In the last three years, online gaming revenue increased by more than $40 billion, and it’s only going to continue growing. Being part of such a lucrative market means online gaming providers can expect an expanding user base and higher revenue. But in such a hot market, it’s also important for providers to remain competitive and appealing to audiences. 

One way that online gaming businesses can ensure a positive user experience is by making the payment process fast, secure, and reliable. You don’t want to keep your players away from the game for too long, and at the same time, need to keep sensitive customer data private and secure.

It sounds simple enough, but finding an online gaming payment gateway can be challenging. The online gaming world comes with unique risks when it comes to accepting payments, like high rates of fraud and chargebacks, special regulations, and more. Because of this, it’s important for online gaming providers to find a payment gateway that can adequately meet their needs while providing a positive experience for their audiences. 

In this article, we look at what you should consider when choosing an online gaming payment gateway, including challenges, things to look for in a payment gateway, and what makes ZEN the best payment gateway for online gaming. 

What is a payment gateway? 

A payment gateway is a technology that allows online business owners to accept debit card, credit card, digital wallet, and alternative payment method (APM) transactions. It is like the online version of a physical point-of-sale (POS) terminal in a store.

Online payment gateways virtually connect your customers’ bank accounts with your gaming merchant account so you can accept payments. They also ensure your customers’ information is kept secure, their private data is protected, and that there are enough funds in their account to complete the transaction. 

Here’s a brief overview of how payment gateways work:

• First, a customer securely submits their credit or debit card information.

• The payment gateway encrypts that information and carries out fraud checks before transferring the transaction data to the acquirer. 

• Next, card schemes (e.g. Visa, Mastercard) carry out more fraud checks before sending payment data to the issuer (the customer’s financial institution). 

• The issuer checks for sufficient funds and validates transaction information. The transaction is then either approved or declined. 

• The payment gateway notifies the customer and merchant of the transaction’s success or failure. 

• The final step is payment settlement. 

Despite the many steps involved, the above processes happen in just a few seconds. That’s the magic of a payment gateway! 

Read more: What is a Payment Gateway and How Does it Work?

Challenges of finding a payment gateway for your online gaming business

The online gaming world comes with added risks that can make finding payment solutions a little more difficult. These include: 

• Fraud risks: The online gaming industry faces a higher risk of fraudulent activity and identity/card theft. 

• High chargeback rates: Partly as a result of fraud, online gaming websites can experience higher rates of chargebacks and their accompanying fees. 

• Heavy website traffic: The online gaming market is booming, and many websites experience heavy traffic that makes it difficult to monitor transactions properly in order to prevent fraud. Sometimes, traffic can be so excessive that even payment gateways can’t support the number of transactions. 

• Added regulations: Online gaming, and online transactions in general, come with heavy regulations that must be complied with. These requirements are often different depending on local legislation, adding an extra layer of difficulty to finding an online gaming payment gateway. 

Things to consider when choosing an online gaming payment gateway

Because of the above challenges, some online gaming merchants might struggle to find a payment gateway willing to support them through the complexities of accepting payments. To help you find a payment gateway that works with the unique needs of online gaming, we’ve listed some things to consider below. 

What is the user experience like? 

It’s important that your payment gateway offers a fast, simple, hassle-free transaction for your customers. This includes a user-friendly checkout experience with minimal data entry and no technical glitches. You want players to breeze through the checkout without disrupting their gaming experience. 

How many payment methods does it accept? 

An ideal payment gateway will accept various payment methods to accommodate all your audiences’ preferences. In most cases, you’ll be able to toggle on and off the payments you want to accept so you can tailor the experience to your customers. Accepting their preferred payment methods will lead to more conversions and happier customers!

Is it secure? 

It’s essential that your payment gateway is secure and equipped with anti-fraud technology that protects your customers as well as your business’s reputation. 

Does it accept multiple currencies? 

There are no borders in the online world, and to expand your customer base you need to be able to accept multiple currencies. Look for a payment gateway with multi-currency support and low exchange fees to cater to online gamers from all over the globe. 

Does it accept recurring payments? 

The best way to keep your customers coming back to your online gaming platform is to accept recurring billing. This allows you to automate the payment process and save your customers from having to re-enter their details every time. 

Does it comply with regulations? 

It’s absolutely essential that you choose a payment gateway that complies with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) regulations. These regulations are designed to ensure card information is protected during and after a transaction takes place, helping prevent data breaches and respecting your customer’s privacy.

What is customer support like? 

You need your payment gateway to be reliable, with a customer support team available to help should you encounter any technical issues or trouble with payments. Look for a payment gateway provider that offers various communication channels and ensures you have the support you need when you need it. 

How much are the fees?

Fees differ depending on the payment gateway, though often you’ll be charged both transaction fees as well as fees for using the payment gateway. Transaction fees are charged to handle credit card payments and are usually a small fraction of the total transaction amount. Gateway fees are what you pay to access the infrastructure of the payment gateway and accept online payments. 

How easy is it to integrate?

Some payment gateways can be difficult to set up and integrate with your online gaming platform. Before you settle on a payment gateway, consider whether it requires a strong development team to implement and if you have the necessary resources to connect the payment gateway with your website. 

What to look for in an online gaming payment gateway

Now that you know what to consider when choosing an online payment gateway, we’ll look at some important features you should look for. The below features will ensure your online gaming website benefits the most from your payment gateway. 

Smooth checkout experience

Many online games require players to make in-game payments. If that’s the case, you need to make sure the payment process is swift, easy, and seamless. 

Just like any other online experience, online gamers prefer fast, efficient, and transparent payment experiences. They don’t want to fill out too many fields, be taken to too many web pages, or feel confused during the payment process. You’re taking players away from the game and want to make the process as simple and quick as possible. 

Be sure your payment gateway has a smooth checkout process and great user experience to get your players back in the game as quickly as possible. Ideally, you’d be able to customize the payment page’s appearance to fit your brand’s style and integrate with your online gaming website. Bonus points if your payment gateway includes a ‘remember me’ feature that allows customers to securely store their details so the next checkout experience is even faster. 

Multiple payment methods

Most users will pay for games with their credit or debit cards, but depending on their demographic and location, some may prefer different payment methods. Look for a payment gateway that supports numerous payment types, from cards and digital wallets to bank transfers and cryptocurrencies. This helps maximize conversions by allowing you to cater to a diverse range of preferences.  

While we’re at it, the best payment gateways will support multiple currencies. This means you can open up your online gaming experience to an international audience and let customers pay in their native currencies. Choose a payment gateway that offers dynamic currency conversion and good exchange rates. 

Strong security

The online gaming world naturally comes with a higher risk of fraud and identity theft. For that reason, you need to prioritize security of your player’s personal information and funds. A secure payment gateway will include tools to protect against fraud and money laundering as well as data breaches. You want to find that happy balance with strong fraud prevention and detection tools but not too many that it distracts from the payment experience. 

Reports & analytics

Some payment gateways allow you to generate detailed reports of all transactions within a specified period. This can be useful for online gaming merchants as it provides a quick snapshot of how your business is performing. If you’d like to make it easy to reconcile payments, get an overview of sales, and analyze conversion, choose a payment gateway that supports this feature.

Mobile-adapted support

Many users access online games from their mobile devices, and your payment gateway must be optimized to provide a smooth and easy mobile checkout experience. This reduces cart abandonment and provides flexibility to your users so they can access your games any way they choose. 

Why ZEN is the best payment gateway for your online gaming business

If you’re searching for a payment gateway for your online gaming business, the search ends now. ZEN has all the features you need to offer a smooth, easy, and secure checkout experience for your customers. With our specialized expertise in the online gaming industry, we equip you with the resources you need to thrive. 

Here’s how you and your players will benefit from ZEN’s payment gateway: 

• Multi-currency support: Accept payments for audiences from all over the world with multi-currency support for 29 different currencies. With Dynamic Currency Conversion, your customers can pay in their own currencies and know exactly how much they’re being charged. 

• 20+ payment methods: Let your customers pay how they like with more than 20 payment methods including Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, Apple Pay, G Pay, WeChat Pay, and more. 

• Saved card details: Reduce friction and prevent abandoned carts by allowing customers to save their card details for faster checkouts on future purchases. 

• Share authorization fee: Balance transaction costs by transferring all or part of the payment processing costs to your customers. They’ll be notified of the fees to maintain transparency. 

• Quick & easy integration: With no coding needed. If your system isn’t supported yet, we’ll help you get set up. Need a customized solution? We also offer API integration tailored to your needs. 

• Sophisticated fraud detection: Safeguard your business from malicious actors and minimize unauthorized transactions and chargebacks with advanced fraud detection, including AVS.

• Customized checkout: Customize the payment page’s appearance to fit your brand’s style and keep audiences engaged with personalized prompts and error messages. 

• Tailored solutions: Enhance your competitive edge with tailored financial solutions designed to address the unique needs of sellers and resellers of in-game items.

• Innovative technology: Stay ahead of industry trends with ZEN’s state-of-the-art digital finance solutions, including support for digital assets.

• 24/7 support: Enjoy 24/7 support from our dedicated team, helping you in every step of your journey in the gaming industry. 

ZEN combines a deep understanding of the gaming industry with a passion for finance solutions that work. Get in touch with our team to elevate your business with our online gaming payment gateway today.