payment processing is hindering market expansion, and they’re not mistaken.
One authority, Ruddock, stated frankly, “The cumbersome payment methods are a significant obstacle for American online gambling businesses aiming to expand.” He elaborated that during the initial stages in New Jersey, obtaining credit card transaction approval was akin to winning a jackpot, with success rates as minimal as 10%. The situation has improved since then, with rates currently ranging between 60% and 70%, but it remains a nuisance. He highlighted that options like PayNearMe and Neteller have provided assistance, and now PayPal has joined the fray. However, realistically, most individuals still opt for their credit cards, which poses a challenge because it’s the least dependable method for the sector.
Nevertheless, opinions differ. Another specialist, Rini, minimized the concern, asserting that while payment difficulties haven’t been beneficial, they aren’t the primary factor impeding market growth.
As you may have seen in this magazine edition, we interviewed David Rebuck, the director of New Jersey’s gaming control commission, regarding various subjects, including the obstacles of transaction processing. In contrast to the individuals at CIE, Rebuck truly stressed how transformative PayPal’s participation has been. He noted, “Securing PayPal was monumental for us. There existed this notion in the U.S., even prior to our implementation of online gaming in New Jersey, stemming from certain banking regulations, that banks and financial establishments were reluctant to engage in processing payments for online gaming, even if it were lawful. PayPal’s entry shattered that impasse.”
Although there are some contrasting viewpoints on precisely how influential PayPal’s reemergence into the U.S. online wagering market will prove to be, one thing appears evident: it’s a stride towards progress. As the U.S. continues to adjust to the realm of regulated online betting, PayPal’s impact on the sector will be captivating to observe.
This piece was initially published in the January/February issue of Gambling Insider magazine.